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Strategies for Teasing: Helping Kids Feel Better About Their Smile

Every kid feels uncomfortable in social situations sometimes, especially when they feel they “look different”—and studies show the #1 reason kids are bullied for their appearance is the way their teeth look. Bullies sense this discomfort and annoy, anger, and confuse kids who already feel vulnerable—and if the child being teased is openly reactive, the bullies may choose to step up their efforts. 

Dr. Case of Family Dental Health would like to share some guidelines for positive self-esteem that our pediatric patients have found helpful. Parents can share these skills, which may help with more than just feelings about their teeth!

• Effort: Suggest kids take extra care with their appearance to help them approach situations with more confidence—and remind them they are worth the effort!
• Assertion: Encourage kids to be polite but direct. Consider ways they’ve answered past questions, and prepare to respond to things that might come up again—and to look mean kids straight in the eyes and smile at them, which will surprise the bullies (they feed off negative reactions). 
• Positive Self-Talk: Tell kids to repeat “I can do this” and similar messages to themselves, even if they don’t quite believe it yet.
• Humor: If your child is comfortable cracking a joke or two, others laughing with them can have positive results—and make sure they are jokes everyone can laugh at without hurting anyone else’s feelings or putting themselves down.
• Awareness: Avoid any location their bully or bullies seem to hang out. Let them know that staying away from a situation like this is smart—not cowardly.

Encourage kids to practice skills like these with you, friends they trust, or even in front of a mirror to help them get used to and feel more comfortable with these confident responses. 

If you need to schedule a checkup or your child has any dental questions, contact us today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Teens & Prescription Opioid Use

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 40 Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses every day. As the opioid crisis grows, so does our expanded public knowledge—such as the realization that addiction to this family of drugs often begins with an innocent prescription.

Many teens first experience opioids when a dentist prescribes them to control the pain of wisdom tooth extraction, root canal treatment, or other oral surgery. While legitimate, this initial exposure increases the likelihood of future opioid addiction by 33%. Teens are also prone to opioid abuse due to the fact that the prefrontal cortex region of the brain—the portion that manages reason and impulse control—is not fully developed until reaching the early- to mid-20s.

Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health wants your child’s dental care to be effective, comfortable, and above all—safe. If you have any concerns about dental surgery and your teen or you’re just looking for a kind, knowledgeable dentist, contact Family Dental Health to make an appointment today. We’ll answer all your questions and put your mind at ease!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Can My Child Skip Visits to the Dentist?

You may think of our team at Family Dental Health as part of your child’s defensive line keeping them safe from gum disease and tooth decay, but we’re also myth busters! You’ve probably heard one of the most common misconceptions we have to challenge: dentistry isn’t important until after children lose their baby teeth. 

The truth is that oral health routines should be developed right from the beginning, and visiting the dentist is a foundational part of creating healthy habits.

From the beginning?

That’s right! There are tips you’ll want to follow as your little one’s smile forms and grows, and around the time you’re celebrating their first birthday, you’ll want to schedule their first dental visit. For an overview of why early introductions are crucial and what you can do to keep them on the right track before this milestone, we invite you to come to see us!

If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a visit with Portland dentist, Dr. David Case to get your kids started on their smile journey, contact Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Prepare Your Child for Dental Visits with a Good Book!

When you’ve got your child’s first dental visit noted on the calendar, you might feel more anxious than they do as you approach the big day. At Family Dental Health, we want to help both of you relax and see there’s nothing to fear about having your smile cared for. Our team is kind and gentle, and though our technology might seem intimidating, it’s all geared toward increasing comfort while we get a clear picture of the condition of your little one’s oral health.

Knowledge is Power

We think one of the main reasons visiting the dentist can seem scary is because of the unknown. If you know more about what to expect, it’s easier to get comfortable in the chair! We want you and your young one to be informed and as prepared as possible, so we’re sharing this list of children’s books you can read together before we have the pleasure of sharing smiles with you.

Do you and your child have a favorite children’s book about going to the dentist? We’d love to hear about it! Contact Family Dental Health to let us know, and to schedule a visit with your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Teens & Tobacco: Know the Risks

Today, Family Dental Health wants to give teens the bottom line about tobacco use: there is no such thing as a “safe” or “safer” tobacco product. Every tobacco product contains nicotine in varying amounts—and not only is nicotine addictive, but it can also harm the brain. (Many people don’t realize the brain continues developing until the mid-20s or even early-30s.)

• Cigarettes are usually made of tobacco and chemical additives in a paper casing. Inhaled smoke from a lit cigarette contains more than 7,000 harmful chemicals; at least 70 of them are linked to cancer. Smoking cigarettes damages almost every organ of the body and leads to diseases like oral cancer and lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.
• The “vaping” of e-cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. These devices heat liquid into an aerosol that is then inhaled by the user. Many believe this aerosol is innocuous, but it actually contains many chemicals that are unsafe to breathe. Most e-cigarettes also contain nicotine.
• Smokeless tobacco is tobacco that is not burned and includes chewing, oral and spitting tobacco, dip, chew, and snuff. Smokeless tobacco has high levels of toxic chemicals, and users are at high risk of oral cancer.

Oral cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers worldwide, and Family Dental Health wants all their young patients to enjoy long, healthy lives. Get in touch with us at Family Dental Health with any questions about tobacco use and oral health today.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Social Stories: Support for Kids with Autism

In this blog article, Family Dental Health discusses Social Stories™ and how they help provide emotional support to autistic kids with the goal of improving their dental (and other) experiences.

