2010 May | Starsmilez

May 25

Fun Dental Experiments To Do With Kids

Posted by sdaugherty on Tuesday May 25, 2010 Under Children's Oral Health Education, General Tips

Here are some sun experiments to do with your kids to show how the things we eat affect our teeth.

Fluoride Power

This experiment simulates the protection
power of Fluoride.

What you’ll need:

1 bottle of Fluoride rinse solution (available from your dentist, local dental supply company and some pharmacies)
2 eggs
1 bottle of white vinegar
3 containers

What to do:
Pour four inches of Fluoride rinse solution into one of the containers and then place an egg in the solution. Let it sit for five minutes. Remove the egg. Pour four inches of vinegar into each of the remaining two containers. Put the egg that has been treated with the Fluoride into one container of vinegar and the untreated egg in the other container of vinegar.

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May 24

StarSmilez Trivia Question #3

Posted by sdaugherty on Monday May 24, 2010 Under Contests

What is the most common chronic disease among children ages 5-17?

See contest rules and submit your answer HERE for a chance to win!

Check out Super Fun Dental Facts below…

Permanent link to this post (57 words, 7 images, estimated 14 secs reading time)

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May 24

Dental Care For All

Posted by sdaugherty on Monday May 24, 2010 Under Children's Oral Health Education, General Tips

More than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses. Despite these numbers, many children still do not visit the dentist. In addition, almost 50 percent of tooth decay remains untreated in low-income children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The need for dental care cannot be ignored. Dental diseases grow progressively worse without treatment, which influences overall health and may require increasingly costly care,” says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Mark Ritz, DDS, MAGD. “However, most oral health problems can be prevented. Regular dental examinations, oral health education and primary disease prevention will dramatically reduce the burden of dental disease in most patients.”

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May 17

StarSmilez Trivia Question #2

Posted by StarSmileZ Team on Monday May 17, 2010 Under Contests

How many types of bacteria make up dental plaque?

See contest rules and submit your answer HERE for a chance to win!

Check out Super Fun Dental Facts below…

Permanent link to this post (55 words, 7 images, estimated 13 secs reading time)

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May 16

8 Great Tips for Taking Care of Your Children’s Teeth

Posted by sdaugherty on Sunday May 16, 2010 Under Children's Oral Health Education, General Tips

1. Remember, a child’s dental care begins before birth.
A child’s teeth form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy. An expectant mother must practice good health habits to ensure proper development of her unborn child’s teeth. This means consuming plenty of calcium-rich foods such as leafy greens, fortified cereals and dairy or soy products.2. Just because you can’t see your baby’s teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
At birth, your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are almost completely formed in the jaw. The first four teeth will usually erupt when the baby is between 6 months and 1 year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything in the meantime. Simply wiping a baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad after feeding will remove harmful plaque and bacteria.

3. Take your child to the dentist by his/her first birthday.
A dentist will check your 1-year-old for tooth decay, as well as identify fluoride needs and address any potentially dangerous habits such as thumb sucking.

4. Don’t use toothpaste for children under 2.
As soon as the first teeth appear, brush teeth with a little bit of water. After children have reached the age of 2, toothpaste can be introduced in pea-sized amounts.

5. Teach your children the proper brushing techniques.
Most children will be able to brush their own teeth by age 6 or 7. Select for them a brush that has soft, rounded bristles and teach them to use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Show them how to use circular brush strokes to reach all surfaces of teeth, and make sure they spit out the toothpaste and rinse with water after brushing to avoid swallowing any toothpaste.

6. Don’t forget the floss!
As soon as any two teeth touch, make sure that you use floss to clean between your child’s teeth. This is the only way to avoid decay in places where a toothbrush can’t reach.

7. Make trips to the dentist fun for your child.
It is important for your child to have a good attitude toward dental visits. Be positive and remind your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who is helping to take care of his or her teeth. Set a good example yourself by brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly.

8. Take an active role in your child’s oral health.
You should always inform the dentist as to the status of your child’s health. Tell the dentist if your child is ill, what medications your child may be taking and if your child has any known drug allergies. If you don’t understand a dentist’s recommendations for the treatment of your child, ask for a more detailed explanation. Ask if there are other treatments available for this problem and, if so, how these other options compare cost wise. Then ask which of these methods would be most effective in treating the problem

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May 12

StarSmilez Trivia Question #1:

Posted by StarSmileZ Team on Wednesday May 12, 2010 Under Contests

What percentage of people surveyed say they floss daily?

See contest rules and submit your answer HERE for a chance to win!

Check out Super Fun Dental Facts below…

Permanent link to this post (55 words, 7 images, estimated 13 secs reading time)

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May 12

Mrs. New Jersey and StarSmilez Promote Healthy Smiles

Posted by StarSmileZ Team on Wednesday May 12, 2010 Under Oral Health Events, StarSmilez® Personalities Spotted

As a practicing dental hygienist Kimberly Meehan is a powerful spokesperson promoting children’s oral health awareness with the goal of building healthier communities one child at a time. You will find her visiting community centers and school classrooms to educate children on the importance of proper brushing, good nutrition, and dental sealants. We love being a big part of Kim’s presentations and helping her get the message out to kids and their families.

See her blog and story here:

Thank you Kimberly for everything you do.

http://kimberlymeehan.blogspot.com/2010/04/oral-health-presentation-at-7th-avenue.html

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May 06

Details On Thumb, Finger and Pacifier Habits

Posted by sdaugherty on Thursday May 6, 2010 Under Contests, General Tips

There are several reasons why do children suck on fingers, pacifiers or other objects. This type of sucking is completely normal for babies and young children. It provides security. For young babies, it is a way to make contact with and learn about the world. In fact, babies begin to suck on their fingers or thumbs even before they are born.