Children’s Dental Village was pleased to help the Kyrene School District with their “Stuff the Bus Campaign” this summer to better equip families for the first day of school. Once all the backpacks and other donations are received, members of the Kyrene Foundation and volunteers sort all of the items and create fully-stuffed backpacks. Along with being prepared for the first day of school, donations also give students a sense of belonging in their classroom. Children’s Dental Village always enjoys contributing to this wonderful effort!
Check out this article about our community helping out the non-profit Feed My Starving Children. Also, look below to check out some of our pictures taken at this event!
What Halloween Candy to Avoid – from Halloween 2015
Grin It, Win It.
When choosing the right tooth brush, the first step is to decide between a manual or a power brush. The ADA suggests picking the type that you will want to use, or in the case of your children, the one that will encourage them to brush twice a day for two minutes each time.
Are You Choosing the Right Toothbrush for Your Child?
Some children find the power brush is “fun” and it encourages them to brush. Or, if motor skills are an issue for your child due to age or special needs, the power brush may be a more effective tool and with adult assistance can help keep gum tissue healthy and teeth cleaner. In addition, most power brushes have a timer to help keep track of how long your children are brushing.
Some children may have challenges with the sensation of the power brush and it could discourage use. If this is the case, a manual brush is a better option. Have the child practice the brushing technique with adult supervision. It’s also a good idea to keep a tooth timer on hand to help keep track of the two minutes.
Children under the age of nine may not have the dexterity to brush on their own. We recommend that an adult take over brushing for younger children. When selecting the right toothbrush, choose a brush head size that is appropriate to the age and size of the person using the brush. Infants and toddlers need small brush heads. Teens and adults would use a larger brush head, but not so big that it cannot reach the back teeth or causes gagging which may discourage brushing.
Whether you choose a manual or power brush, a larger or smaller brush head, it is advised to choose a soft bristled head. Stiffer bristles can cause damage to the gums and can lead to irritation, bleeding and inflammation.
We also recommend that you look for the ADA seal of approval. This assures you that the product you have selected has been evaluated for safety and effectiveness and that it will provide the benefits listed on the product.
Choosing the Right Toothbrush
As you review your toothbrush options, the key items to consider are manual or power brush, soft bristles, appropriate size brush head and the ADA seal of approval on the package. Remember to brush twice a day for two minutes each time and floss at least once a day. We recommend a visit to your dentist every six months to help ensure that you keep your smile healthy for a lifetime. Once you choose the right toothbrush then you have to pick the right toothpaste!
Congrats! Your child’s teeth are looking great and your visits to the orthodontic office are beginning to slow down. But is it really over? Retainer Reality begins to set in.
Avoid these top 3 retainer problems to maintain that beautiful smile and avoid unnecessary expenses:
(1) Not wearing the retainer. Once the braces are off and the retainer has been fitted, it should be worn as recommended so that the teeth do not have the opportunity to shift or “undo” that smile your child worked so hard to achieve. Wearing a retainer seems like an inconvenience but it won’t be as much as one as paying for another set of braces.
(2) Not cleaning the retainer. Allowing saliva and bacteria to stay on the retainer can cause decay or bad breath. The retainer should be brushed daily and allowed to dry completely before closing the container it is stored in. It is also a good idea to soak the retainer in denture/retainer cleaner at least once a week. Not doing this will result in having some serious retainer problems.
(3) Not storing the retainer in a closed container. A common habit may be to wrap the retainer in a napkin while eating…once you’ve had to sort through the trash, we’re sure this won’t happen again.
Alternately, leaving retainers on the counter or bedside table is another common tendency and can lead to the retainers being contaminated with germs or bacteria or the family pet finding them and using them as a chew toy. Maintaining that beautiful smile is a lifetime commitment. Since our goal is creating smiles that last a lifetime, we feel the retention phase of orthodontics is crucial. All three of the dental retainer problems can result in having to replace the retainers or correct shifting, which is costly in both time and money to correct. Consistent wearing and proper maintenance of your retainer will keep your smile as beautiful as the day your braces were removed.
Winston Churchill once said, We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
As we move toward economic recovery, we have been moved by the capacity of our community to help fill the gaps for those in need of assistance…from filling up boxes at “Feed My Starving Children” to simply gathering a few unused blankets around the house to keep homeless animals warm in our shelters to dropping our spare change into donation buckets. When community members are in need, the community rallies. As was the case last month when the team at Children’s Dental Village donated their time and talent to treat a handful of children from the Tempe Elementary School District who are without an avenue for dental care. Children nationwide miss more than 750,000 school days each year as a result of dental problems and related conditions. This can have an impact on not only the child, but the parent who has to stay with the child and the school that loses funding when the child is absent.
Even though our semi-annual community outreach days are designed to help students within the Tempe Elementary School District, the team at Children’s Dental Village finds that the smiles of the children who come to see us and the expressions of gratitude from the parents warm our hearts and recharge our energy. We hope to not only alleviate the child’s pain, but to begin a positive relationship in learning how to dance between dental care and the child…promoting good oral health that will continue into adulthood. Thank you to the Tempe Elementary School District who continues to provide us the opportunity to meet new friends and make a difference in a child’s life.
What is the Best Toothpaste for Teeth Cleaning?
If you have ever wandered down the toothpaste isle in the supermarket-you may have been overwhelmed by the number of brands, flavors, specialties, adult pastes, kid pastes, over age 50 pastes and on and on and on…
What is the best toothpaste for teeth cleaning you ask? It depends on the age of the child. From infancy it is recommended that parents wipe the gums with a washcloth to remove bacteria and to get the child comfortable with the act of brushing. As teeth begin to appear, it is imperative that the teeth are brushed with a soft toothbrush morning and night -especially right before laying the child down to sleep. For children under 2 1/2-3 years old, continue using water only or toothpaste without fluoride on the toothbrush until the child is able to spit out any paste used; there are some brands of training toothpastes geared toward toddlers. While there are many brands to choose from when picking fluoride-free toothpaste, it is personal preference based on taste or other additives in the toothpaste, but the act of brushing is more important on younger children than the toothpaste used.
Once the child has mastered the technique of spitting, and they are ready to start with fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush, the best toothpaste for teeth cleaning is one that contains fluoride and has the American Dental Association “Seal of Approval” on the label. As each child’s tastes preferences are unique, the brand and flavor may vary; the important thing is finding one that your child likes and will use daily.
Picking Out the Best Toothpaste for Teeth Cleaning
Although we cannot alleviate the sensory overload in the toothpaste isle, we can provide a road map to guide you through the maze of choices and selections. The best toothpaste for teeth cleaning is one that is age appropriate, non-fluoride for under age 3 (unless recommended by your pediatric dentist), fluoridated once the child can spit out the paste, contains the ADA “Seal of Approval”, the child likes the taste and the teeth are brushed morning and night.
Children’s Dental Village is pleased to have been recognized by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce with the 2012 Business Excellence Award at the 15th Annual Breakfast for Chamber Champions. We are excited to share news of this award because without the partnership of our patients and families, we would not have the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to customer service and community involvement. There are no words to capture the joy and sense of accomplishment we feel for this amazing recognition. Thank you for being part of our success!
This recognition signifies Children’s Dental Village has demonstrated leadership in workplace strategies and practices to help employees achieve success in work-life effectiveness. Children’s Dental Village is proud to offer workplace flexibility, community involvement, health and wellness, and a transformative organizational culture.