5 Tips For Healthy Teeth For Your Child

• Are you a new parent or expecting? 
• Did your child’s first tooth come in?
• Concerned about your child’s oral health?
• Is your child getting more cavities than your wallet can pay for?

If you answered yes to any of these, keep reading to learn more about how to protect your child’s teeth as they grow older and independently care for their oral health.

Your child only has 2 sets of teeth their entire life. Make sure their primary teeth are healthy and they develop good dental hygiene habits so that when their permanent teeth erupt, they will be on the right track to healthy teeth for the rest of their lives. Read below for some of our tips on how to protect your child’s teeth.

1. Visit the Dentist Regularly

If you have a newborn, you should bring your child to the dentist by his or her first birthday so that we can start dental care early. Preventative care is actually the more cost-effective route compared to expensive bills to fix a problem left unchecked.

2. Establish Good Habits

Set a good example for your child. Brush your teeth with them or sing them a song until they are finished brushing their teeth. Make it a bonding experience. Some useful tips:

• Prior to your child’s teeth appearing, gently brush his or her gums with water on a baby toothbrush or a gentle washcloth
• When baby teeth first appear, use an infant toothbrush and brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
• Once two teeth are touching, you may begin flossing
• Only water should be allowed after brushing and flossing before bedtime
• Ask Dr. Lund when your child should start using mouthwash

3. Less Juice, More Water

Juice can actually lead to tooth decay. If your child insists on juice, you may dilute it with half water, half juice. Only 4 oz per day is recommended of 100% fruit juice. Juice should be seen as a treat for them.

4. Encourage a Well Balanced Diet

Limit sweet and starchy foods. Try to prepare salads, fruits, and calcium-rich foods for them. A trick for when you treat your child with starchy or sugary foods is to serve it with a meal as opposed to separately. The extra saliva produced while eating a full meal will help wash teeth.

5. Praise For Doing A Good Job!

Motivate your child by keeping track of how many days they have been consistent with flossing. You can award stickers or gold stars on a chart in the bathroom or provide a mint as a reward. Bribing is not recommended, this is after they choose and complete the activity themselves.

Visit Our Office in Stoneham!

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope we helped answer some of your questions. If you still have more, please feel free to give us a call at (781) 438.2700 and we would be happy to help set you up with an appointment to see one of our dentists. You may also conveniently request an appointment online.

Allergies and Toothaches - As if constant sneezing didn't hurt enough!

In the spring, we see a number of patients with tooth pain in their upper molars and it turns out pollen is a big culprit.

When you are congested, your sinus cavities create mucus and can swell, becoming inflamed or infected, causing the sinuses to press on the roof of your mouth.  Your sinus cavities are above the roof of your mouth which rests above your maxillary (upper) molars and premolars.  The inflammation can indirectly cause pain in the nerves of the teeth, presenting the following symptoms:

•          Pain when biting
•          Throbbing sensation
•          Sensitivity to cold

Think of it this way:  when you fill a balloon you are able to press your finger into it without it popping, however, there is a great amount of pressure surrounding your finger.  Your sinuses are like that balloon, creating pressure over your teeth.

How can you treat this?  After your dentist rules out no possible tooth infection, there are a number of remedies to reduce sinus congestion:

·         Antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zertec, Allegra)

·         Advil to reduce inflammation

·         Saline Spray

·         Air Purifier at home & closed windows while driving

So watch out for that pollen and its ability to mimic a toothache!

We All Need Our Beauty Sleep

            A good night’s rest does wonders for the body.  Sleep apnea, however, can disrupt the ability of a person to get a full night’s sleep. Recent studies done at various medical facilities have found that sleep apnea may cause more serious problems than fatigue. 

            Several physicians have concluded that patients with sleep apnea, on average, could be diagnosed with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) as many as ten years earlier than those without.  Additionally, some patients developed Alzheimer’s five years earlier.   It is not clear just how this happens; the theory is that because it disrupts breathing during the night, oxygen levels in the blood drop, affecting the brain.

            At Lund Dental we take each patient’s health seriously.  Dr. William Lund and Dr. Cara Lund fabricate custom appliances which provide clinically proven treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea and sleep bruxism (grinding).   If you think you may have this problem, we at Lund Dental are more than happy to speak with you about the options and different appliances that would help. 

For more information visit somnomed.com/patients/.

Your First Dental Visit as an Adult!

