One would think that once school let out for the summertime, you and your family could finally take a break from the hustle and bustle of the school year.  But as many parents know, that couldn’t be further from the truth, and in many cases, the summer months are just as jam-packed with activities and events as the regular school year.

Vacations and baseball games may have your calendar full, but don’t forget to make time for those important routine appointments, including your child’s back-to-school dental exam.  Not only are these check ups an important part of keeping your kid’s teeth healthy and strong, it’s also the law!

Illinois requires all school-aged children in grades K, 2^nd and 6^th to have a back-to-school exam. For your convenience, Grove can complete these school exams at the same appointment as a dental cleaning.  Mark two things off of your summer to-do list by scheduling a routine cleaning and mandatory school exam now!

Visiting the dentist isn’t the only way to keep kids’ teeth healthy.
These tips can help you guide your child toward better oral hygiene this summer:

• Encourage your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Children should floss at least once a day.
• Promote a nutritious diet with healthy snack foods such as fresh fruit, veggies, and cheeses.
• Limit high-carbohydrate foods and sugary snacks and drinks that cause tooth decay.
• If your child participates in sports and other recreational activities, make sure they always wear a protective mouthguard.

Appointments fill up fast, so beat the August rush and call to make your child’s back-to-school appointment today.

Maintaining healthy teeth requires more than daily brushing and flossing. In fact, don’t be surprised if at your next dental check-up your dentist asks you about your fluoride intake or your water supply. That’s because fluoride, a substance found naturally in drinking water, plays a critical role in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention.

Fluoride benefits children and adults.  It helps prevent and reverse the early signs of tooth decay by protecting teeth from erosion and strengthening the enamel.  Fluoride may be ingested from the food and water we eat and drink, or applied topically through toothpastes and mouth rinses containing fluoride. 

How much fluoride you need should be discussed with your dentist, but generally, children under 6 get the right amount of fluoride through a combination of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water. So, how do you know whether or not your tap water is fluoridated? Fluoridation levels in water differ from place to place. If you are unsure, contact your local water district to find out. 

When used appropriately, fluoride is safe and effective. But parents should be aware that too much fluoride before 8 years of age (a critical period when teeth are developing) could cause enamel fluorosis, discoloration of permanent teeth.Carefully supervise your children when they use any product containing fluoride, and keep fluoride out of reach of very young children.

If you have any questions about your water's fluoride content, the fluoridated products your child uses, or whether your child is receiving too much or too little fluoride, talk to your dentist. Grove Dental has experienced pediatric dentists on staff at all four office locations, dedicated exclusively to treating little mouths.

You know the routine: brush twice a day, floss daily and visit your dentist regularly to keep teeth healthy and strong.  Most of us have had these oral health habits instilled in us since we were young, and now they’ve become a normal part of our daily routines.  Good dental hygiene is a vital part of protecting teeth from harmful plaque and gum disease, while maintaining your best looking smile.

Apart from good dental hygiene, your diet and physical well-being can also play a major role in the health of your teeth and gums.  Good nutrition and exercise can keep your body healthy and reduce or eliminate stress, which will help resolve issues with teeth grinding, gum disease and other dental problems.   When teeth and gums are healthy, your entire body benefits, and your efforts may even help ward off serious systemic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and stroke which have been linked to gum disease.

Healthy Foods, Healthy Mouth

Your food choices also have a big impact on the health of your smile.  Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in sugar, as sugary and starchy foods are the biggest culprits in cavities and decay.  Avoid overeating, which can cause indigestion and acid reflux that can damage teeth and gums.  Instead of drinking soda, which is highly acidic, replace it with water.  If cutting out junk food is hard, then be sure to rinse and brush your teeth whenever you’ve strayed from a healthy food choice. Store a toothbrush or floss at the office or in your car so you are always prepared.

Combine your healthy eating habits with regular exercise for good heart health, circulation and reduced stress.  All of these positive lifestyle habits will be reflected in your dental health.

Bottom line: It pays off to maintain a lifestyle of good nutrition and exercise. Your oral health and general health go hand in hand, and a combination of good oral hygiene, regular visits to your dentist, proper nutrition and an exercise regimen will be evident in the way your whole body looks and feels, including your smile!

Renew Your Smile and Confidence with Dental Implants from Grove Dental

We are all too familiar with the classic, child-like holiday song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."  Missing teeth may be adorable for a young child, but for adults, both the health and emotional impact can be detrimental.  

This holiday season give yourself the gift of a new smile so that you can step into the New Year looking and feeling great. Whether you’re missing one tooth or multiple teeth, Grove Dental has the tooth replacement solution for you.  Dental implants replace missing teeth and restore your smile to the most natural appearance and function.

Using the latest in implant technology, Grove’s implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth, so after the procedure, you will have a full mouth of healthy teeth to show off.  The Grove doctors and specialists will care for you from start to finish.  You won’t need to visit multiple specialists or travel to different offices.  We can provide all of your implant care under one roof!

With years of clinical research and a remarkable overall success rate, dental implants offer the best long-term prognosis of any tooth replacement method.

• Mouth is Restored to Natural State
  Implants from Grove Dental look and feel like your own teeth.  Enjoy restored speech and a renewed ability to comfortably eat the foods you love.  
• Long-lasting
  Implants are durable like your natural teeth. With proper care, your implants can last a lifetime.
• Tooth-saving
  Dental implants won’t alter or impact adjacent teeth.  They fill in the space of missing teeth to protect remaining teeth from unwanted shifting.
• Improved oral and general health
  Implants stop the progression of jawbone loss that often follows tooth loss, maintaining the integrity of your facial structure.  Long-term oral health is also improved as implants allow easier access between teeth, rather than shifting teeth, which improves oral hygiene.

Don’t experience another holiday season singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Contact Grove Dental today and schedule your initial exam and consultation to find out if implants are right for you.

A baby’s teeth are at risk for tooth decay as soon as they erupt. Prolonged exposure of a child’s teeth to sugary liquids is a leading cause of decay.

Once a child reaches his or her first birthday they should know how to drink from a cup to reduce the damaging effects of tooth decay. The American Dental Association (ADA) offers the following tips for choosing a training cup.

• Avoid “no spill” cups. This type of training cup works the same as a baby bottle, requiring the child to suck on the valve rather than learning to sip from the cup.
• Choose training cups with a snap-on or screw-on lid and a spout.
• A cup with two handles and a round, weighted base that helps prevent spills is best for young children or those just learning to sip.
• A small plastic cup filled with only a small amount of liquid may also be used to help teach a child how to sip from a regular drinking cup.

What parents put into the cup is also important.   Excessive consumption of sugary drinks, like formula, milk and juices promotes tooth decay.  Offer your baby water between meals instead, and limit milk and juices to mealtimes when the mouth produces more saliva.  Frequent sips of sugary drinks throughout the day increase the risk for decay.

To prevent injury, it is also important that toddlers just learning how to walk do not play or run around with a training cup.  Falling while drinking from a cup may injure the child’s teeth or mouth.

A training cup should only be used temporarily until your child has learned how to sip from a cup. Combined with regular dental visits starting no later than your child’s first birthday, regular brushing and good nutrition, parents can promote good oral health habits that lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles.