Tag: brush

Dental Care at College

Dec, 13, 2019

dental care for college students — *Is your college student prepared to take care of their teeth?*

Last month we talked about habits for your school-age children. But what about your student that’s in Grades 13 – 16? Yes, we’re talking about dental care for college students.

Let’s face it – if they live close enough, your student will be home frequently for food, money, and to do laundry. Aside from making sure they have an adequate supply of toothpaste, floss, and one toothbrush per semester, there’s not a lot you can do once they’re out of your sight. You’ll have to trust that the good habits you’ve ingrained during their life will stick during the transition into adulthood.

But your child has most likely had only one or two different dentists in their lifetime by the time they move out of the house. In addition to all the other adjustments college students must make, they should also have a dental “home away from home”.

Check-ups

The average college student is home at least twice a year for several weeks. They should be able to continue their twice-annual schedule of check-ups here at Meyer & Johns Dental in Springfield. But book their Winter Break appointments today – the holidays are a busy time for everyone! You should still identify a local dentist in your student’s location, especially if they’ve had past problems. Establishing that relationship ahead of time may make it easier to get an appointment if a dental issue comes up.

Emergency care

Dental care isn’t usually something that people think about when considering collegiate athletics, scholarships, and intramural competitions. But a disproportionately high percentage of mouth injuries occur during sports. With this in mind, if your student is an athlete you should be prepared. Make that connection with a local provider ahead of time. That way your athlete isn’t blindly searching for a dentist immediately after undergoing a physical trauma.

If your student-athlete is injured while playing ion a sanctioned school training or competition, they are covered under the NCAA’s Catastrophic injury policy, which includes dental injuries but carries a $90K deductible. According to a 2016 NCAA survey, 70-80% of D1/D2 schools provide secondary health insurance to cover injuries with a treatment cost of less than $90K.

The exception is that full coverage is provided to all athletes who participate in championship events.

Fun Candy Facts for 2019

Oct, 24, 2019

At Meyer & Johns, we’re getting our costumes planned, and decorating the office for Halloween. In spite of all the candy, we love this holiday so much we celebrate the whole month long. In honor of the observance, we’re taking our annual look at America’s favorite candy.

Big Business

Despite an overall reduction in consumer spending, Halloween candy sales are expected to hold steady at $2.6 billion, with 95% of all U.S. households purchasing some type of candy. And according to the National Retail Federation, the most popular candy nationwide this year is M&M’s. It increased in popularity by 23%, leading to double-digit gains on the Favorites list and leap-frogging over last year’s #1 and perennial top contender Reese’s cups.

Pass on These?

Another survey, conducted by CandyStore.com, ranked the least-favorite candies of all time. You know, the ones that you find at the bottom of the Halloween bag weeks (or months, or maybe October 1, 2020) after all the rest is long gone. Here is their Bottom 10 list of America’s Worst Candy:

10. Bit-O-Honey

9. Good & Plenty

8. Licorice (Black, NOT Twizzlers!)

7. Smarties

6. Tootsie Rolls

5. Necco Wafers

4. Wax Coke Bottles

3. Peanut Butter Kisses (aka Mary Janes)

2. Circus Peanuts (#1 worst in 2018)

1. Candy Corn (Whaaaaat…?!)

We know there will be some intense debate over some of these on the list, which includes a couple of our personal favorites. But now is the time for us as dentists to point out that any and all of these can be the worst for kids’ teeth if proper brushing doesn’t happen.

Managing Candy consumption

For both overall and tooth health, the candy intake of children should be monitored. Make sure they’re not sneaking into the bag between meals (or before breakfast). Set up parameters that work for both you and your child, and then stick to them. And as always, make sure any consumption is followed up with a thorough brushing.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Meyer & Johns Dental!

Brushing Alternatives Away from Home

Oct, 18, 2019

By now everyone has settled into the school year routine of homework, carpools, and lunchboxes. But does your child’s routine include tooth care at school? Do they have any brushing alternatives?

Ideally, your child has the tools, time, and opportunity for brushing their teeth after finishing lunch. But because most schools can’t facilitate mass brushing, here are a couple of tips you can teach kids. These early actions may help instill a habit of good oral care around meals – even when it’s inconvenient.

Rinse

All it really takes is a mouthful of water from the drinking fountain, a couple of quick swishes around their mouth, and then spit it back out. This helps to dislodge food particles from nooks, crannies, and in-between spaces of teeth. It also helps by washing away any sugary or acidic residue from the surface of teeth. (Just make sure that the Spit Out is back into the drinking fountain or a sink – not at another student!)

Rub

If your child is old enough, they can bring their own travel brush and paste and visit the bathroom sink after lunch. But if a brush isn’t an option, using a finger with a paper towel or napkin wrapped around it makes a decent substitute. This simple contact with tooth surfaces, along with rinsing, is great at removing meal residue.

Chew

Do you know those gum commercials that claim to help prevent cavities? They’re true. We’ve often pointed out the importance of saliva and the natural substances it contains. Chewing stimulates saliva production and helps flood teeth with natural cleaning and strengthening compounds. The kicker? It MUST BE Sugar-Free!

As children’s teeth are developing, it’s more important than ever to keep cavity-causing substances from settling on their teeth for extended periods of time. We can help reinforce these brushing alternatives with them at their next visit. Just have them ask us!

Gum Disease: What’s Below the Surface?

Jun, 28, 2019

We spend most of our time talking about teeth. As dentists, we can’t avoid it – that’s just what we do. However, dentistry is about far more than just the 32-ish teeth that most of us have in our mouths.

Breaking News: Your gums are just as important! Healthy gums cushion teeth while chewing, and help protect against decay. But sometimes gum disease gets in the way of them doing their job. Usually, this is caused by built-up plaque resulting from poor dental hygiene. But in some cases, there is a genetic predisposition or an immune disorder behind it. Too often, though, gum disease is caused by smoking, which increases the risk by 100% in tobacco users, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

The two main types of gum disease are:

Gingivitis

When plaque builds up, bacteria can flourish. And not the good bacteria we’ve told you about — this kind causes red and inflamed gums. Over time, this can lead to pain and bleeding during brushing, which prevents proper cleaning and compounds the problem. If left unchecked, gingivitis can potentially lead to the more-serious ailment below.

Periodontitis

This condition is an infection within the gums, which can lead to tooth loss and even permanent damage to the jaw. The infection grows when gum and bone separate from teeth, creating pockets where toxins collect. The condition slowly erodes the tissue surrounding teeth, loosening the socket and eventually leading to tooth loss and possible bone damage.

A Pound of Cure

The best way to avoid these conditions is to brush and floss — regularly and effectively. Be sure to let us know if you have any prolonged redness or tenderness in your gums.