Tooth Fairy on Life Support

The following post was emailed to us by a patient... It started as an email from the father to the mother on the morning after there was supposed to be a visit from the Tooth Fairy, then was passed on to us. We simply could not pass up the opportunity to share this with you. However, our disclaimer is this: it is NOT for the "true" believers, so allow those that truly believe, to read at a later date... Enjoy...

I forgot to replace Annie's tooth with a dollar last night. She was disappointed, but didn't rip the sackcloth and pour ashes on her head like Greta; yes, that is a sad reminder we have done this to both girls. There is a good reason we don't have a third child.

I told Annie that the fairy couldn't make it last night because of the weather and that they were awake through the night. As Annie digested this lie, covering for the chief lie of the tooth fairy, Greta had that look that only Greta can have. I could tell she wanted to hang on to this childlike belief, but the evidence now demanded a verdict. I'm putting words in her head, but I think it went something like, "The tooth fairy is now dead to me."

Rather than sulk in this cold, hard fact of life, Greta dug deep and realized the tooth fairy was not yet dead to Sissy. Annie and I went on a search for her clothes and when we came back into the room, Greta said, "Annie, are you sure the tooth fairy didn't leave you something? You may want to look again." She had put one of her own dollars under Annie's pillow when we left the room. That was a rare and tender moment forever etched in my soul. Our sweet Greta is growing up to be a liar just like her mom and dad.

I ended up distracting Annie and gestured to Greta to take the dollar away without Annie noticing. I winked at Greta and she picked up on that we would take care of it tonight. It was a wordless bond between two liars.

The tooth fairy is dead to one, and on life support for the younger.

Spring Time is Sports Time!

With the first sign of spring also comes the first sign of spring sports! Spring is such a welcome change from the dreariness of wintertime. Everyone is tired of being inside and ready to shed their winter skin and their serious case of Cabin Fever and trade it all in for sunshine and some good exercise! Did you know, though, that this time of year often finds many children in the ER or dental office with broken teeth, jaw injuries and other sports related trauma? Collisions and trauma to the mouth and face are common occurances in many sports.  Knowing the risks of these types of injuries, you can greatly decrease the potential for injuries and the severity of these traumas with the use of a good mouthguard during sports activities.

An ideal mouthguard should provide maximum protection for the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures.  It should be resilient and easily cleaned.  It should not restrict speech or breathing and needs to be comfortable with a good fit.  A good sports mouthguard can prevent or lessen tooth fracture and tooth, jaw, lip, tongue and facial injuries.  An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth when not wearing a mouthguard.  Mouthguards may also reduce the rate and severity of concussions.  Think of a mouthguard as an insurance policy against these sports related injuries.


There are three basic types of sports mouthguards availible and they come at different price levels. The first type is available at your local drugstore or sporting goods store and is a ready-made guard. These guards are not recommended because they provide very limited options in fit and offer very little injury protection.  These guards are usually uncomfortable and end up not being worn.  The second type are "boil-and bite" guards sold over-the-counter. These are made to make a more form-fitting mouthguard and should provide a better, more snug fit. However, the boil and bite guard also can have fit problems and although it offers better protection than the first type of guard and is certainly better than no guard, it is still lacking in the protection of the teeth and jaws.  The third type of guard is a custom fitted guard fabricated by your dentist.  This guard requires an impression of your upper teeth and is custom made for ideal fit and maximum protection.  As seen below, these guards have extensions that protect the teeth and supporting bone.  These type guards are the most expensive, but offer far superior fit, comfort, and durability when compared to the other types. 

Custom Sports Mouthguard

 With spring sports activities starting, I suggest you talk to your dentist about mouthguards for a safe, injury free season of fun!

What No One Wants To Hear About Soft Drinks

I know you probably cringed when you read the title. I bet you even considered not reading this at all. We've become a society that places importance on convenience more so than on our overall health. That is why fast food chains are so popular and tasty beverages from a can are just another way we can make things faster and simpler.

Did you know that sipping soft drinks all day can cause serious plaque and decay? Plaque is basically a sticky form of bacteria that lines your mouth. This bacteria feeds on the sugar that passes through your mouth when you eat and drink. It's not just the sugar in the soft drinks that is harmful, but the acid as well. Acid causes weakening and damage in your tooth enamel.  Even diet soft drinks are very acidic, so they can still be damaging to your teeth.  The acid attack from soft drinks lasts for around twenty minutes after you are done drinking and the process restarts with every sip!

You can decrease your chances of decay caused by soft drinks by taking the following steps:

* Do not sip the drink for long periods of time. Consider only drinking soda at meals when you tend to drink a little faster and there are other ingredients helping to keep the acid and sugar from settling on your teeth.

* Use a straw if you are a "sipper." This will keep much of the liquid from touching your teeth.