A social story about going to the dentist follows specific criteria and story elements to reinforce a safe, detailed description of a dental visit in a way that is both meaningful and comfortable for children with autism or related challenges. This short story tool outlines the relevant social cues and common responses when visiting Family Dental Health for an appointment. The story also explains what happens in that situation and why those things occur.

The physical form social stories take can vary. Some are simple verbal messages that you’ll share with your child as you would any other story. Some are printed materials with or without drawings or photos, while others may be in video form. 

We’d love to help your child learn about their health and good oral hygiene habits. If you need a compassionate dentist in Portland, get in touch with Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Grandparents, Grandkids & Dental Care

Family Dental Health has been thinking about how much things have changed in the world of dentistry since today’s grandparents were growing kids themselves. Grandparents today are often very involved in the daily lives of their grandchildren—they may live close by, provide financial assistance, or assume childcare responsibilities for working parents. Since oral hygiene and dietary habits are established in childhood, it’s important that grandparents’ dental education is on point. 

There are a lot of basic facts that grandparents may or may not know about dentistry, such as:

• Definitions of dental terms
• The availability of specialized toothbrushes and toothpaste for kids
• Sending kids to bed with juice, milk, or formula in their bottles can contribute to tooth decay
• That oral health is systemically linked to overall health
• The important role of baby teeth in future dental development
• The advantages that fluoride treatments and dental sealants may provide
• The capabilities of modern technology in dental diagnoses and treatments

If your child’s grandparents are part of your family’s daily routine and you think they could use a refresher on their dental knowledge, contact Family Dental Health and bring the whole family to your next appointment—we’d love to meet all of you!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Social Stories: Support for Kids with Autism

In this blog article, Dr. Case discusses Social Stories™ and how they help provide emotional support to autistic kids with the goal of improving their dental (and other) experiences.

A social story about going to the dentist follows specific criteria and story elements to reinforce a safe, detailed description of a dental visit in a way that is both meaningful and comfortable for children with autism or related challenges. This short story tool outlines the relevant social cues and common responses when visiting Family Dental Health for an appointment. The story also explains what happens in that situation and why those things occur.

The physical form social stories take can vary. Some are simple verbal messages that you’ll share with your child as you would any other story. Some are printed materials with or without drawings or photos, while others may be in video form. 

We’d love to help your child learn about their health and good oral hygiene habits. If you need a compassionate dentist in Portland, get in touch with Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Is My Child’s Oral Hygiene Routine Sufficient?

A child’s happy, healthy smile is a source of pride and joy for parents—and dentists, too! For this reason, you’ll likely spend a good deal of time helping them develop superb oral hygiene routines to ensure they keep their teeth for life. 

When you’re just getting started, you may have a lot of questions. We recommend bringing your baby into the Dr. Case at Family Dental Health as soon as their first tooth emerges, and we can show you how to care for their smiles as they grow and change including brushing and flossing techniques, fluoride, and more.

Looking for more guidance?

If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a visit for your little one to see Portland dentist, Dr. Case at Family Dental Health, contact us at Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Can F’s on Dental Checkups Cause F’s in School?

Going to school and getting an education are essential components of a child’s development, and they take the things they learn with them for the rest of their lives. No matter what type of school children attend, their support system at home has a great deal to do with not only their feelings about school, but how well they perform there. 

You may be surprised to learn that children with favorable oral health are more likely to achieve success in school. School attendance is integral to academic achievement, but dental conditions are to blame for 51 million lost school hours among children every year—and dental pain is linked to poorer performance when kids do make it to class. Portland dentist, Dr. Case, shares more about this topic below.

Research Finds…

A 2008 study conducted by the North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program examined risk factors for poor performance among school-aged children. Risk factors included school absences and performance, oral health status, parental education level, health insurance coverage, race, and gender. 

Children in poor oral health were three times as likely to miss school due to dental pain; school absences from dental pain were linked to poor school performance, while school absences from routine dental care showed no correlation between poor school performance and missing class. 

The study ultimately classified children in poor oral health as being up to 40 percent more likely to have trouble in school, further citing low levels of parental education, low socioeconomic status, and below-average overall health to poor academic performance. The study concluded that the improvement of children’s oral health status could be a vehicle to enhance their school experience and progress.

The American Journal of Public Health expanded on the North Carolina study in a 2011 article, acknowledging that former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, had officially acknowledged the relationship between oral health and overall health as far back as the early 1980s and that subsequent health officials had reinforced that acknowledgment. The 2011 article indicated that dental caries (cavities) in children are the most prevalent childhood disease, occurring 5 to 8 times more often than asthma, the second most common childhood illness. Chronic illness affects the quality of life—and for most children, life includes school. 

School-Based Oral Health Programs

Some schools have taken steps to promote better oral hygiene among students. School-based programs like these may include oral health education, fluoride rinses, dental screenings, and even dental sealants to prevent tooth decay. The advantage of programs like these is that they reach children who may not have access to pediatric dentistry, but they are only available in regions with the financial resources to sustain them.

Good Oral Health Habits Start at Home

Good oral hygiene is the foundation of oral health and wellness. Brushing at least twice each day and flossing once each day is a great place to start. Drinking and rinsing with water after meals and snacks also can also make the mouth a little cleaner between brushing.

If you have any questions about oral health and your child’s school performance, your Portland dentist at Family Dental Health can help you find answers. Give us a call or schedule an appointment with us today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.