Your Fear of the Dentist Can Get Passed On to Your Children

 

Parents who have anxiety visiting the dentist need to keep it to themselves to avoid passing it on to your children.  According to a study by researchers from Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, the "emotional
transmission" or fear of the dentist is passed on from parent to child.  "Along with the presence of emotional transmission of dentist fear amongst family members, we have identified the relevant role that fathers play in transmission of this phobia in comparison to the mother," the study said.  Turns out the investigators found that the father's feelings about going to the dentist play a key role in whether a mother's fear of the dentist will be passed on to their children.  The findings show the need to involve parents-especially fathers- in efforts to prevent children from fearing the dentist.

Everyone knows that children are impressionable, and many people who avoid dental care as adults recall traumatic experiences at the dentist as children.  The absence of routine dental care can cause painful infections of the teeth and gums, broken and discolored teeth, and bad breathe.  With all the new advances in dentistry, neglecting your teeth can now almost always be avoided. Our team at K&L Family Dental suggests the following to make sure your children are relaxed during their trips to the dentist.

-Make sure your dentist likes seeing children.  Patience and care is mandatory when seeing children.
-Set a good example.  Take your child with you to introduce them to the environment.  Flash them a happy, healthy smile as soon as your done!
-Read a dental book for children to better prepare them to the dental office environment.
-Children need to know how important it is to take good care of their teeth and gums, just like going to the doctor to stay healthy.  Tell them the dentist is there to make sure they have healthy teeth for the rest of their lives!
-Schedule a morning appointment when children tend to be rested and cooperative.
-NEVER bribe your child to go to the dentist or use the visit as a punishment or threat. Your child needs to understand that having their teeth checked is good for them.
-Bring children's favorite toys, music, etc. during the dental appointment.

At K&L Family Dental we encourage parents to bring their children to the dentist by age two, earlier if there is noticeable discoloration of baby teeth or if the child is signaling pain.  If dental treatment is required, we usually start with the procedure that will be easiest for the child to tolerate.  We also consider conservative treatment for children's baby teeth, so that it is less involved and takes less time.  We often use the television in our treatment room  to help children cope with the clinical setting of the dental office and distracts the child during treatment.

If you're looking for a great dental office near Winfield, IL, we always welcome new patients.  Please visit us at www.klfamilydental.com or call our office at 630-653-7700.

What's Your New Year Resolution?

2013 is a new year and a new opportunity to take better care of yourself and your overall health.  But few people realize that taking care of your body should include your teeth! Improving your dental health and preventing tooth decay can have a larger impact on your overall health.  All too often resolutions are broken by February and its because people make them too difficult.  There are simple things that you can do that can lead to a longer, happier, healthier life.

Make sure you get an annual physical which includes a blood test.  Knowing your blood sugar levels, cholesterol and other vital statistics can help you take proper measures recommended by your physician to put you on the right track to good health.  Many diseases can have an effect on your teeth and gums and your dentist can recommend ways to battle those complications.

Drop the diet soda!  It contains all kinds of chemicals and many studies say that it can even make you hungrier.  There is really nothing good about them.  Switch to water, unsweetened tea or coffee in moderation.

While on the soda subject, go cold turkey on regular sodas and sports drinks.  They are loaded with sugar.  Cutting these out of your diet alone has been shown to cause people to shed pounds quickly and stay off.

Learn how to floss!  It doesn't  take long and once you learn, it's simple and just takes a minute per day-yet no one does it! If your not sure how to floss properly, we can show you.  The benefits for healthy gums are numerous, including fresher breath, a lifetime of teeth, reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Make 2013 the year.

Make sure you're brushing your teeth at least two times each day, your brushing long enough(at least three minutes) and change your soft bristled toothbrush every three months or after your sick.

Start fresh for this New Year's resolution and make an effort to take better care of you and your teeth.  The brighter smile will not only give you more confidence, but your body  will thank you for an overall improvement in health.

And don't forget , as always, visit your dentist regularly.  We want to help pinpoint and treat any potential problems early.

DRY MOUTH AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

Almost everyone's mouth is dry sometimes.  But if you feel like you have cotton in your mouth constantly, it may be time for treatment.  Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a very common condition.  It affects about one in every four to five adults, mainly women.  And it's prevalence increases with age.

Dry mouth sufferers often don't notice they are suffering from dry mouth until their saliva flow has dropped by 50%.  Symptoms include:  a feeling of soreness in the mouth; stickiness to the touch and cracking at the corners of the mouth; a red and parched mouth or pebbled look to the tongue; difficulty eating dry or spicy foods; difficulty speaking; a tendency to wake up more often during the night; bad breath.

It is important to know that the saliva in your mouth is your main defense against cavities and tooth decay.  Reduced saliva flow can damage mouth tissue and contribute to bad breath.

