Ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards: What toothbrush is right for my child?

Drs. Morrow, Lai and Edwards will tell you that brushing your teeth is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for child's smaller mouths and hands. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles can harm your gums, and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't matter as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, you do need to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call and we'll try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!

Sun safety with Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edward

There's nothing like a hot summer day! Now that the heat wave is sweeping through Tulsa, OK, our team at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry thought that we would share a few sun safety tips with you, courtesy of KidsHealth. Although vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium, there can be serious health affects if you aren't prepared for the heat. That's why our doctors here at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry want to help keep you informed about sun safety!

Sun Safety 101: What to know about UVA, VVB, and UVC rays

1. UVA rays- These rays make of the majority of sun exposure, and can contribute to skin cancer, skin aging, and wrinkling.

2. UVB rays- Known for causing sunburns, cataracts, and immune system damage, these powerful rays are linked with Melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer).

3. UVC rays- Lucky for you, these rays are shielded by the ozone layer and don't reach earth!

To protect yourself from these harmful rays, try to avoid the sun between 10am to 4pm, when it is the most prominent! If you do choose to spend time in the sun, remember to cover up, apply generous amounts of SPF 15 or higher sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours, stay hydrated, and use protective eye wear! Also, remember to check your child's medications for sun sensitivity.

Have a fun & safe weekend,

- Your friends at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edward

Celebrating Baby Week with Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards

Happy Baby Week! For those of you who didn't know, July 12 through the 16 is celebrated across the nation as Baby Week, a time when Discovery Health focuses its attention on informing you- the new or expecting to be moms and dads- on issues and stories that are relevant to babies. Visit the Baby Week website for information, quizzes, videos, and of course, the cutest baby face-off!

Our team here at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards knows how important it is for the moms and dads of newborns to know how to correctly stimulate the senses of their infant. This interaction is vital to the physical and psychological growth and development of your baby. That’s why, in celebration of Baby Week, we would like to highlight a few ways that you can help your infant embrace the world around them, courtesy of Discovery Health.

Our office hopes that this information on a newborn’s five senses! Remember, babies’ teeth begin emerging at eight to ten months. Happy Baby Week!

-Your friends at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards

Artificial sweeteners and your child’s health

There is always a lot of debate about the health effects of artificial sweeteners, and aspartame is most surely one of the most controversial food additives to ever receive approval by the FDA. Here at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry in Tulsa, OK, we try to provide you with the most up to date information on topics relating to the health of our patients and their loved ones. That is why we want to share with you, our wonderful patients, a few facts that we recently learned in a Huffington Post article.

The many names of aspartame

Did you know that aspartame is now sold under many commercial names, including NutraSweet, Canderel, and AminoSweet? Yes, that’s right. Now, when you’re checking the nutrition facts for various foods and beverages there are several names to be aware of as simultaneous to aspartame. This sweetener can be found in diabetic foods, jams, breakfast cereals, chewing gum, soda, and even prescriptions and vitamins.

What’s so harmful about aspartame?

With over 10,000 official complaints, aspartame reactions are more commonly reported than that of all other food additives combined. Of these reports, two-thirds consist primarily of headaches, mood alterations, and hallucinations, while one third is mainly gastrointestinal symptoms. Aspartame has also been linked to causing weight problems, the metabolism of amino acids, protein structure and metabolism, neuronal function and other primary functions.

How to treat your sweet tooth without the artificial sweets

Finding your nutritional type and the foods that your body craves is key to satisfying sugar cravings. Diet sodas are a very common food craving, but they can be damaging to the health of your teeth, as well as your body! The recommended fructose level is below 25 grams per day.

Please give us a call if you have any questions or comments about this article! As always, please remember to use a straw if you choose to sip soda, coffee, or other dark colored beverages to take care of that beautiful smile.