Four Ways to Start the School Year off RIGHT!!

August 15th 2021

Four Ways to Start the School Year off RIGHT!!!

It is always an exciting time of the year!  New shoes and new crayons, new folders, and new teachers!  The time of the year when everyone heads back to school brings so many fun changes and it feels like everyone gets a fresh start on learning and growing!  New beginnings at school mean getting back into the swing of routines now that the lazy days of summer have come to an end.  Our team here at Carolina Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry have come up with some ideas to help make this school year the absolute best!  Here are our suggestions:

1- Establish a morning AND nighttime routine!

We all know how hard it is to remember everything that needs to get done in the morning rush!  Remembering to grab the lunch box and tie those shoes can add to the normal stresses of not missing the bus.  One key way to make the mornings run a little more smoothly is to establish a routine and sticking as best you can to that routine.  Sometimes routine charts can help kiddos to know what their responsibilities are in maintaining that routine.  An example of a morning routine could include waking up, making the bed, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth and hair, getting supplies ready for school.  Obviously, we ALWAYS want to remember to brush your teeth before rushing off to school!  

And nighttime routines are equally important!  There are things that you can do the night before to make sure that the morning routine is streamlined.  We always recommend having a nightly routine that includes brushing teeth followed by reading a book and then off to bed!  But maybe your nighttime routine could also include packing the lunch boxes for the night before.  Or laying out clothes for the next day.  Checking to make sure that everything is in the backpack before bed also helps to avoid those last-minute stresses about having all of the homework packed.

Check out our FREE Routine Chart to help!!

(Save & Print these images to help keep your morning and nighttime routine running efficiently)

2- Get up to date on all of those wellness visits!

Back to school means making sure all of those wellness visits are taken care of!  Stay up to date on all of the well-child visits with your pediatrician, getting all sports physicals completed, and of course making sure that your dental wellness visit is complete!  Studies have shown that children that have untreated cavities perform poorer in school and have more missed school days (Bessa Rebelo, et al).  Making sure that those smiles are school picture-ready is an important step to check off of your back-to-school list!

Click here to schedule your child’s next wellness visit with our team!

3- Healthy snacks help curb after-school hunger!

At the end of the day, kids come home starving from a long day of growing smarter!  Making sure they have healthy snacks at hand will help to tide them over until dinner.  Our recommendations for snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, tomatoes, grapes, and berries.  Cheese and yogurt are also really great snacks that do not have a high tendency to cause cavities.  These healthy snacks are not only good for your teeth but good for your body as a whole!  We recommend avoiding really sticky snacks like gummy snacks, raisins and dried fruits, and candy.  Those types of snacks, along with crackers and chips that stick together when eaten, find their way into those deep grooves of the back teeth and stay, leading to a higher risk for cavities.  And what you drink is equally important!  Water is our absolute favorite drink and is the healthiest for your entire body!  White milk without any additives is okay, too.  But we want to limit how much soda, juice, sweet tea, or energy drinks that kids consume because all of those are loaded with sugars and can also lead to cavities.  Be sure to keep these healthy foods in mind when packing those lunches as well!  We know that it isn’t just the amount of sugar that can be problematic, but also the frequency of sugar consumption.  And bacteria don’t care if the sugar is all-natural, organic, or man-made!  It might be helpful to keep a handy list of healthy, teeth-friendly foods nearby for when hunger strikes!

Follow this link for 50 low-sugar snack ideas!

4- Chat with your children!

With all of the excitement about a new school year, be sure to stay engaged and ask lots of questions!  Chat with them about their day, their likes and dislikes, their concerns and definitely their accomplishments (no matter how big or small!).  

We know that everyone is super excited about the year ahead and all of us here at Carolina Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry wish all of the students, teachers, and families the best school year possible! 

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July 15th 2021

What You Need to Know About Cavities

How common are cavities?

The medical term for cavities is “dental caries”, and it is considered the most common chronic disease of childhood. How common is it? 60% of people experience cavities by age 5, and nearly 80% of people in the US have had a cavity by age 17. 

