According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), tooth decay is the second most prevalent health condition in the U.S. after the common cold. If you’ve never had a cavity, great work! However, it’s very likely that at some point in your life you will develop at least one.
Going back-to-school is bittersweet for both parents and students. No one wants summer to end, but students enjoy going back to school to see their friends again, getting back into school sports, and moving one step closer to graduation!
Even though going back-to-school is an exciting time, students can experience anxiety. Anxiety can interfere with sleep, wellness, and performance. But don’t worry! We’ve compiled some smile smart tips to help you smoothly transition back into the school year.
Of course our first tip is to complete your dental exam and x-rays, and cleaning, before school starts. These services are often covered at 100% by dental insurance. Nothing can distract students more than throbbing, achy tooth pain that requires an emergency dental visit. Make sure your dental health is an A+ for academic success!
Our second tip is to get enough sleep. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends:
Not getting restful sleep? Schedule a consultation for Sleep Apnea or Bruxism. A custom sleep device to treat sleep apnea can improve sleep quality and reduce chances for heart disease or stroke. A custom nightguard to prevent grinding that can cause poor sleep, headaches, and aggrevated TMJ.
Smile Smart Tip # 3Our third tip is to choose healthy food and drinks to feel your best and keep your teeth strong and healthy. Avoid drinks with color additives, sugar, carbonation, or acid to protect against decay and erosion. Choose foods with calcium, minerals like cheese, yogurt, almonds, leafy greens, and carrots.
Our fourth tip is to protect your smile during school sports. An injury can cause broken teeth, dead teeth, and even permanent tooth loss. Consider a custom athletic mouthguard for school sports in your school colors!
Brush and floss for at least 2 minutes twice a day to maintain good oral hygiene between dental visits. Choose a soft bristled toothbrush making circular motions at a 45 degree angle and waxed floss or flosser picks to get the areas in between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
For more information on these smile smart tips or to schedule an appointment, please call/text us at (714) 424-9099 or you can schedule online, send email, or live chat us at www.mycostamesadentist.com.
Have you ever wondered why you need to have your teeth professionally cleaned? Seeing your dentist regularly is important for many reasons, but professional cleanings are essential to maintaining good oral hygiene. Check out what our patients have to say about us!
Have you scheduled your child’s dental appointment?Did you know that children who miss their regularly scheduled child’s dental appointments could suffer both health and academic consequences? According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, “Children with poorer oral health status were more likely to experience dental pain, miss school, and perform poorly in school.”¹ As a parent, we know your number one priority is to ensure the health and well-being of your child. You can ensure your child’s dental health is in tip-top shape by seeing your dentist before the school year starts!
At your child’s dental appointment, our team will ensure that your child’s smile is free of decay and provide the necessary preventative care to keep them healthy until their next visit. Depending on the age of your child and how frequent they visit 
ental hygienists will then perform a hygiene exam to check the gums and tongue for any signs of trouble. Then Dr. Jorgenson will perform his comprehensive exam to check for any abnormalities, decay, or possible future issues to monitor.
If the exams and x-rays show no signs of disease, decay, or other dental health issues, we will perform a teeth cleaning, polish the teeth, and apply fluoride to protect the tooth enamel (as needed). Before the end of the child’s dental appointment, one of our hygienists will review tips for maintaining a happy, healthy smile! This includes proper brushing and flossing technique and review of foods and drinks that are good or bad for teeth. Children can practice using a toothbrush on an oversized mouth model for education and for fun!
During your child’s dental comprehensive exam, there may be conditions discovered that require treatment. Depending on the condition, the necessary treatment can be performed immediately in our Costa Mesa dental office or just something Dr. Jorgenson wants to keep an eye on. Any possible issues will be discussed in full, allowing time for discussion of all treatment options, and any questions you or your child might have. Some common conditions include:
We know that most children (and most adults) don’t love going to the dentist. Our professional and knowledgeable dental team understand this and are also parents. We have tools and techniques to help ensure your child is comfortable and relaxed throughout their child’s dental appointment. If your child has a more severe dental anxiety, please call to ask about conscious oral sedation. Remember the more familiar your child is with Dr. Jorgenson, our hygienists, our assistants, and our office staff, the more comfortable he or she will be on subsequent visits.
Our office is in-network with almost all PPO Dental Insurances and offers our own Be Smile Smart dental plan for patients with no dental insurance. Most dental insurance plans cover exams, x-rays, and cleanings at 100% meaning no out-of-pocket costs to you!
For more information on your child’s dental appointment or proper dental care for children, please contact us at (714) 424-9099 or visit us online at www.mycostamesadentist.com. We offer early morning, late evening, and Saturday dental appointments to accommodate your family’s busy schedule!
We love back to school season at Advanced Dental Care — but we also know kids’ dental health can get a little out of whack during August and September. Bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding, may occur as your child starts to adjust their sleeping schedules to wake up early again. As your child gets back into the figurative grind, make sure their teeth aren’t getting into one, too. Learn more about preventing stress and associated bruxism in this week’s blog post from your dentist in Costa Mesa, Dr. Jeremy B. Jorgenson!
