Hurry! Time is running out to enter!  Simply  "Like" us on FaceBook and write a review about your experience with Dr. Radin, and you will be automatically entered to win this fabulous gift basket, running now through the end of December:

In January, we'll be choosing the winner of this basket containing gift cards to Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa!  What a wonderful way to pamper yourself for the upcoming New Year!  Be sure to enter today!

This month's basket is perfect for those chilly December days! Filled with games and lots of goodies, this will surely keep your son or daughter busy for hours on end. Good luck!

First, we'd like to wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season!  We hope you enjoy all of the wonder and excitement this time of year brings!

We want to take this opportunity to thank of those who participated in "Operation Gratitude's" Halloween Candy Buyback Program, in which your donated candy was sent to our deserving troops overseas.  You won't believe how much we collected and we thank you for all of your donations!

A dental emergency can happen at any time, and can be especially stressful during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  Read my tips to prepare yourself in this month's Q&A column: How to Prepare for a Dental Emergency.

As parents, our goal is to prevent our children from getting tooth decay.  It's our mission to help keep your child's smile beautiful and healthy, which is why we want to educate you about dental sealants.  So, what exactly do they do and how can they help my child?  Learn more about How Dental Sealants Help in the Fight Against Cavities.

It is likely that visions of cookies, desserts and candy canes may be dancing in your children's heads this holiday season. While you will do what you can to limit their intake of these sugary treats, your kids will probably be eating their fair share of sugar at holiday parties. Despite their consumption of sugar, here are ways to keep your kids' teeth healthy during the holidays to minimize damage to their dental health. 

Remember, this is the last month to enter our FaceBook contest to win fabulous prizes to a spa!  The winner will surely enjoy such a great way to start off 2015 on a relaxing vibe, so don't forget to enter today!  Also, be sure to check out the winner of our in-office monthly gift basket and take a moment to peek at all the wonderful items we're giving away in this month's basket.

 

Sincerely,

Dental sealants act as a barrier to prevent cavities. They are a plastic material usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often. Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.  

 

Take this quick quiz to find out more about sealants:

 

True or False: Dental sealants are just for kids.

TRUE:

 

True or False: Cavities are the most common childhood disease.

TRUE: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cavities remain the most common chronic disease of children 6 to 19 years of age. Dental sealants can help prevent cavities before they start.

 

True or False: Sealants are expensive.

FALSE: No way! Sealants are an inexpensive way to prevent cavities and in the long run can save you money. Talk to us about how preventing cavities now can not only keep your mouth healthy but save you money down the road.

 

True or False: Sealants will make my child's mouth look and/or feel funny.

FALSE: Sealants are invisible so no one will ever know your child has them in his or her mouth. That's because sealants are painted directly onto the tooth's enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

 

True or False: Sealants hurt.

FALSE: One of the best things about sealants is that they don't hurt. Your son or daughter won't feel a thing when we apply a sealant to the tooth. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay.

 

Source: American Dental Association 

 

This time of year, whether your kids are eating chocolate cake, sugar cookies or peppermint candy, they are ingesting sugar. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on this sugar, and the byproduct is acid. This acid can eat away at tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. The more time teeth spend exposed to sugar, the higher the risk that your children will face dental health problems. Hard candies, and sticky candies such as taffy and caramel, can be worse for teeth than other treats such as cake and cookies.

 

Brush after Eating a Sugary Treat

In general, the ADA recommends that everyone brush their teeth and gums at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Flossing should also be done at least once a day. During the holidays, encourage your kids to brush and floss even more than this, particularly right after they finish dessert. If a toothbrush is not handy, the next best thing to do is rinse. Encourage your kids to rinse their mouths with water, which will help wash away sugar, acids and any other food that may be stuck to their teeth.

 

Limit Sugar Time

Hard candy is one of the worst offenders at wreaking havoc on your kids' healthy teeth because your child will be sucking on the candy for a long period. Additionally, limit the amount of soda and juice that your children drink since these wash over teeth and gums. If your children do eat hard candy or drink soda, encourage them at least to rinse afterwards. Sugarless gum is also a great way to keep your kids' mouths busy while boosting saliva production, which will help wash away sugar.

You may also want to do as the French do and make cheese a part of dessert. Cheeses, such as mozzarella sticks, are not only kid friendly, they are also known to neutralize acid in the mouth, according to the ADA.

 

Make Dessert a Part of the Meal

Rather than serving dessert last, incorporate it into the holiday meal. This is helpful, because it is better to eat sugar at the same time as a balanced meal. The other more healthy foods will not only displace the sugar from your teeth, but they can also aid in neutralizing any acids from the ingested sugar.

 

Make Toothbrushing Fun

While it is important to stress good dental care throughout the year, the holidays present a special opportunity to make dental health fun. Perhaps you can buy your children a toothbrush in their favorite color or a toothbrush that is decorated with their favorite cartoon character. Colored floss is also fun!

 

Source: Colgate

We thank you for your trust and value your opinion.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us at info@growingsmilespa.com.