Cavities are considered a disease process because they are a breakdown in the structure of teeth, which can cause symptoms (i.e. pain, sensitivity, infection) that can affect normal functions like eating/drinking and speech. If left untreated, tooth pain can lead to nutritional deficiencies and can negatively affect normal growth and development, learning, and communication. The good news is that cavities are preventable, and if they do occur they can be managed in a number of ways to avoid these negative effects. Keep reading to learn more!    

What are cavities?

Cavities are a breakdown of the hard outer tooth surface (called enamel). Sometimes cavities are visible holes in the teeth, sometimes they look like dark stains on the teeth, and sometimes they are only visible on dental x-rays. 

There are a number of things that cause cavities – we typically think of things like diet and inadequate oral hygiene practices, but other factors include the frequency we eat/drink throughout the day, if we breathe mainly by mouth, the type and activity level of bacteria in our mouths, and how much spit we make. Areas most prone to cavities are the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, between teeth that are touching, and areas where plaque or food are able to get stuck.

How do cavities form?

Our saliva (spit!) is naturally neutral, with a pH around 7. However, when we have something to eat or drink other than water, the pH of our mouths changes. Foods that are higher in sugars or carbohydrates – pasta, chips, crackers, cookies, pastries, candies, etc. – are broken down by bacteria in our mouths, making our mouths more acidic. Some things like soda, juice, tea are already very acidic, which makes the pH in our mouths drop more quickly. This acidic environment is the perfect environment for cavity development, as it allows the hard outer surfaces of teeth (i.e. the enamel) to demineralize or “soften”.

How low does the pH have to go for our teeth to lose minerals? Not as low as you might think! The critical level for cavity development is just a pH of 5.5, and it can take at least 20 minutes for the mouth to recover to the neutral zone. If your child grazes or snacks throughout the day, or if they sip on non-water drinks over long periods of time, their teeth spend more time in an acidic environment than in a healthy, neutral state. The longer teeth are in an acidic environment, the more prone they are to cavities.

Best Practices to Reduce the Risk of Cavities:

Brush teeth 2x/day with fluoride toothpaste

• Use the size of a grain of rice for children under 3 years
• Use the size of a small green pea for children 3 years and older

Floss teeth nightly

• Do this for any teeth that are touching or are close to touching where food can get caught
• Whether you use a floss stick or a string of floss – both will do the job!

Avoid rinsing with water after brushing or using a fluoride mouthwash

• This allows more of the protective fluoride to remain in the mouth to restrengthen tooth enamel

Drink water throughout the day, keeping non-water drinks to mealtimes

• The best water for protecting teeth has fluoride in it, so if your family drinks primarily bottled water or has well water that does not contain fluoride, look for bottled waters that contain fluoride

Limit the overall amount and frequency of foods and drinks that are high in carbohydrates or sugars – both natural and added sugars contribute to cavities!

• Limit grazing or snacking at will – this gives the mouth time to neutralize its pH
• Don’t put drinks other than water in a sippy cup or bottle that a child can sip on at will throughout the day

Brush teeth after having sticky foods (even gummy vitamins!) or snack foods like chips, crackers, and cookies 

• This can help avoid food getting trapped between teeth or in the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

Healthy snacks for teeth include fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, hard cheeses, and nuts.

• Want more information on tooth-friendly foods? Check out this blog post: Healthy Snacks & Drinks for Healthy Smiles!

Establish a dental home within 6 months of your child’s first tooth OR by your child’s first birthday – whichever comes first!

• This will allow your dentist to identify any early warning signs of cavities developing to help you come up with strategies for reducing your child’s risk

Allow your dentist to apply professional fluoride varnish as recommended every 6 months

• Multiple studies show this is an effective way to reduce cavities!

Click here to schedule your child’s next appointment with our team!

