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Earth Day began in 1970 as an event to raise awareness of our environment. What began as a single day in April is now recognized around the world to bring attention and education to global environmental issues. Conserving our natural resources, reducing water and air pollution, and developing green technologies are all ways in which we can improve the environment around us.

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

One of the easiest ways to participate in Earth Day is by simply reducing the amount of refuse that ends up in landfills. Many communities have recycling programs for paper, plastic, and metal refuse. By keeping recyclable items out of landfills, we reduce the need for new disposal space and the amount of energy needed for burning refuse. Recycling products also helps conserve the resources that are used in making new products.

You can save money by reducing your consumption of many everyday products. Single disposable water bottles can be recycled but they are costly. By using filtered faucet water, you can conserve your financial resources. Disposable paper towels can also be wasteful. Consider reusable cleaning rags for the majority of your chores.

Reusing items saves both the environment and your finances. A large number of products can be re-purposed to create a new item. Old furniture can be remade into a new piece. Old clothing can be used for craft items. If you are not able to find ways to reuse your old items, donate them to a charity. Remember to continue your positive environmental steps on a daily basis.

Other things you can do to improve the environment

Everyone, young or old, can find ways to participate in improving the environment. Some ideas include:

• Planting trees
• Picking up litter
• Reducing energy consumption
• Walking, bicycling, or carpooling to work or school
• Disposing of hazardous waste properly
• Using rain barrels to conserve water for plants

Earth Day is designed to appreciate and celebrate the health of the earth. Keeping the earth healthy is important, but keeping your mouth healthy is important, too. Healthy teeth and gums contribute to your overall health and well-being, so remember to call our team at Dental Land Pediatrics to schedule an appointment. Have a happy and healthy Earth Day, from Dr. Dinah Abioro!

Imagine that you sit down for some evening television, and during the course of the evening, you see five commercials regarding dental products. They all claim to be the best. Then remember your last visit to the dental aisle at a local grocery store. The choices are overwhelming and there seems to be no sure answer as to which would be the best choice for your child.

Dental Land Pediatrics recommends that parents break down the decision process. First, consider your child’s age and stage of development. Up until age ten to 12, your child cannot adequately brush or floss independently. It is not a maturity issue, but rather dexterity. Automatic toothbrushes are highly appropriate for all ages. Brushing quality improves when using a battery-powered toothbrush. Use it together with your child, and always play an active role in your child’s oral home care.

As a general rule, the brush head of the toothbrush should be a little larger than the child’s upper portion of the thumb. This will help ensure it will fit in all the places it needs to.

Flossers are great for children. These will have a horseshoe shape on one end with floss in-between. A particular brand name does not matter. Some have a higher quality and this should be evident when you use them. You can make a choice for individual preference with color, handle size, or shape, etc.

There are many brands of toothpaste and there are also differences in the ingredients. Some contain sodium fluoride, the standard ingredient in cavity prevention. Others have stannous fluoride, which is anti-bacterial and anti-cavity. Potassium nitrate is commonly found in anti-sensitivity, and triclosan is found in one particular brand for anti-bacterial properties. It is most common for children to be at a high risk for cavities. Therefore, our team at Dental Land Pediatrics recommends toothpaste with fluoride once your child is old enough to spit.

Before a child can spit, use toothpaste without fluoride. This is an ideal time to use toothpaste with xylitol. Xylitol should be listed as the first ingredient; this way you’ll get the almost medicinal property of this natural sweetener. After you have found the right type of toothpaste, consider its flavor. The best kind of toothpaste is one that will be used, so choose a flavor that your child will love!

If you have any other questions, our would like specific brand recommendation feel free to call us at Dental Land Pediatrics or ask Dr. Dinah Abioro during your next appointment!

Dental sealants are an excellent way to protect children’s teeth from tooth decay by coating them with a thin plastic material. Their teeth look and feel like normal, but they are protected from plaque build-up and decay early on. Dr. Dinah Abioro and our staff recommend sealants as a preventive measure for children before any decay appears on their teeth.

Who should get dental sealants?

Dental sealants are intended for young children as soon as their first teeth come in. Decay is most common in the molars, so taking your child to Dental Land Pediatrics for sealants right when you see the molars grow in gives your child the best chance to fight tooth decay.

A child’s first set of permanent molars grow in between ages five and seven, while the second permanent molars come in between 11 and 14 years of age. Some teens and adults who don’t have tooth decay may get sealants as well, but it is less common.

