Tag: Kid’s teeth

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!

Dental Emergencies

Apr, 3, 2019

*Do you know what to do in a dental emergency?*

Spring is in the air, and kids are competing in outdoor sports, riding bikes, or maybe just playing outside. This burst of activity is great for growing bodies, but oftentimes the enthusiasm outpaces their abilities. Despite improvements in protective devices – such as advanced football facemasks, full-face bicycle helmets, and fitted mouthguards – dental injuries are still too common in active youths. If your child collides with someone or takes a tumble, and comes up clutching their mouth, would you know what to do?

There are several standard classifications of tooth damage that you should be aware of:

Avulsed– Completely knocked out, with tooth roots intact
Displaced– Tooth is intact, but has been knocked loose and is crooked or pushed deeper into the gumline
Chipped/Broken– A small or large piece is detached and separated from the main tooth body
Cracked/Fractured– A fissure is present and visible, possibly extending the width, depth, or length of the entire tooth

What To Do

If you or your child experiences any of these injuries, call us immediately and we will see them as soon as you can visit our office. However, by taking appropriate “First Aid” steps, you can increase the chances of saving a damaged tooth.

Avulsed Tooth

For permanent/adult teeth, the best chance to salvage the tooth is by replanting it within 5 minutes of the incident. Within that window, the body still recognizes the tooth and the ligaments surrounding bone are present on the root surface and can naturally re-attach.

Action: Rinse the tooth, holding the tooth by the crown and avoiding touching the root surface. Push the tooth firmly back into its socket, and keep pressure on the tooth so it stays in place. If it will not stay in the socket, keep it moist in the patient’s saliva (between a cheek and gum), or soak it in cold milk or water to preserve it until you get to our office.

With primary or “baby teeth”, do not attempt to replant, as this could damage the emerging adult tooth. Use direct pressure to control the bleeding, and call us ASAP so that we can assess the situation and offer prudent treatment, if necessary.

Displaced Tooth

If a primary or permanent tooth has been pushed out of place or deeper into the jaw, do NOT attempt to reposition it. Call Meyer & Johns Dental as soon as possible, since the longer a tooth is left out of alignment, the more difficult it will be to return to its original position.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

This is the most frequent tooth damage for both children and adults. If possible, locate and preserve the the tooth fragment (see above), since tooth-colored bonding materials are available that allow seamless reattachment in some cases.

Damaged teeth can sometimes be salvaged, if you know what steps to take.

Cracked/Fractured Tooth

Similar to a chip or break, these types of injuries generally result in more extensive damage. Don’t try to wiggle or remove any portion of the tooth, and avoid direct biting pressure. If tooth pulp is left exposed by the damage, there may be pain or sensitivity to contact and temperature changes. An examination by Drs. Meyer or Johns can determine whether the tooth can be saved, or other possible repair options.

As always, if you have problems with your teeth — sports-related or other — don’t wait until your next appointment. Letting us know early is very important to maximizing your options and avoiding further damage and/or unnecessary repair work.