Resources:

Policy on Early Childhood Caries: Classifications, Consequences, and Preventative Strategies (https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/p_eccclassifications.pdf)

Fluoride Therapy (https://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/BP_FluorideTherapy.pdf)

Policy on Use of Fluoride (https://www.aapd.org/assets/1/7/P_FluorideUse1.PDF)

Policy on Medically-Necessary Care (https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/p_medicallynecessarycare.pdf) 

Use of Pit-and-Fissure Sealants (https://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_Sealants.pdf)

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Do They Still Use Expanders!?

July 1st 2021

 

Do They Still Use Expanders!?

    RPE's or Rapid Palatal Expanders still exist.  They are still used frequently in orthodontics to assist in treating a number of various issues including: crossbites, severe crowding, and other skeletal imbalances.  The upper jaw develops in two separate halves.  While children are growing and developing, those two halves can be separated slightly and orthodontists can take advantage of that by using an expander.  Once growth is complete, the two halves of the top jaw are fused together and the only way of separating the two is through a surgical procedure.

    Expanders come in many different forms and designs, but the concept and idea is the same for all.  Expanders usually anchor off a tooth or teeth on each side of the upper arch in the back and have a "screw" in the middle of the roof of the mouth.  The screw is turned with a "key" usually once per day.  The appliance slowly broadens the top jaw as the screw is turned. Each turn of the key separates the top jaw by about 1/4mm.  This is a very small amount of space and therefore doesn't cause pain or discomfort.

    After the amount of desired expansion is achieved by you and your orthodontist.  It is common to "hold" that expansion for a number of months to allow bone growth in the space that was just created with the expander.  Think of it like breaking an arm or a leg.  After the bone is re-set in place by your doctor, a cast is placed to encourage proper healing and bone growth around the area of the fracture.  An expander is creating a space between the two bones of the top jaw and the body needs time to fill in that space with newly formed bone.

 Expanders are most commonly prescribed for severe crowding and posterior crossbites.

Severe Crowding:

As you can imagine, by expanding the upper jaw you are creating more room in the upper arch to resolve any crowding that may exist. Orthodontists may recommend an expander before all the permanent teeth erupt to ensure that all permanent teeth have at least enough room to erupt into the mouth without getting stuck.  If permanent teeth are trying to work their way into the mouth and don't have an adequate amount of space they can actually resorb or damage the roots of other permanent teeth that are in the way.  Expanders help alleviate many risks in orthodontics.  Orthodontic treatment can get very complicated and lengthy when other permanent teeth are stuck or damaged.  This is why it is so important to use an expander when needed and that it is prescribed at the right time.

Posterior Crossbites: 

In an ideal occlusion (bite), the top teeth should overlap the bottom teeth all the way around the arch.  If a top tooth or a number of top teeth together fit on the inside of the bottom teeth this is called a crossbite.  If this happens in the back of the arch near the molars it is referred to as a posterior crossbite.  Posterior crossbites can be tricky to correct with braces and wires (or clear aligners) alone.  Expanders add a force from the inside out and are therefore an excellent way to correct posterior crossbites.

    There can be a little bit of a learning curve when getting an expander.  They usually occupy some space in the roof of the mouth and therefore can cause some minor effects in our speech.  This will resolve after several days (sometimes a little quicker depending on how much you sing in the shower).  The appliance should be brushed and should receive as much love and attention as our teeth.  Crunchy and sticky foods should be eaten with caution as they can dislodge or get stuck on or underneath the expander.

    Expanders can seem a bit medieval depending on how you look at them.  However, they will be around into the future and beyond because of how predictably they are able to address crossbites, crowding, and skeletal imbalances.  Hopefully understanding how and why orthodontists use them regularly will make them seem a bit less foreign or frightening to those patients who may benefit from their use.

    Orthodontics is like a puzzle for each individual patient.  The shape and size of teeth and the shape and size of jaw bones are different for everyone.  The job of the orthodontist is to determine the best way to establish balance and harmony for all the pieces of the puzzle to fit together as best as possible.  An expander is an appliance that when properly used can restore balance where balance didn’t exist before... especially when it comes to the widths of the top and bottom jaws!

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding expanders.  We would be happy to discuss this in further detail!