How long do dental sealants last?

Once the sealant has been placed on the teeth, it lasts up to ten years. Expect to have Dr. Dinah Abioro check the sealant at every visit to our Bowie office, which should be twice a year. We will look at the sealant and determine if it needs to be replaced.

What is the process of getting sealants?

Applying sealants is a simple, pain-free procedure that is done quickly at Dental Land Pediatrics. There is absolutely no effect on the tooth structure from sealants.

For starters, the teeth are cleaned carefully, then dried with an absorbent material. A mild acid solution is applied to them to roughen them slightly. This is done so the sealant can bond properly to the teeth. Then the teeth are rinsed and dried, and the sealant material is painted on and dried with a special light.

Molars are susceptible to decay early on, which is why sealants are an important treatment to get for your children’s first set of teeth.

Just like that, it’s Spring, and the world looks brighter! The skies are sunnier. Daylight in Bowie lasts longer. And your family’s smiles can be brighter, too—with a little bit of spring cleaning.

After all, sometimes dental habits become routine, and we start to skip a few steps. Children might not brush as long as they should, or forget to floss every day. Busy lives might mean your family is behind schedule for an exam and cleaning.

You want the best for your child’s dental health, so we have some easy-to-follow steps to help keep young smiles their cleanest and brightest.

Assemble the right tools.

• Use soft-bristled toothbrushes, because anything firmer can be hard on small (and grown-up!) teeth and gums. If your child is having trouble cleaning away food particles and plaque, especially around braces, an electric toothbrush might be a game changer.
• Find the right floss. If your child is skipping this important step because it’s difficult, there are lots of options available to make flossing easier and more successful. Whether it’s a different type of floss, floss picks, interproximal brushes, or water flossers, Dr. Dinah Abioro can recommend the best products for your child.
• Choose fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride not only helps prevent cavities by creating an unfavorable environment for cavity-causing bacteria, it also actually strengthens tooth enamel as well. Win/win!

Use those tools!

• You’ll probably need to monitor your child’s brushing until around age 8. Make sure all the surfaces of the teeth are brushed, inside, outside, and the tops of molars. Show your child how to brush along the gumline at a 45˚ angle to prevent plaque buildup, which can harden into tartar.
• Dentists generally recommend brushing twice a day, for two minutes each time. If your child wears braces, food particles and plaque can collect around brackets and wires, so brushing more often might be recommended. 
• When children wear aligners, retainers, mouthguards, nightguards, or other appliances, it’s important to brush before wearing them. No one wants food particles or bacteria trapped in their appliance!
• Help children floss at least once a day, or as often as recommended, until they are capable of flossing independently (somewhere around ages eight to 11).

Make sure your dental products are in top shape.

• Replace your child’s toothbrush as often as necessary. After three months or so, bristles start to fray. They don’t clean as effectively, and they could be abrasive to gum tissue. Change out toothbrushes every three to four months, including the heads on electric brushes. A good way to remember is to change family brushes with the change of seasons. 
• Check the date(s)! Many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other oral supplies come with a “best used by” date, ensuring that your products remain safe and effective.
• Choose the right toothbrush holder. Brushes should air-dry upright, because bacteria and other germs thrive in closed, damp environments. And the holder shouldn’t allow family members’ brushes to touch, to prevent sharing bacteria and viruses. Clean your brush holder regularly to remove toothpaste residue and germs.
• Make sure your child cleans retainers, mouthguards, night guards, and/or cases for appliances as recommended. Bits of food, bacteria, viruses, and other germs collect there as well.

Work with the experts for the brightest family smiles.

• See Dr. Dinah Abioro regularly. You’ll discover any problems which might be dimming your child’s smile, and you’ll discover them early.
• Proper brushing and flossing can be difficult for children, especially with braces, so ask any member of the Dental Land Pediatrics team to demonstrate the best brushing and flossing tools and techniques.
• Schedule cleanings with exams to eliminate the built-up plaque and tartar which brushing can’t. The team at Dental Land Pediatrics uses tools such as ultrasonic or hand scalers and polishers to remove stubborn plaque, tartar, and surface stains for whiter enamel and a brighter smile.

Easy steps, yes? Step up your family’s cleaning routines, and you’ll enjoy a Springtime filled with not just brighter smiles, but healthier ones, too!