In This Issue

Congratulations to Olivia Barber, for winning our January in-office prize!  Olivia and her father, Joseph, were excited to pick up the giant gift basket filled with winter-themed goodies!  

"The toys are so great and I know Olivia is going to have a lot of fun with them, especially the igloo-maker and the snow paint," Joseph said.  "With all of the snow we have been getting, the timing could not have been better!  She is really excited to try all of these wonderful toys, so we thank you!"

In each issue, we will feature a frequently-asked question to Dr. Radin and her staff.  

This month's question is regarding mouthwash:

 

Have a question for Dr. Radin for next month's issue? Please email your question to:

Chocolates, cookies with red frosting, sprinkles, cupcakes, and candy hearts are the typical Valentine's Day sweets our kids eat at school.  Of course, these kinds of treats are fine in moderation and are used to celebrate a day of love.  But how about offering some fun, festive, healthy treats as alternatives to some of the traditional high-fat, high-sugar snacks that accompany Valentine's Day?

 

The black beans in this healthy brownie recipe replace some of the butter for a lower-fat, high protein sweet treat that also contains heart healthy omega-3's. Bake these on a shallow cookie sheet, and then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create Valentine's Day brownies.

Kids love to decorate sugar cookies no matter what holiday they are celebrating. Here is a sugar cookie recipe that uses high fiber, whole wheat flour instead of refined pastry flour. Try decorating the cookies with low-fat cream cheese frosting tinted red with pomegranate juice for extra calcium and antioxidants.

The number of preschoolers and young kids with cavities has continued to rise over the years, which begs the question, "Why?"  While many parents may be aware of issues with the more commonly-known culprits such as soda, candy or high-sugary juices, there are plenty of other foods that can lead to tooth decay that are not so obvious. 

 

Dr. Radin says many of the families she treats are shocked to hear that some of the foods and medicines they give their kids (sometimes on a daily basis) contain hidden cavity-culprits. Below, Dr. Radin shares her top six that may surprise you.

 

Cavity-culprit #1:  Gummy vitamins.  If you're one of the parents who assume there can't be a problem with a product containing "vitamins," you're not alone, says Dr. Radin. 

 

"Most of the parents I warn about gummy vitamins are understandably upset because they believed they were giving their children something that was good for them, but were unknowingly giving candy in disguise," Dr. Radin explains.  "Due to its stickiness, the risk for cavities far outweighs any benefits. Anything 'gummy-related' such as gummy bears, fish, etc., can adhere to teeth and is a perfect breeding ground for cavities."  

 

The fix: Dr. Radin notes that it's important not to brush your child's teeth for at least 20 minutes after chewing a gummy vitamin as the bristles can actually help spread the sticky residue to neighboring teeth. Best bet is to have your child chew the gummy during a meal and rinse with water after; or better yet, make the switch to sugar-free chewable vitamins altogether, suggests Dr. Radin. 

 

Cavity-culprit #2:  Liquid medicines.  As the song from Mary Poppins says, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," which is exactly what drug companies have added (and then some) to some of today's children's medicines and cough syrups. 

 

"A single dose of medicine can contain as much as 50% sugar, not to mention can contain high fructose corn syrup, which can significantly contribute to tooth decay," Dr. Radin says. "The biggest concern is that parents often give these medicines at bedtime - after teeth have been brushed. Tooth decay can occur as sugar will just sit on a child's teeth for the 8-12 hours he or she is sleeping, allowing bacteria in the mouth to do its worst."

 

The fix:The good news is that Dr. Radin says there are things parents can do to help lessen the effects.

 

"Try giving your child medicine during a meal, and not after," Dr. Radin explains. "That way, saliva can help break down the sugar and acid. In addition, it's important to brush thoroughly after giving medicine. Lastly, use a pill form whenever possible."