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June 15th 2021

My child is SUPER nervous about the dentist!  What should I do?

It is very normal for children to be nervous and unsure about new and different experiences, including going to the dentist.  Many of us adults have fears of the dentist too!  Our faces and our mouths are very vulnerable areas of our body so it can feel overwhelming to have someone else enter that personal space.  Luckily there are some things that we can do to help to alleviate that anxiety and make the transition into the dental office an easier one for patients and parents.  Try some of these steps to help your little one be more at ease before their next visit to our office:

1. Talk to them about what to expect.

You can talk to them about what the experience is like at the dental office in positive terms.  Explain that dentists help to make their teeth strong and help to keep them healthy.  Explain that the dentist will talk with them about what to expect.  If you have dental anxiety yourself, try to be objective and leave your personal experiences out of your child’s expectations.  Don’t use any of our four-letter words, including shot, pain, numb, pull, hurt, and ouch.  Make sure your chats with them are uplifting and encouraging.

2. Read books and watch kid-friendly videos about going to the dentist.

There are many great resources that can be found that discuss going to the dentist.  Reading books and watching videos can be useful in helping a child understand what they can expect at the dentist.  Many children are visual learners so having a resource that gives visual cues can help them to better process the experience beforehand.  Some of our favorite books are My Tooth is Loose Dr. Moose!, Peppa Pig: Dentist Trip, and The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist.  PBS has great videos that families can reference, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

3. Visit a Pediatric Dentist.

Pediatric Dentists are specialists that receive additional training that focuses on childhood development and their understanding of specific milestones in a child’s life can help make kiddos feel more comfortable.  At Carolina Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry, we have a team of experts skilled in talking to kids and our office is specifically designed to help make children feel more comfortable.  We have more tools available to us to help us customize your child’s experience so that they receive the level of care they need and deserve.  We have private rooms and weighted blankets, music and videos, and an engaged team that can help your child feel more at ease. 

                                                Schedule A Visit With Our Office!

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Can I Still Wear My Retainer?

June 3rd 2021

                               

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Healthy Snacks & Drinks for Healthy Smiles!

April 8th 2021

 

HEALTHY SNACKS & DRINKS FOR HEALTHY SMILES!

Did you know that approximately one child in every 3 or 4 children ages 2-5 years has cavities? There are several ways cavities form, usually working in a combination. The main factor is snacking, which includes the types of foods and drinks we consume and how frequently we consume them.

Snacks that Can Contribute to Cavities

In general, we want to try to limit sticky, sugary, or high-carbohydrate foods and drinks. Sticky foods include fruit snacks, dried fruits (raisins, apricots, etc.), and candies (caramel, taffy, Starbursts, etc.). These foods contain sugars – whether natural or added – that stick to the surfaces of teeth. Even gummy vitamins are sweetened so that children will take them. Sticky foods can also trap other foods in the teeth, making them harder to clean off.

Snacks like chips, crackers, and cookies seem to target children. While the “snack pack” packaging may be convenient to throw in a lunch bag, these foods are high in carbohydrates (a fancy word for sugar). These foods break down rapidly in the mouth and stick easily on and between teeth. 

Want to test it out? Next time you eat an Oreo, check your teeth right after! You are likely to see black bits stuck on the tops of your back teeth, by your gums, and in between teeth. You can imagine how every time you eat similar foods (pretzels, chips, crackers, cookies), these areas get filled with food debris.

Drinks that Can Contribute to Cavities

A large number of drinks contain high levels of sugar. Many juices are advertised as, “no sugar added,” but have plenty of natural sugars and very little nutritional value. The Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that juice drinks (including 100% juice) have no essential role in a healthy diet for children, contribute to excessive calorie intake, and risk dental decay.

AAP’s recommendations for juice:

• No juice prior to 1 year old

• 4oz/day maximum for 1-3 year olds

• 4-6oz/day maximum for 4-6 year olds

• 8oz/day maximum for 7-18 year olds

What about sodas or other carbonated drinks? In addition to containing high sugar levels, bubbly drinks are acidic and can cause tooth enamel erosion, a double whammy! People who consume more sports drinks and sodas have higher rates of tooth decay.