What would your ideal dental office visit be like? Relaxed? Educational? Inexpensive?

Your first visit at a new dental office should not intimidate you, emotionally or financially.  Nothing should hold you back from being as healthy as possible, this includes your dental health.   Here is what you should expect at an initial new patient visit during your comprehensive examination:

• Oral Cancer Screening: Prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions (provided at every appointment).

•  Dental Exam: A clinical exam and radiographs (x-rays) findings are used to determine the most conservative but thorough treatment plan for your oral needs.

• Periodontal Examination: Examination of your gum tissues to insure that any gum disease is detected and treated. 

•  Orthodontic Examination: We examine the position of your teeth and the relationship between your upper and lower jaws. If your teeth are not properly aligned, excessive tooth wear, jaw damage, and periodontal issues can occur.

• Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Examination: Temporo-Mandibular Dysfunction (TMD) is a condition that includes popping and clicking of the jaw, limited jaw function, pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain and pressure in the face and ears. 

• X Rays: We use digital (computer based) x-rays that use a fraction of the radiation exposure of regular x-rays. The images are also clearer and therefore much more diagnostic. We take seriously the concern of radiation exposure and take only the necessary films needed to properly diagnose your dental health.

• Camera: We take photographs, called intraoral pictures, of all the teeth to help you better understand all treatment recommendation.

So we've provided you with a lot of information about your teeth, now what?  The doctor and the financial coordinator will sit down with you and go over findings, treatment options, and financial options.  This is a perfect time to ask as many questions as possible.  Your oral health should be as important to you as it is to us!

Take charge of your oral health and reserve an appointment today!

March Is Lund Dental Pet Month!

Lund Dental sure does loves animals. From March 1 – March 31st, 2015, Lund Dental Associates will donate $1 to the Northeast Animal Shelter for every new “like” on our Facebook page!

Our goal?

$500

(The math there is 500 likes = $500)

Think we can do it? We do!

Spread the word by:

1. Telling your friends
2. Sharing any of our Facebook posts
3. Going to our website and clicking the Facebook icon

The Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem, MA is one of the largest no-kill animal shelters for dogs and cats in New England. Over 119,000 furry friends have been given homes thanks to their work. Their annual operating budget is entirely dependent on contributions from animal lovers like you. 

Let us do some of the contributing too! All you have to do is click the like button! 

Contact Your Stoneham Dentists

Lund Dental specializes in cosmetic, general and pediatric dentistry for patients in the Stoneham & Reading, MA areas. If you have a question for us or would like to schedule a visit to our office, please call us at (781) 438-2700, email us at info@lunddental.com, or request an appointment online. We’d love to see you!

WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD FIRST VISIT THE DENTIST?

WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD FIRST VISIT THE DENTIST?

For many years it has been our philosophy that a child’s first dental visit should be around age 3.  Based on recommendations of the American Dental Association and mounting research, our recommendation is age 1 or within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth.

Newly erupted teeth are hypomineralized (not fully hardened) and vulnerable to poor oral hygiene and nutrition.  In-office fluoride treatments are both safe and essential.  The fluoride, which is easily applied to your child’s teeth with minimal patient cooperation using a fluoride varnish, strengthens the tooth enamel making it more decay resistant.  It’s important to identify if your child is at an increased risk for dental disease, and if so, work with you the parent or caregiver to decrease this risk.  A key component in caries prevention is beginning fluoride treatments at an early age. 

Establishing good dental habits at an early age is important.  Dental caries is the single most common chronic disease of childhood, and it is also almost 100% preventable.  We will discuss oral and dental development, homecare, fluoride, oral habits, and nutrition with you the parent or caregiver.  This part of the appointment is just as important as and will most likely take longer than the actual examination and treatment.

Reference: Fall 2012 Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society

Toothbrushes Delivered to Guatemalan Students

Lund Dental is proud to have donated over 200 dental supplies to our patient, Betsy R.,  to bring on her mission trip to Guatemala.  She was so excited to share her experience with us:

"Hello All!

I have returned from an amazing week in Guatemala with my church group, New England Bible Church in Andover, Ma.  Thank you again for your generous donation of toothbrushes and toothpaste for the 225 children who attend the Fountain of Hope School in Matochos, Guatemala. School was just coming back in action when we were visiting, so there were a small number of students in attendance. We were able to interact with the older students, and I had a group photo taken of those students showing off their new gift from Lund Dental Associates!"