 

Cavity-culprit #3:  Cereal.  Touted as the most important meal of the day, breakfast is certainly a vital component in a child's overall nutrition; but cereals can be some of the worst offenders in the fight against cavities. According to a recent study at the University of Illinois, sugary cereals even eaten dry could cause tooth decay, and when followed by fruit juice, it is an even higher cavity-causing combination.

 

"What is so interesting about this study is that it showed that some sugary cereals when combined with milk will take on a 'syrup-like' texture, similar to rinsing with a 10 percent sugar solution," Dr. Radin explains.  "Even the so-called 'healthy cereals' can contain boatloads of sugar, and will have sneaky cavity-culprits, such as sugar-coated raisins."

 

The fix: Dr. Radin advises adding natural fruits to a cereal base, such as bran or shredded wheat. 

"Adding unsweetened raisins to bran flakes will not increase plaque-causing acid, plus you will be omitting any additional unnecessary sugar," Dr. Radin says. "You can also add fresh (or frozen) fruit such as raspberries or blueberries to cereal, or try sliced peaches or apricots mixed with natural yogurt, making it a tasty meal for kids without all of the damaging effects to tooth enamel."

 

Cavity-culprit #4:   Carbohydrates.  Foods laden with starch such as white bread, pizza, bagels, potato chips, crackers, etc., can convert to sugar almost immediately.  In fact, consuming sugars or starches will cause cavity-producing acids to cover the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. 

 

"Foods loaded with starch and high in carbs can wreak havoc on your child's teeth," Dr. Radin warns.  "Cookies, candy, pretzels, crackers, and potato chips are carbohydrates that break down into sugar while they're still in the mouth. Bacteria in the mouth convert these sugars into acids, which dissolves tooth structure and can eventually cause tooth decay."

 

The fix: The best offense is a good defense, says Dr. Radin, meaning when eating fermentable carbs, combine them with other foods to help neutralize acids.

 

"If your son wants crackers, for instance, it is better to give him cheese with it because cheese naturally aids in neutralizing acids.  You can also give him raw vegetables or crunchy fruits like apples with high water content to dilute the sugar - a healthy alternative if you don't have access to a toothbrush."

 

Want to read the full article about these sneaky cavity culprits?  Be sure to check out the next issue of Yardley Life magazine, coming out mid-February, as this story will be on the cover!

As parents, we know that kids need to brush their teeth. We know that even THEY know they need to, but trying to get them to actually do it is a real challenge.   There's good reason for you to keep up this "before-bedtime battle" though: By age 5, nearly 50% of children have cavities. To help keep your children be filling-free, check out these seven tips so you can get them brushing and flossing without a fight.

Create a Copycat 
Your little copycat is a natural at mimicking you, so take advantage of these tendencies.   Let your child see you and/or his or her older siblings brushing every day.  While your little one is watching you scrub your pearly whites, use exaggerated brush strokes and show lots of enthusiasm. After all, our kids want to be like us, and when they see that we're taking care of our teeth, it encourages them to do the same.

 

Be Silly

Chances are, the crazier you get, the longer they'll let you brush without complaining.   Try singing, or making up a funny story.  Whatever works to engage and distract your child!

 

Start Early

As soon as your babe sprouts a tooth (around 6 months, give or take), bring out the toothbrush. (Even those teeny baby teeth are at risk for decay!) Start brushing two times a day using a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Add just use a pea-size amount of toothpaste for a child less than 2 years old, recommends the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (Many dentists recommend that kids under the age of 2 use a fluoride-free toothpaste because swallowing too much fluoride -- before your child knows how to rinse -- can cause a discoloration of their permanent teeth.)  When children learn early that this is a routine part of daily life, they're often less likely to have an aversion to it.

 

Hand Over the Brush

Yes, a grown-up needs to wield the toothbrush to properly clean kids' teeth for a long while. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry urges parents to help their kids brush until about 8 years of age. (After that point, kids usually have the dexterity to do it 100% on their own.) But that doesn't mean your child -- at any age -- shouldn't get the first crack at cleaning. Just like writing, brushing is a particular skill that takes some time to develop and children need to practice.