Grove's Blog

Grove's Blog

Posts for tag: Kids

October 31, 2012
Category: General
Tags: Kids   Candy   Halloween  

Child safety is important year round, and Halloween is no exception. At Grove, we want all of our patients to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your little, trick or treater has a healthy and happy Halloween.

  • Stay visible.  Avoid trick or treating in unfamiliar neighborhoods or homes that are poorly lit. Have your child wear light colors and apply reflective tape to their costume so that they are easily visible to traffic. To keep their path lit at all times, children should carry a flashlight.   
  • Costume considerations. Avoid cumbersome masks that make it difficult to navigate sidewalks and large crowds, and apply fun makeup instead. Kids should also avoid long costumes that drag the ground to avoid tripping.
  • Safety in numbers. Children should always trick or treat in groups and never alone. Younger children should be accompanied by a grown up.
  • Inspect your treats.  Before you let your kids dive into their bag of goodies, check for signs of tampering. Torn wrappers or candies not in their original packaging should be thrown away.
  • Consider healthy alternatives.
    With so many treats in your child’s bag, it may be tempting to overindulge. It’s important to remind your child that sugary candies can lead to tooth decay and cavities. Encourage your child to eat a small amount of candy in one sitting rather than grazing on candy throughout the day. Limit hard, chewy candies, such as taffy, lollipops or caramels that stick to the teeth, damage dental work and increase the period of time in which teeth are exposed to sugar. Opt for soft candy that can be eaten quickly, such as chocolate instead. Follow candy consumption with a glass of water and thorough tooth brushing.

For many children, Halloween is one of the best nights of the year. But trick-or-treating can be dangerous if kids and parents don’t make safety a priority. Take these safety tips from Grove Dental into consideration before you send your youngsters out for a night of Halloween fun!  Happy Halloween from your doctors and staff at Grove Dental!

 

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July 23, 2012
Category: Oral Health
Tags: Pediatric   Kids   Dental Injuries  

For kids, summertime means outdoor fun and activities, such as biking, roller skating, swimming and sports. Kids will be kids when enjoying summer activities. Unfortunately, warm summer weather can also mean injuries to the teeth and mouth.  

Make sure you’re prepared to take action immediately should your child suffer a dental injury. Keep the following tips in a prominent place to reference quickly in the event of a dental emergency.

Tips from Grove Dental Pediatric Dentists for handling your child’s dental emergency:

  • If your child’s tooth is dislodged and it is a permanent tooth, locate the tooth and rinse it gently with water. If possible, place the tooth back in the child’s socket. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, place it in a container of milk or water.  Call Grove Dental right away for further instructions.
  • If your child chips or fractures a tooth, experiences facial swelling or pain, or breaks his braces or oral appliance, call the Pediatric Department at Grove Dental.
  • Keep Grove Dental’s number on hand so that you are always prepared if your child sustains an oral injury. Grove Dental:  Bolingbrook 630-759-8940, Downers Grove 630-969-5350, Lombard 630-627-4680, Wheaton 630-653-8899

Take extra precaution and teach your kids the importance of safe outdoor fun. This should include how to play safely on playground equipment, why kids should not run at the pool, and what it means to play nicely with other children to avoid injuries.

One highly effective way to prevent injuries to the mouth caused by sports and other physical activities is with a mouthguard. At Grove, we offer custom-fitted mouthpieces for kids that help protect the teeth and gums from rough play, hard falls and contact sports.  Mouthguards should not only be worn for organized sports, such as football, basketball and soccer; they are also recommended and helpful for bicycling, roller blading and skateboarding as well. Mouthguards have been shown to significantly reduce trauma to the teeth, gums and surrounding jaw bone.

Remember, many dental injures require immediate attention. Always call Grove Dental’s Pediatric Department for further instructions. We’re open six days a week and are here to take care of you and your children! 

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May 04, 2012
Category: Oral Health
Tags: Pediatric   Kids   Back to School  

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, 2nd and 6th 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.

 

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November 04, 2011
Category: Oral Health
Tags: Pediatric   Infant   Kids  

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.

 

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October 31, 2011
Category: General
Tags: Fillings   Oral Hygiene   Kids   Holiday   Candy  

Fun costumes, pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating—kid’s love Halloween and the fun-filled festivities it entails. But when a child comes home with a bag full of candy, how can a parent help remind their kids about good oral health and cavity prevention?

Sugary candies can lead to tooth decay. When the sugars found in these treats are notremoved by brushing, bacteria in the mouth will form a colorless, sticky film called plaque. As cavity-causing organisms within plaque feed on sugar, it is turned into acid. This acid attacks tooth enamel, causing decay or better known as cavities.

With a few simple steps, kids can enjoy Halloween treats without jeopardizing their dental health. 

  • Encourage your child to eat a small amount of candy in one sitting rather than grazing on candy throughout the day.
  • Limit hard, chewy candies, such as taffy, lollipops or caramels that stick to the teeth, damage dental work and increase the period of time in which teeth are exposed to sugar.
  • Opt for soft candy that can be eaten quickly, such as chocolate.
  •  Follow candy consumption with a glass of water and thorough tooth brushing.

By paying close attention to your child’s Halloween goodies this year, you can help promote a lifetime of healthier teeth without tossing the entire bag of treats.

And of course, don’t forget to bring your child in to see your Grove dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam. This is an important part of your child’s cavity prevention! Regardless of the season, good dental health should remain an important part of your child’s daily routine.

Happy trick-or-treating!

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