Fall  2011 |
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 Greetings!
We hope everyone had an excellent summer season! We would like to remind all our school-aged patients to submit their dental school forms for grades kindergarten, second and sixth. Some high schools and preschools are also asking for a dental form as well.
As the fall season draws closer, a more regulated routine is sure to follow. Along with this, we would like to reinforce the importance of proper oral health and maintaining a structured schedule when it comes to oral hygiene. |
Daily Brushing and Flossing  Brushing should be done twice daily, everyday. Nighttime brushing is a little bit more important than morning, although both are extremely important. Drs. Herer and Patenio recommend supervising children's oral hygiene until they are about eight years old. With that said, each child is different so they may be ready for different habits at varying ages. As children gain independence, they may want to brush on their own. In this case, we recommend the child brushes by themselves in the morning and has a parent assist at bedtime. If a child is going to brush on their own and until they learn how to spit properly, they should use a training (non-fluoridated) toothpaste. This will eliminate the chance of them ingesting any of the fluoride. At night with a parent's supervision, children should be using a wisp of fluoridated toothpaste, an amount even smaller than a green pea. Again, if the child can not spit suitably then the remaining toothpaste should be wiped out with a wet washcloth, napkin, towel, etc. to ensure there is minimal fluoride ingested into the body. In addition to brushing the teeth, children should be gently brushing their gums as well to remove plaque sitting along the gum line. For our younger patients who have little to no teeth, we still recommend either wiping off the gums with a towel or washcloth or gently brushing the teeth with an infant toothbrush. We like to start out even our youngest patients on the right foot.  Flossing should be done at least once a day, preferably at nighttime. Drs. Herer and Patenio recommend getting children use to flossing even before it is absolutely necessary to do so. This means letting children play with the floss/floss holders and 'pretend' to floss. That way when flossing is a must, they will be use to doing it. There is not really a specific age children should start flossing. Whenever the teeth begin to tighten up and you can no longer see gaps or daylight through in between the teeth, then flossing should de done. The most common areas children get cavities are in between the teeth, due to not flossing, among other things. The small floss holders are very easy and convenient for both parents and children to use. This should, again, be done daily to ensure optimal dental health.
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Early and Regular Dental Care
 There are many different ways a child can get cavities. One of our main goals at Children's Dentistry Group is to catch a cavity before it forms or fix it before it turns into an abscess. The way we do this is by recommending children are brought into our office early for a dental exam and cleaning. Drs. Herer and Patenio advise bringing children into our office between one to two years of age. As soon as a child develops teeth, there is a chance of developing tooth decay, especially with milk and formula consumption being high at this age. Children should be seen by a dentist as soon as teeth are present in the mouth. Once they have been brought into our office, it is vital to keep them on a regular dental schedule. Children should be brought in every six months for their normal dental exam, cleaning and fluoride treatment. This way we can keep track of the tooth development and make sure your child's oral health stays in the best shape. It is also extremely important to follow through with any treatment Drs. Herer or Patenio recommend for your child. Filling cavities, tooth extractions and any other dental work advised to you is for your child's benefit. If left untreated, these things can get out of control quickly leading to even bigger problems. This can not only affect your child's oral health, but overall health as well. |
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ISDS AWARD
 Drs. Herer and Patenio and the rest of us at Children's Dentistry are very appreciative to be awarded the first place award for National Children's Dental Health Month by the Illinois State Dental Society! This is our second year in a row winning the award. This year we had the privilege of discussing oral health, hygiene and nutrition with over 1,500 children. |
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Candy Buy Back Program
This year we are very excited to start a new program-Candy Buy Back! We all know candy is not good for our children's teeth and with Halloween just around the corner, candy is going to be very plentiful in our homes. We want to try and eliminate cavities before they start, so we are joining in a candy buy-back program. Your children are invited to bring their uneaten candy to our office in exchange for a monetary reward. Every pound of candy your child brings in, will equate to a certain amount of money. The candy collected will then be sent to our courageous troops in the Middle East along with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss. Please check out our Facebook page for additional information. Further details are to follow!
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Please Don't Be Bashful!
 If you have any questions regarding pediatric dental health, please feel free to contact us by phone: 847-726-0300 or by email: info@childrensdentistrygroup.com. If you have a family member or friend with a child, please feel free to forward this newsletter to them. Thank you. We wish everyone a wonderful fall season! Drs. Paul Herer, Melissa Patenio and the CDG Team |
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