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90% of adult smokers began smoking as teens, and each day more than 3,200 Americans younger than 18 try their first cigarette. Unfortunately, tobacco has zero health benefits and can lead to nicotine addiction and serious disease. Tobacco can also harm more than your overall health – it can hurt teeth and gums, too.

Tobacco Hurts Teeth 

Tobacco use harms teeth and health in many ways. It can lead to oral cancer, periodontal disease, delayed healing after oral procedure, bad breath, stained teeth and gums and damage the ability to smell and taste. The health risks related to tobacco use are serious, and negative oral side effects are chilling.

E-cigarettes & Vaporizers

In 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported that 1.78 million students in middle and high school reported trying e-cigarettes, and that their main reason was to be socially accepted and appear cool.

Most young people begin using tobacco after first trying an e-cigarette or vaporizer as a “safe” alternative to smoking cigarettes. In fact, teens that experiment with e-cigarettes are far more likely to try traditional cigarettes than those who did not try an e-cigarette. However, no amount or medium by which tobacco is consumed is ever safe – tobacco use in any fashion is unsafe. 

Make sure your child does not experiment with vaporizers or e-cigarettes, since they are an entry-point to normal, habitual tobacco use.

Chewing Tobacco 

Another way teens try to side-step cigarettes is with smokeless tobacco, or chewing tobacco. According to the AAPD, nearly 15% of high school teens use chewing tobacco. Unfortunately, smokeless tobacco can lead to periodontal disease, oral cancer, cavities, and tooth abrasion. It can cause bone degradation and increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The Center for Disease Control reports that smokeless tobacco use has steadily risen in the United States since 2000. If your child uses chewing tobacco, urge them to quit for the consideration of their long-term health. 

Talk to Your Teen about the Dangers of Tobacco Use 

Most studies find that teens that are actively discouraged from smoking, or that live in an environment where smoking is not normalized, are less likely to use tobacco as an adult. You can help your child avoid tobacco use by discussing the dangers of nicotine, and how e-cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction and smoking traditional cigarettes.

Did you know that periodontal (gum) disease is the most common dental disease affecting those living with diabetes? Here’s how the disease affects kids teeth, and how parents can help their children manage their oral health while living with diabetes.

Diabetes and Gum Disease 

People with diabetes are at higher risk for gum disease because of poor blood sugar management. In fact, gum disease can actually cause a slight rise in blood sugar levels, which makes diabetes more difficult to manage. This makes it imperative that children living with diabetes pay attention to their oral health to best avoid cavities and gum disease.

Oral Symptoms of Untreated Diabetes 

If diabetes is left untreated or mismanaged, then it can lead to a world of painful oral symptoms. If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, then schedule an appointment with our office right away.

Children with untreated diabetes may experience: 

How a Pediatric Dentist can Help 

Research has shown that treating gum disease can help those with diabetes manage the disease by improving their blood-sugar control. A pediatric dentist will be able to help your child fight gum disease and provide a treatment plan that helps your child manage their oral health.

Schedule a Visit with Our Office 

29 million Americans live with diabetes today, and 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Additionally, 8.1 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes. If you think your child may have diabetes, then schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis.

If your child is living with diabetes and struggles to manage their oral health, then visit our office. We specialize in care for children, and will provide you with a treatment plan that can help them better care for their oral health.

Valentine’s Day is a day where people everywhere share candy and sweet treats with their loved ones. It can be fun to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but eating too many treats can harm tooth enamel and lead to tooth decay. This Valentine’s Day, you can celebrate with some treats that will please your taste buds without damaging your teeth!

Frozen Strawberries and Yogurt

These frozen strawberry and yogurt bites are the perfect tooth-friendly treat for Valentine’s Day. Yogurt is a mouth healthy because it is packed with protein and high in calcium – both of which help build strong teeth and enamel. It also contains a healthy amount of good bacteria, which helps eliminate bad bacteria that can stick to teeth and lead to cavities. Strawberries are also high in fiber, which cleans teeth as it is consumed.