Healthy Alternatives

Now for the good news! Many healthy snack alternatives are not only great for teeth but contribute to overall health. 

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FLUORIDE, TOOTHPASTE, AND PREVENTING CAVITIES

March 25th 2021

FLUORIDE, TOOTHPASTE, AND PREVENTING CAVITIES

What Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay.

What Does Fluoride Do?

• It slows/stops the weakening of tooth enamel (the hard outer layer of teeth).
• It restrengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to cavities.
• It reduces the metabolic activity of the bacteria that cause cavities.

How Does Fluoride Protect Teeth?

Drinking fluoridated water and brushing with fluoride toothpaste is among the most effective methods in reducing tooth decay in children.

Fluoridated community water is one of the most beneficial and inexpensive methods of reducing the incidence of cavities. Studies from the last 50+ years have demonstrated a 55-60% reduction in cavities following the introduction of water fluoridation! And there are hundreds of studies from researchers worldwide that back the safety of drinking optimally fluoridated water. 

Yay! For these reasons, we recommend drinking tap water over bottled water. Did you know most bottled waters do not contain fluoride? 

What Toothpaste Should I Use?

How Much Toothpaste Should I Use?

• For children under age 3 years, use about the size of a grain of rice.

First tooth - 3 year old: Rice sized

• For children 3 years and older, use about the size of a green pea.

Age 3 - 6 years old: Pea Sized

While many parents worry about their child not being able to spit out the toothpaste, research has shown that it is safe to brush with these amounts of fluoride toothpaste 2x/day, even if your child is swallowing some or all of this toothpaste. To limit swallowing toothpaste, we recommend that an adult dispense the proper amount of toothpaste and assist children with brushing their teeth.

Key Takeaways

• Fluoride is a safe and effective way to reduce cavities.

• Encourage drinking tap water throughout the day – it helps strengthen teeth!

• Use toothpaste that contains fluoride once there are teeth present to help prevent tooth decay!

• An adult should dispense toothpaste for young children

• Grain-of-rice sized amount for children under 3 years old

• Green-pea sized amount for children 3 years and older

• An adult should help children with brushing teeth (morning and nighttime).

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March 11th 2021

 

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WHY ARE BABY TEETH SO IMPORTANT?

February 25th 2021

WHY ARE BABY TEETH SO IMPORTANT?

There is nothing cuter than the smile of a baby with one solitary tooth on display for the world to see! They've worked so hard for that tooth to be seen! Those teeth started developing very early when the baby was still in the womb. And after all of the sleepless nights and days full of drool, that little pearly white finally makes its dramatic appearance. So, no wonder that happy little one is so willing to show off that grin to the whole world!

It is our job as parents and dental professionals to keep that cute grin healthy. But sometimes you might be wondering why they are so important if they only stick around for a few years? Baby teeth serve many important purposes. And there are some things that you can do at home to make sure they stay healthy and bright.

Proper Chewing and Eating

Baby teeth are very important in their function to help with proper chewing and eating. While kids can adapt to many circumstances, for them to be able to have a healthy and diverse diet that provides them with the nutrients they need they need healthy teeth to chew all of those new foods. Missing teeth or having pain from decayed teeth has been shown to limit the ability of kids to have a well-balanced diet which is necessary for their overall growth and development.

Stimulation of Jaw Muscles for Ideal Development

Have you ever heard the phrase “don’t use it then you lose it?” The development of jaw muscles is very much dependent on the chewing mechanics of baby teeth. If we don’t use those teeth to chew then much of the muscle development is lost, also known as atrophy. The chewing motion helps to stimulate proper jaw bone and muscle development.

Saving Space for the Permanent Teeth

Early loss of baby teeth can affect the space remaining for permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost before its time then drifting of the teeth around it can occur and the space for the permanent tooth can be lost, sometimes completely. This can be prevented to some extent if space maintainers are placed but, as all dentists would tell you, the best space maintainer for a permanent tooth is the baby tooth!

