Millions of children soon will head off to a new school year. Routine physical examinations, including hearing and vision tests, help ensure that students are in good health before school begins. When scheduling health care appointments, don’t overlook a dental checkup for your child. A dental examination should be a regular part of back-to-school preparations. Some states may require dental checkups at periodic intervals; other states have no requirements. Nebraska law currently requires all elementary students to have an annual dental screening and requires children to have a full dental exam before entering kindergarten. However, children need to see their dentist at intervals recommended by their dentist. When necessary, radiographs (x-rays) are taken to see how the teeth are developing and to spot hidden decay.

More than one-half of all children aged 5 to 9 years have at least one cavity or filling. A painful tooth or chronic dental problem can lead to difficulty in eating, speaking and concentrating. Children with chronic dental pain may not always voice their problem, instead they may appear anxious, depressed or tired. Often parents do not recognize these symptoms as possible signs of dental pain.

Dental sealants are a very effective method of keeping teeth healthy. A sealant is a plastic material that the dentist applies to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (the premolars and molars). Sealants form barriers that protect teeth from plaque, a sticky film of acid-producing bacteria. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last years before a reapplication is needed.

In addition to a dental checkup, your child may be due for a new toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes ever three to four months, or sooner if bristles are worn. A worn toothbrush can’t do a thorough job of cleaning teeth. Look for products that display the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance and select a child-sized toothbrush for ease of use. 

Q: Is it true that pregnancy endangers a mother’s teeth?
A: There’s no truth to the old wives’ tale that a tooth is lost for every pregnancy. If you’re experiencing more tooth decay, it could be because you’re neglecting oral hygiene at this busy time or snacking too often on sweet or starchy foods. Try to eat these foods at mealtimes, when they’re less harmful to the teeth. If starches and sweets are eaten too often and if plaque is not removed from the teeth, decay will result.

Despite advice, recommendations and warnings from dentists about the importance of regular flossing, many people admit they still don’t do it, and countless more do it only in the days and weeks before or after their semi-annual cleanings and checkups.

It is recommended that patients floss once a day to control tartar build-up on their teeth. Plaque is continually developing on your teeth, causing cavities and gum disease. Some people get discouraged and give up flossing because they don’t do it every day. However, flossing even two or three times a week has its benefits, and it’s far better than not flossing at all.

The reasons patients cite for not flossing are many, but lack of time is the most common excuse. Flossing doesn’t have to be a 20-minute routine in front of the mirror. Once you are familiar with flossing, floss when and where you have time. Try flossing earlier in the evening or during a break at work.

Some patients report that they stopped flossing because they noticed that their gums bleed when they floss. This means that there is inflammation, the bleeding will usually stop within a week or two of continued flossing. Those who don’t floss due to arthritis or lack of dexterity can try specially designed plastic holders for dental floss.

Early 1800s – Flossing was recommended by some for the same reasons dental professionals advocate it today – for the prevention of tooth and gum disease.

1819 – Levi S. Parmley wrote this about the benefits of flossing, "... the third part is the waxed silken thread, though simple, is the most important. It is to be passed through the interstices of the teeth, between their necks and the arches of the gums, to dislodge that irrative matter which no brush can remove, and which is the real source of disease. With this apparatus thus regularly and daily used, the teeth and gums will be preserved free of disease..."

1948 – C.C. Bass, a physician studying oral microbiology and preventive dentistry, also began to advocate the use of floss. He recommended that nylon, the material still used today, be substituted for the silken thread.

1970s – For decades, flossing was thought to be too difficult for patients to practice on themselves, and there was little scientific evidence supporting the need for home flossing. The incidence of periodontal disease began to climb, the use of fluoride began to reduce the incidence of caries, and aging patients began retaining their teeth longer. In addition, patients with periodontal disease were shown to benefit from flossing after surgery.

Mid 1970s – Dental professionals began introducing dental floss to their patients for use at home.

Nearly 40 million Americans have teeth that are sensitive to heat and cold, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Sensitivity is typically caused when the dentin of your tooth (which lies under the hard, protective enamel) is exposed. The dentin contains tiny tubules that transmit sensations to the nerve endings inside the tooth, causing pain.

Many dental problems begin when the hard enamel covering the tooth wears down. Although there’s not much you can do to stop the pain once it’s started, an American Dental Association approved toothpaste for sensitive teeth may help protect the exposed nerves and prevent future aches. Be sure to avoid stiff toothbrushes, which only make your teeth wear more.

Any change in sensitivity should be taken seriously; it’s a sign that your teeth are wearing abnormally. Since aches could be the result of several things – a crack, a loose filling, decay, or nighttime teeth-grinding – your dentist needs to examine you.