Ingredients:
12 oz. package of strawberries
1 Cup of non-fat Greek yogurt

Directions:
Set aside a large baking sheet, and cover it with wax paper or tin foil. Cut off the green tops of the strawberries, and then rinse them under cold water. Next, cut the strawberries in half vertically. Dip the strawberries in the yogurt one by one, and place them on the baking sheet. After each strawberry is on the baking sheet, place it in the freezer and leave them there for 2 – 3 hours, or until the yogurt has completely hardened. 

Watermelon Heart Popsicles

Watermelon is high in vitamin C, which helps teeth and gums by preventing cell damage that can lead to gum degeneration. In fact, a lack of vitamin C in your diet can promote bleeding gums and make it more difficult for your gums to heal. 

These heart-shaped watermelon popsicles will give you a boost of vitamin C, and help you celebrate Valentine’s Day without damaging your teeth.

Ingredients:
1 Watermelon
1 Heart-shaped cookie cutter
25 medium popsicle sticks

Directions:
Cut the watermelon into large disks that are 1 – 1.5 inches thick. Take one of the disks and set it down flat. Then, use the cookie cutter to cut hearts from the pink area of the disk. Repeat this until the watermelon is gone, or you’ve reach your desired number of popsicles. Finally, stick the popsicle sticks into the bottom of the hearts, and put them on a baking sheet and into the freezer. Leave in the freezer until they are frozen through, about 3 – 4 hours. 

Dark Chocolate

For those that aren’t feeling crafty, dark chocolate is a mouth-healthy treat that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes for Valentine’s Day. Dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate because it doesn’t contain added milk or sugar. Additionally, dark chocolate contains polyphenols, which are natural chemicals that limit the buildup of bad oral bacteria. Polyphenols also help prevent bacteria from turning sugar into acid, thereby limiting acid attacks that can damage tooth enamel.

When buying dark chocolate, be sure that it is at least 70% cocoa to get the most nutritional value. 

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A mouth-healthy diet is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. If you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then bring them into our office. 

Cavities are the most common disease afflicting children today, and they’re almost completely preventable. But, did you know that cavities affect other diseases as well? Here’s how cavities and tooth decay are linked to other common ailments.

Tooth Decay Can Lead to Infection – Or Worse

Severe cavities and tooth decay are major causes of tooth loss, which makes you more prone to infection. In severe cases, gum disease can cause lung infections or even pneumonia. Additionally, cavities and infected teeth are riddled with unhealthy bacteria. If left untreated, a tooth infection can cause a deeper infection in the pulp tissue, which is painful and costly to treat. This may result in a hospital trip or a medical emergency.

Cavities Can Complicate Diabetes

Cavities and gum disease can cause blood sugar to rise, and make it difficult to manage diabetes. Further research has shown that improving oral habits and treating gum disease can help improve blood sugar control, and decrease the progression of the disease. If your child has diabetes, be sure that they are in a regular oral health routine, and that your pediatric dentist is aware of their condition.

Cavities Can Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Many studies have pointed out that plaque buildup can increase the odds of contracting heart disease and stroke. Bacteria that cause oral disease and cavities can release toxins that travel through the bloodstream and help to form fatty plaques in the arteries. This can greatly increase someone’s chances of heart disease.

Cavities are Almost Completely Preventable 

You can help your child prevent cavities through brushing twice per day for 2 minutes at a time, and flossing once every day. Additionally, avoid serving your children sugary drinks, or too many starchy foods, since both have excessive sugar that feeds the bacteria that can cause cavities. Also, be sure your child is drinking plenty of water, which naturally cleans teeth by rinsing away food debris.

Visit Our Office

Tooth decay is painful and can affect the overall health of developing mouths, which is why early treatment is the best way to handle cavities – and that’s where we come in! Our dental practice specializes in treating children and oral health ailments specific to young mouths. Schedule an appointment with our office today so that we can evaluate the state of your child’s oral health, and provide a treatment plan that works for them.