Speech Development

Some sounds are much easier to form if all of the baby teeth are present. While children are very adaptable and can recreate many sounds over time, missing baby teeth can make learning and developing those sounds much more challenging. Imagine trying to say “thank you” when your front teeth are gone. Even as an adult that has mastered those sounds, it would be very challenging!

Sweet Smiling Faces

Can you imagine anything better than your child looking up at you with a big, beautiful smile? Healthy teeth contribute to that bright smile. Your child is one of a kind and deserves to have the best self-esteem possible. A white smile is associated with health and beauty in our society and being able to display that for everyone will help them to have a positive self-image.

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP THOSE TEETH HEALTHY AND WHITE? 

There are some things that you can do at home to help keep those teeth healthy and bright. It starts with using fluoridated toothpaste and brushing the teeth every morning and night. We recommend brushing in the morning after breakfast and at night right before bed, avoiding anything to eat or drink after that nightly brushing. 

For children under the age of three, we recommend using toothpaste that amounts to a size of a grain of rice. For children above three, they can use the amount that is similar in size to a green pea. Most children need an adult to help when brushing. We recommend that the grown-up brushes first, allowing the children to “check behind” the adult to ensure that they did a good job of brushing all of the sugar bugs away! And flossing every night can clear away any food stuck between those chompers!

The sorts of things kids drink are just as important in keeping those teeth healthy. Our favorite drink is water! Water is sugar-free, doesn’t cause any changes to the mouth chemistry, and in some cases can have a beneficial amount of fluoride added to it to help protect against any cavities. White milk is our second favorite drink, but it also should be used with caution because it has natural sugars present in the milk. Any other drinks, like juice, soda, or sweet tea, should be saved for special occasions. Those drinks typically have ingredients added that can negatively affect teeth and lead to cavities.

Having a healthy diet is not only good for your body but it is also critical in having a great smile! Fresh fruits and veggies, cheese, and yogurt are good snacks not only for a growing body but also for a growing smile! Avoid sticky foods like gummy snacks, raisins, and sticky granola bars so they don’t get left behind in teeth. And foods like chips and crackers can make a paste when they are chewed and stick around for some time after the snack is all done!

Video: Baby Oral Health

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Happy October!

October 1st 2020

 

October brings Fall leaves, cooler temps, and pumpkin everything’s. It also brings awareness. As both National Orthodontic Health Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the next 31 days are filled with devotion to learning and opportunity. 

 

Orthodontic Health Awareness Month is a month centered around promoting good dental and orthodontic health. Benefits of orthodontic treatment and good overall oral hygiene can extend well beyond just aesthetics. While one of the major benefits of a healthier smile is overall mental and physical health and in lieu of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we chose to honor those past, current, and future fighters with the choice of all pink o-ties in our orthodontic offices. Choose pink, choose to inspire, and no matter where you are on your smile journey, choose Carolina Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry!

 

We look forward to what October brings! 2020 has certainly shown us many things, but moreover, it has been a powerful reminder that we are in this together. Be sure to call our office & follow along on our social media to see what promotional offers are in store this month! See you soon friends! 

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2019 Backpack Drive

June 12th 2019

• Backpacks
• Pencils
• Notebook Paper
• Calculators
• Glue Sticks
• Rulers
• Erasers
• 3-ring Binders
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Markers
• Highlighters
• Etc.

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SOCK GAME STRONG

June 19th 2018

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Dr. Jenna's Top 10!

June 5th 2018

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Dr. Arbon's Top 10!

May 31st 2018

1. Crazy socks
2. Listening to Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, & Ed Sheeran
3. The Cubs Baseball, Tarheels basketball, & Bears football
4. The beach
5. Wake surfing!
6. Coaching youth sports
7. Sushi
8. Backyard wiffle ball
9. Dad
10. Family

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May 7th 2018

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Welcome To Our Blog

May 2nd 2018

www.mycarolinasmile.com

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