So what causes dry mouth?  There can be many causes but usually it's a combination of the following:

-medications:  the more medicine you take, the more likely you are to suffer from chronic dry mouth
     -more than 400 medications have dry mouth as a side effect and the number keeps growing; some
       include anti-depressants, anti-histamines, muscle relaxants, and high blood pressure medicines
     -cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation of the head and neck
     -hormone changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy or menopause
     -a diet that is high in salty foods and caffeine
     -health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Sjogren's Syndrome
     -the smoke and nicotine from cigarettes has a drying effect in the mouth
     -snoring or breathing open-mouthed

Dry Mouth Treatments 

     -talk to your doctor about changing your medication or the dosage
     -there are some saliva substitutes, regulated by the FDA, that can be very helpful by lubricating the mouth
     -sip water or sugarless drinks, or suck on ice chips
     -avoid irritants, such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine
     -chew sugar-free gum or mints (preferably sweetened with xylitol) to help stimulate saliva flow
     -use a humidifier in your bedroom at night

The effects of dry mouth can be devastating to a person's oral health.  Talk to your dentist and provide a list of medications that you take, as well as any medical conditions or treatments you've had.  The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist at least twice a year.  

If you have any questions or concerns about the effect your dry mouth is having on your teeth, please visit us at www.klfamilydental.com

What You Need To Do To Keep Your Kids' Teeth Healthy

We see it a lot in our practice.  That concerned look on a mom's face when their child is having their teeth cleaned. First question, "Are their any cavities?".  Did you know that the average number of teaspoons of sugar consumed a day by a child is 32!   There is a rising trend in cavities amongst children and we see it everyday in our office.  Here are some things you can do to give your kids a great chance at good dental health and help you relax while you are in the waiting room.

Be a great example:  Your kids are aware of everything you say and do and that includes how you take care of your teeth.  They notice how often you brush and floss your teeth. Make healthy snack choices and you can even chew sugarless gum after meals.

Bring them in early and often:  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check up once your child has their first tooth. Having a dentist check their teeth often can help find problems early on, while they are small.  Know that baby teeth are actually more prone to cavities then adult teeth.

Get your own teeth fixed!: Tooth decay and gum disease are infections caused by bacteria that can be transmitted in a similar fashion to a cold.  These bugs are almost always transmitted from mother to child, or from any prominent child care provider, for that matter.  People who have lots of untreated cavities will have 
nastier bugs and you'll probably transfer them to your kids.   Not taking care of your our teeth will also teach your child that oral health care is not that important.

Don't put a baby down with a bottle:  You don't want to get your baby in the habit of going to bed with a bottle-it will be more difficult to break the habit. More importantly, the formula or breast milk contains sugar that can be turned into acid which causes tooth decay.  This can potentially lead to massive tooth decay in children. Only water in bottles at night.

Help them brush their teeth, then have them brush their own teeth:  While it seems like a great thing to let your kids gain independence by having them brush their own teeth, you NEED to brush their teeth.  Know that, if you can't see what your brushing, your not brushing them well. Some will resist, but it is important to hold their head.  And until they can spit on their own, you want to be using a non-flouride toothpaste so that they aren't swallowing toothpaste that can damage their permanent teeth.

Reduce the juice:  Too many parents consider fruit juice as wholesome and healthy.  We see it as high acid content with tons of sugar.  It's really tough on teeth and has so much added sugar.  Eating fruit is a much better option.  Never give fruit juice at snack time!  

If you implement the above suggestions you can significantly reduce your children's risk factors for cavities! It's a gift to your children and to yourself when they are in the chair having their teeth cleaned!

If you have any questions on how to keep your children's teeth healthy, visit us at www.klfamilydental.com
 

What causes tooth wear?

Ever been told that you are brushing too hard? Does it sound contradictory when you're told that you have to brush gently to have healthy teeth? We all want to "scrub" our teeth clean for pearly whites and healthy gums. So, what's right?

There are different kinds of tooth wear, arising from different factors. This article is going to address the wear that occurs on the sides of our teeth at the gum line, often referred to as "gum line abrasion", which can increase tooth sensitivity and gum recession. How does this type of damage occur?

This type of abrasion is commonly caused by your toothbrush and choice of toothpaste. Surprised?

It is very important to use a soft toothbrush. Brushing technique is very important as well. Brush in small circles with the brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth. Do not brush in a "sawing" back-and-forth motion.

For patients inclined to abrasion, it is reccomended to use a toothpaste with an RDA(relative dentin abrasiveness) of less than 100.

Listed below are some toothpastes with an acceptable abrasion rate:

• Plain baking soda
• Arm & Hammer Dental Care
• Tom's of Maine Sensitive
• Colgate Total, Regular and Sensitive
• Crest-Regular
• AIM
• Rembrandt- Mint & Plus
• Aquafresh

For additional information, contact KL Family Dental at 630-653-7700, 1N121 County Farm Rd, Winfield, IL