Check out the picture of the students with their Lund Dental toothbrushes!

Make Teeth A Priority In 2015!

We hope everyone stayed safe during Winter Storm Juno! Once the snow is shoveled and starts to melt, make a trip to our office for your regular visit. We serve Stoneham, Reading, Wakefield, North Reading, Melrose and Lynnfield, Massachusetts.

Take charge and make your smile a priority this year. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. A healthy smile helps to:

• Reduce the look of aging
• Generate confidence
• Creates aesthetic facial symmetry

Be sure you are maintaining your beautiful smile and are taking a preventative approach versus a reactive approach. Don’t wait until a problem arises to get it checked out – prevent it from happening in the first place!

New Year's Resolutions for 2015

1. Brush twice a day
2. Floss once a day
3. Replace your toothbrush
4. Keep your new toothbrush at least 6 feet away from your toilet
5. Visit our office every 6 months for a regular visit

If you or your child is a new patient, please take a look at what you can expect at your first visit with us. If you are visiting our website and/or blog looking for a pediatric dentist, we also offer pediatric dentistry! Conveniently schedule to get you and your child examined at the same time.

Contact Lund Dental Associates

If you have any questions, please give us a call at (781) 438-2700 during our business hours and we would be more than happy to assist you. Get a jump on your resolution list! Make your appointment today!

        At Lund Dental, the entire team takes great pride in getting involved in our community. Throughout the year, our team strives to participate in various programs that benefit many.
        Beginning in February, National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Cara with her assistants visit several schools where she instructs the children in good dental hygiene. The children, usually from grades one through three, are taught the difference between good snacks and unhealthy snacks and how to care for their teeth. They are also given the opportunity to ask questions about visiting the dentist.

        In April, Stoneham hosted a Health and Wellness Fair. Lund Dental had a booth where local residents could learn about the various services that we are able to provide. All visitors to our booth received a dental care bag, complete with brush and floss. In addition, a KoR whitening was raffled and a lucky recipient now has a beautiful new smile.

       Lund Dental is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and in June happily sponsored and volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.
September brought Town Day and in a similar way to the Health and Wellness Fair, residents could visit our booth and receive complimentary dental care items and learn more about us.

       In the fall, we collected non-perishable food items for a local church food pantry. Our patients were very generous in their contributions, and we were able to provide for needy families for the Thanksgiving holiday.
       In the Spirit of Christmas, we are a designated drop off center for Toys for Tots. For several years now, with the help of our patients, we have collected numerous toys to help bring happy smiles to children in need.
       We at Lund Dental are excited to be so involved in the community and hope to be able to do so with many programs in the future.
       We are also proud to announce that Lund Dental was elected as the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce New Member of the Year!

It just isn't for kids!

WHY ADULTS NEED FLUORIDE TREATMENTS

The American Dental Association recommends the use of fluoride varnish for children and adults at moderate or high risk for dental decay.

How Does Fluoride Work?

Fluoride safely inhibits or even reverses the progression of dental decay.

How is Fluoride Varnish Different from Fluoride Toothpaste or Rinse?

Fluoride varnish, which has higher concentrations of fluoride than toothpastes or rinses, adheres onto your teeth which helps prolong the contact time between fluoride and your teeth.

Once adhered to your teeth, the fluoride varnish 1) incorporates into the outer layer of your tooth (the enamel) making it stronger and 2) interacts with your saliva forming a calcium fluoride deposit on your teeth which releases fluoride when the pH of plaque drops

Who Should Have a Fluoride Treatment?

Fluoride varnishes are recommended for patients with a high or moderate risk of dental decay.

Risk indicators are 1) history of tooth decay 2) extensive dental work (fillings, crowns, bridges) 3) inadequate previous or current exposure to fluoride 4) any physical or mental impairment that compromises the maintenance of optimal oral health 5) high and frequent sugar consumption 6) lower salivary flow, associated with certain medical conditions and therapies 7) gum recession leading to root exposure (decay prone area of the tooth), especially in elderly populations

How Often Do You Need a Fluoride Treatment?

Studies have shown that fluoride varnish has a residual effect for 26 weeks. Therefore, we recommend having a fluoride treatment coinciding with your 6 month continuing care hygiene visit. Using a high fluoride toothpaste such as Clinpro 5000 between in-office fluoride treatments is highly recommended.