Tooth Talk

Community Water Fluoridation

PCOH Water Fluoridation Resource
Pennsylvania communities continue to push back on water fluoridation.  Please consider sources, relevancy, study dates and study protocols when making decisions pro or con for fluoride.
Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) remains the single most effective public health measure to protect individuals from tooth decay (cavities). Healthy teeth equates to a healthy body.

The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health recently published a fluoride resource.  A quick, easy reference to provide you with current data/facts on fluoride.  See below link.

As always, families are welcome to reach out to Donna Murray, West Shore School Dental Hygienist for questions or concerns.  

With Smiles,
Donna

Dental Hygiene Services Program Information

Meet the West Shore School District Dental Hygienist
The beginning of the school year brings with it a multitude of forms and notices for parents to read and sign. Depending upon a student's grade level, parents/guardians may discover two dental forms in their student's backpack the first week or two of school. Watch for dental report form and fluoride application consent. 

The State of Pennsylvania requires that all students show evidence of receiving a dental examination (3) three times within their school career. Evidence of this exam may be received by having the student see his or her own dentist and returning a private dentist report form signed by the dentist. Dental report forms will be sent home with students at the beginning of the first, third, and seventh grade year. The dental hygienist will screen all students in these grades who do not return a signed form by the dentist. If your child is screened by the dental hygienist and dental problems are noted, a referral form will be sent home detailing the suspected areas of concern.

Students in elementary grades first and third who would like to receive a fluoride varnish treatment will have an opportunity to receive this service at no cost to families.  Clinical studies have shown that fluoride reduces the incidence of tooth decay and is especially valuable to children when their teeth are developing. Parental/caregiver permission is required to be included in this program. 

Questions regarding either of these programs may be directed to Ms. Donna Murray, West Shore School District Dental Hygienist at: 938-9577 x43007.

It All Adds Up: Sweet Snacks + Plaque Bacteria = Tooth Decay

School Snacks for Healthy Bodies

Many of our elementary students are provided with a snack time during their school day. As I visit West School School District elementary classrooms, I am encouraged by some of the healthy snacks I see children consuming. Not only do these snacks go along way in providing healthy nutrition for children, they also help to decrease the action of decay acids on children's tooth enamel.

Each time food is eaten, decay acids coat the teeth for at least twenty to thirty minutes. If a sugary snack is consumed, it gives the plaque bacteria the necessary ammunition they need to make decay acids. This is not to say that sweets should never be eaten, they should just be eaten in conjunction with meals. The extra saliva that is produced during mealtime helps to neutralize the decay producing acids. Sweets eaten with meals are not as damaging to teeth as they are if they are eaten in between meals as snacks.

Tooth healthy snacks: raw vegetables with or without dip, fresh fruit, sugar free yogurt, popcorn, unsweetened cereal, nuts, soy or sunflower seeds, cheese.

Consider these tooth healthy choices when helping your child to pack his or her school snack. Not only will the above choices benefit your child's teeth, they will benefit his or her nutritional health.

Mouth Guards A Must

Healthy Mouths & A Healthy Body

CCHS Girls La Crosse/Field Hockey Team
Students are engaging in sports at an early age with rigor, strength, speed and commitment. Protecting teeth with mouth guards offers many long term benefits. 
Mouth guards help to cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. . Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth guard. This includes a wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, martial arts and cheerleading. Mouth guards are also recommended for recreational activities like skateboarding and roller blading.

Types of mouth guards: the ready-made, or stock mouth guard; the mouth-formed "boil-and-bite" mouth guard; and the custom-made mouth guard made by your dentist. All three mouth guards provide protection, but they vary in comfort and cost. The most effective mouth guard should be flexible, tear-resistant, and comfortable. It should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict speech or breathing or drinking. Your child's dentist can suggest the right mouth guard for him or her.

Since 31 percent of all sporting injuries result in injury to the teeth, mouth or head area, a properly fitting mouth guard is an important piece of athletic gear. Ask the school hygienist about a new West Shore School District program for securing a  sports mouth guard.  

Seal in a Smile

The Importance of Healthy Primary Teeth

Baby teeth help a child to speak and chew. They also contribute to a child's appearance. Baby teeth help to maintain space for the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, nearby teeth can move into the space. When the permanent tooth is ready to come through, there may not be enough space. In addition, untreated cavities in baby teeth can damage permanent teeth.

A child's oral health status cannot be separated from overall well-being. Pain from untreated tooth decay can result in disrupted sleep patterns and an inability to comfortably eat and drink. Consequently, as children age, they fall behind their peers in weight gain. Untreated dental infection can result in illness. School-aged children often miss school because of dental problems. Those who do attend school with dental problems frequently report pain, fever, swelling and tiredness, and are often inattentive and distracted in the classroom. As noted, healthy baby teeth are important in the overall health and well-being of a child!

Oral Hygiene and Diabetes

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