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It's Back to School time, are your kids starting the school year off with a clean bill of health? According to the American Dental Association, a dental examination is as important as immunizations and booster shots and should be a regular part of back-to-school preparations. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that tooth decay affects U.S. children more than any other chronic infectious disease and 19% of children ages 2 to 19 years old have untreated tooth decay. Dental pain or disease can lead to difficulty in learning as well as hours of missed school.

Here are some things you can do to Keep your child's teeth and gums healthy.

1. Regular dental examinations are recommended to diagnose, and treat or prevent dental problems. Fluoride treatment and Sealants are an inexpensive way to help prevent that nasty tooth decay.

2. Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing is a must.

3. Eat healthy lunches and snacks, including grains, milk, cheese, raw vegetables, yogurt or fruit. Cut back on sugary foods and soft drinks.

4. Wearing a properly fitted mouth guard while participating in organized sports is a must if you want to avoid costly tooth repairs.

Follow these steps and you will instill, in you child, the importance of teeth and gum care. Your child's dental habits in the early years will set the pace for their dental health all the way in to adulthood.

Elizabeth Lopez - Lewis
Chief Operating Officer at Lake Texoma Dental Care & Wellness

Jamye Lott
Registered Dental Hygienist
Lake Texoma Dental Care & Wellness

June is National Candy Month! Dental professionals cringe at the thought of a whole month dedicated to those, sugar laden, cavity causing, confectionary delights. Now don’t get me wrong, It’s OK to have candy now and then. Just choose your candy wisely, and don’t gorge.

High quality chocolate is a good place to start. The chocolate typically found contains very little cacao, which is the basic ingredient in chocolate. The mass marketed chocolate is usually high in sugar and saturated fats. It’s not good for your body, or your teeth. High quality chocolate is made from cacao beans, which have tannins, and polyphoneols which can stop the development of bacteria in the mouth and plaque. Always choose dark chocolate without too much sugar. Now you can enjoy your Chocolate.

You can also choose sugar free candies. Xylitol is a popular sweetener used in sugar free candy. Xylitol has been shown to inhibit the growth of the oral bacteria that causes cavities.

If you don’t want to buy in to the hype of National Candy Month, choose other snacks and goodies like, nuts, string cheese, pretzels, or chips. Although, these can still be considered junk food, it’s still better than candy loaded with sugar.

No matter what you choose to snack on, you should always follow good dental hygiene. Prevention is still the #1 way to avoid cavities.

The American Dental Association recommended tooth decay prevention techniques for adults and children are,

• Bruch at least twice daily with toothpaste containing fluoride, and floss teeth.
• Eat well-balanced meals with limited sugar and starch intake.
• Visit you r dentist twice a year for cleanings and oral examinations.
• Consider having your dentist apply dental sealants. Sealants are a coating that protects the enamel, to the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

Now take these suggestions, schedule your tooth cleaning, and enjoy National Candy Month!!!!!

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