The preschoolers of Wyoming Valley Montessori were all smiles when dental assistant Terri Dempsey of Back Mountain Dental shared a presentation about good foods and great smiles to celebrate National Nutrition Month. Through visual and interactive education, Terri taught the young scholars, age 18 months to 6 years, how to choose healthy snacks and how good foods affect oral health. 

“I taught the children that what you put in your mouth should be good for your body and your mouth. Even at a very young age, kids can make wise decisions about snacks and drinks, and they understand the basic purpose of eating right.” Terri explained to her audience that apples are great foods for cleaning your teeth, and they also make a healthy snack for your body. Celery, carrots, and other crunchy veggies help strengthen our teeth, so they are good snacks, as well.

“I also tell kids that it’s okay to have a treat now and then; a piece of candy is fine. But they should clean their teeth after eating sweets, and they should eat healthy snacks regularly.” The crazy number of the day is always number 2, according to Terri, because kids should brush twice a day for 2 minutes and visit the dentist at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

In addition to discussing nutrition and oral health, Terri focused on making children feel comfortable with dentists and dental professionals. She wore her medical mask to show children what they might see at the dental office, and she explained hat dental visits are fun. All the preschoolers left the presentation with goodie bags filled with stickers, tooth brushes, floss, and pencils.

About Back Mountain Dental
Terri Dempsey has 17 years of experience as a dental assistant, and she has been with Dr. James DeFinnis since 2006. Located near Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, Back Mountain Dental provides sedation, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry to patients of all ages.

For more information, or to schedule a presentation by Terri at your school, contact Jodee DeFinnis of Back Mountain Dental at jodee@backmountaindental.com or 570-763-4360.

 Biomeans life, and mimetic is a form of mimic. A biomimetic crown, then, mimics a natural tooth. Contemporary techniques allow dentists to remove minimal tooth structure – only that which is damaged. Then, with modern dental materials and CEREC technology, a dentist can create a biomimetic crown that closely imitates natural tooth enamel. Traditional crowns require significant tooth reduction, which can compromise a tooth’s health and necessitate a root canal. Traditional crowns are also known to irritate the gums where they dip beneath the gum line. Conservative biomimetic crowns simply don’t present these issues. They restore function and appearance with less severe side effects as traditional crowns.  Find out more about CEREC at http://www.backmountaindental.com/generaldentistry/cerec.php

Teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth-colored fillings, and white crowns are just a few of the cosmetic treatments that improve oral health and appearance. Visit www.BackMountainDental.com/smile  for contest details, and schedule your new patient visit today.

• Saliva increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.
• Limit between-meal snacks and sugary beverages.
• If you crave a snack, choose nutritious foods.
• If you chew gum, choose sugarless gum.  Sugarless gum increases saliva flow and helps wash out food and neutralize decay-producing acid.
• Drink water
• Brush your teeth daily and floss daily with dental products that have received the ADA Seal of acceptance.
• See your dentist regularly.
• To learn more visit us at http://www.backmountaindental.com/generaldentistry/cleanings.php

Why are baby teeth important?

A. They help a child learn how to speak properly.

B. Baby teeth help to build a child’s self esteem.

C. Baby teeth make sure that there is enough room for permanent teeth to come in.

D. Baby teeth are important for feeding and good nutrition in children.

E. Tooth decay can cause infection, poor nutrition, poor weight gain and early loss of baby teeth that could damage permanent teeth.

How can I prevent tooth decay in my infant or toddler?

A. Starting the first few days after birth, take a wet cloth and wipe it over your baby’s gums after each feeding.

B. Never give your baby a pacifier dipped in soda or other sugar filled drinks.

C. Frequent consumption of foods high in sugar (for example, candy, cookies, sweetened beverages, fruit juice) greatly increase the risk of developing tooth decay.

D. If your must put your baby to bed with a bottle, make sure it is filled only with water.

E. Babies who fall asleep with milk or juices tend to develop baby bottle tooth decay – decay that forms when children are allowed to drink sugary liquids throughout the day and night from a bottle.

F. Use a cotton swab or small toothbrush to clean the baby’s teeth daily to remove plaque.

G. Once a month, perform a lift the lip exam on your child to check for decay.

a. Have your child sit on the floor and look up at you. Lift their lip and check the front and back of the top and bottom teeth. Look for white spots and/or dark stains on your child’s teeth. White spots on teeth can be a sign of early tooth decay or cavities and dark stains may indicate current tooth decay. If you see any spots or stains, call us. In addition, make sure you brush your child’s teeth each day using a very small smear of toothpaste without fluoride.

H. Avoid sharing silverware or chewing food for your baby.

a. Bacteria that live in your mouth can cause tooth decay in your baby’s mouth.

I. Promote breastfeeding rather than feeding with infant formula.

a. If using formula, “ready –to-feed” formula is preferred over formula mixed with water containing fluoride during the first year of life to help ensure that infants do not exceed the optimal amount of fluoride intake.

b. If using powdered or liquid concentrate infant formula, it should be mixed with water that is fluoride-free or contains low levels of fluoride to reduce the risk of fluorosis.

J. Use a sippy cup only as a temporary transition between a bottle and a regular cup. 

K. Tooth decay is an infectious disease! To avoid transmitting to your child the germs or bacteria that cause tooth decay, keep dental plaque off of your teeth by brushing and flossing.

a. Dental plaque is made up of the germs or bacteria that cause tooth decay.

How can I prevent tooth decay in my school-aged child?

A. Toothbrushing at least two times a day using toothpaste with fluoride.

B. Until your child is 6 or 7, you or another adult should help your child in brushing and flossing their teeth.

C. Once a child has two teeth touching each other, it is important to begin flossing the child’s teeth once a day.

a. Parents should floss their child’s teeth until the child is approximately 9 years old.

D. Only use a smear sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride on your child’s toothbrush.

a. Make sure they spit the toothpaste out instead of swallowing it.

E. Give your child juice only at mealtimes and not throughout the day.

F. Giving your child healthy meals and snacks and teaching them healthy habits.

What else do I need to know?

A. It is important to brush and floss everyday because there are serious consequences from not taking care of your teeth.

a. These consequences include: Bad breath, tooth decay, tooth loss, pain, infection, and gum disease.

B. Make brushing fun for your children. Be enthusiastic, it is contagious.

C. Remember to be a good example for your child because they learn their good dental habits from you.