* Never drink juice or soft drinks before bed. Always brush your teeth, floss and even consider mouthwash before bed to thoroughly clean your mouth and teeth. This will keep sugar or acid from settling on your teeth for the extended hours you are sleeping.

* Drink plenty of water. Also try to swish water around and rinse after drinking a soft drink to help dilute the sugar and acid.

* Consider taking a break from soft drinks altogether, but never let your child drink more than one a day. Children simply do not brush as well as adults do and the consequences for their habits can often be much worse than with adults.

Have your kids check out this website that explains the damages soft drinks can cause.  http://www.mndental.org/flash_sip/home.html

* Continue to get regular check-ups. If you fall into the category of a heavy soda drinker, it is vitally important that you get your regular cleanings every 6 months to have the plaque that settles on your teeth professionally removed.

Did you know? Some of the most popular soft drinks today have anywhere from 9-12 teaspoons of sugar in every 12 ounce can!  Follow the tips above to prevent problems caused by soft drinks and you can expect to have a healthy smile for a long time!



(source: Minnesota Dental Association 2002, American Dental Association)

Tooth Decay in Babies... It Really Happens!

Every parent has been there: It's 11PM and for the 3rd night in a row your baby just won't settled down, won't stop crying. You ask yourself over and over what you could do to help him go to sleep. You may consider putting a bottle of formula or the sippy cup of milk in the bed just to get him to stop crying, just once. Then twice. And before you know it, you've gotten yourself into a serious routine. Those routines are difficult to break, as every parent knows well. However, did you know that putting your baby or toddler to bed while sipping milk or juice can greatly affect his/her teeth?

Tooth decay in infants is often called baby bottle decay.  Juices and even milk have sugars that can collect around the teeth, allowing bacteria to feed on the sugar while the baby is sleeping. When a baby is put to bed with a bottle or allowed to have a bottle or cup of juice throughout the day or night, it can allow this bacteria to go to work in the mouth, eventually forming decay. Decay can form even on the youngest children with the newest teeth. Spots may start to appear on the front teeth, either yellow or darker in color and usually do not cause any pain to your child initially.

Tooth decay in infants and adults is caused by bacteria in the mouth.  This bacteria uses the sugar in foods we eat to produce acid which in turn breaks down the hard tooth surface.  The bacteria is normally passed from the primary care giver to the infant, so it is important to take steps to prevent this transmission.  A common practice of many parents is to clean a dropped pacifier in their own mouth before giving it back to the child.  This is a common way the bacteria is passed to the infant and can also pass other germs.  In addition, it is not a good idea to dip the pacifier in honey or any other sugary food or drink.

Your baby's teeth are important for many reasons.  Besides chewing and smiling, it is important to maintain the baby teeth until it is time for their permanent replacements.  If lost early, spaces can close and lead to crowding and eruption problems in the permanent teeth.  The baby teeth are also important for development of speaking skills.  If you are concerned about your child’s teeth, at any age, I recommend contacting your dentist for a consultation. You may want to talk to your pediatrician about other options to soothe your baby when he/she is fussy, but I personally recommend water instead of juice for between meal drinks. In the futre, I will discuss more topics concerning infants, toddlers, and children, including the first dental visit, pacifiers, and thumb sucking habits.

The Big Deal About Dental Health

You may sometimes wonder why it is you "have" to get your teeth cleaned every 6 months. Have you ever wondered why you can't go every year, or better, every 4 years (like when you missed that whole block of time while you were in college)? A dental exam checks for signs of tooth decay or damage, gum disease, and oral cancer.  A professional cleaning is needed to remove plaque and tarter from your teeth that normal brushing and flossing cannot remove, including areas below the gumline.  Here are some other good reasons to visit regularly...


1. As mentioned above, everytime I do an exam, I check for oral cancer. Yes, every single time. Lack of care for your teeth and gums has been known to contribute to oral cancer and your dentist can be the first to detect any abnormalities in your mouth.  It is not uncommon for spots to show up under your tongue or the inside of your cheek, places you cannot see yourself.

2. The health of your mouth can mirror the condition of the rest of your body. In other words, if you have an unhealthy mouth, chances are there are aspects of the rest of you that are unhealthy as well.  Research has shown an association between gum disease and other conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. 

3. Gingivitis can cause big problems for pregant women. Many studies have proven that what we call "pregnancy gingivitis" is associated with low birth weight and pre-term birth. Many women experience sensitive teeth and gums while pregnant, which is why it is important to stick to your regular check-ups during pregnancy (even if you don't feel like it).

Moral of the story is this, taking care of your mouth by brushing and flossing everyday, watching out for any abnormalities and keeping up with your regular visits can keep you and the rest of your body healthy for a long, long time! Early detection and prevention will help you maintian a healthy smile for your lifetime!  It's quick, it's easy and it's worth it!



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