The Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry Blog

It’s back-to-school across America!! You’ve packed away your childrens’ swim suits and bought new backpacks…you’ve sharpened their pencils and visited their pediatricians…but have they seen their dentist yet?? A dental check-up should be a part of the back to school checklist

Tooth decay is still the most common chronic disease in US children according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and by the time they start kindergarten, more than 40 percent of kids have some tooth decay.  Kids with toothaches have trouble focusing and may not want to join in class discussions.

Your child may think they are old enough to brush their own teeth, but until they reach the age of six, make sure to take charge and brush their teeth for them at least twice daily.  Make sure older kids brush twice daily too..and don’t forget in between!!  A toothbrush can’t get in every nook and cranny, so it’s important for parents to floss their children’s teeth

Give us a call to schedule today!

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Are you or is someone you know pregnant? Congratulations!!     Now that you’ve got a little bundle of joy on the way, you may be hoping that you can ditch the dentist for a few months…but you may want to think twice about skipping those appointments. Pregnancy is actually the time to take extra special care of your teeth and gums. During pregnancy, elevated hormone levels during pregnancy can cause the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food, which could increase your risk of developing certain dental infections. So call up your dentist and make that appointment! And don’t forget to make those very important check-up appointments for your children every six months to protect their beautiful smiles!

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One serious kind of decay among young children is baby bottle tooth decay. This is caused by frequent and long exposures of baby’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar. These liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks. Putting baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle containing something other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. The sweet liquid will pool around baby’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give baby a bottle to comfort them at bedtime, it should contain only water. If your child won’t fall asleep without the bottle containing its usual beverage, gradually dilute the bottle’s contents with water over a period of two to three weeks. After each feeding, wipe baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down, place the child’s head in your lap or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.

Small steps such as these will help to start a foundation of successful preventive care which will help you and your child develop life long healthy dental habits.

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Good question! According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should visit the dentist by their 1st birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive, and we can help! Talk with your child about the visit and let them know our staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The more you discuss the visit with your child before you arrive, the better. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Our office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child. Give us a call with any questions or concerns…we’re here for ya!

For a list of terminology please use the following link:

http://www.cltpediatricdentistry.com/files/practice_terminology.pdf

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Did you know that drinking fluoridated tap water is a highly effective way to fight cavities in kids? Researchers looked at the effect of fluoride in specialty milk and salt products, toothpaste, mouthwash and gum, finding that tap water containing fluoride can reduce cavities by 30%…WOW! And it’s FREE too!! Can’t get much better than that!    If your drinking water does not contain fluoride, you can give children fluoride supplements if they are over 6 months old.  Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50%…YAY, fluoride!!

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Did you know that parents and caregivers can spread the bacteria that causes tooth decay on to their children?? Oh no, right?? We try to keep our children away from the germ-bugs…that’s why we carry Purell in our cars, bags and pockets!! But this bacteria is actually spread in a different way. To learn more, please check out the ABC news story at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/transfer-cavities-baby-10447308

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Attention everyone! Drumroll, please!! We would like to congratulate Michael Hagwood for his accomplishments in baseball. Michael is a high school junior and plays on the varsity team in right field and as a designated hitter. And although he cannot hear the crack of the bat when he hits the ball, he does not let his inability to hear affect his ability to play. He began playing baseball at age 4 and uses hand signals to communicate with teammates and coaches today. After high school, Michael hopes to attend National Technical Institute for the Deaf in New York State to learn welding and, of course, to play baseball. We’re all proud of you, Michael! Go No. 19!!!

view the full article: 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/03/1412649/disability-cant-strike-him-out.html

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/06/1419698/deaf-on-the-diamond.html

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Let’s support our community!!! Join us on June 5th at University City YMCA for the International Block Party to celebrate and recognize the vast diversity in our community. When we join together as one, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish…see you there!!

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Dr. Cangemi has a wide range of interests including boating, classic automobiles, Apple computers, electronics and issues pertaining to animals. He is an avid animal lover and contributes to a wide variety of charities including those benefiting animals.

We will be updating our website with Dr. Cangemi’s full professional biography very soon.

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