You, your child and cavities

Our team at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry read an interesting article this morning pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria have been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Drs. Morrow, Lai and Edwards know tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

We would like for you to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment at Morrow, Lai and Edwards Pediatric Dentistry, please contact us on Facebook or feel free to give us a call!

Artificial sweeteners and your child’s health, from Morrow, Lai & Edwards

Doctors Morrow, Lai and Edwards know that there is always a lot of debate in the health community about the health effects of artificial sweeteners, and aspartame is most surely one of the most controversial food additives to ever be approved by the FDA. Here at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry, 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 a few facts that we recently learned in a Huffington Post article.

Did you know that aspartame is now sold under many commercial names, including NutraSweet, Canderel, and AminoSweet? Yes, that’s right. When checking nutrition facts, it is important to keep an eye out for all of these ingredients! 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. Determining your nutritional type and the foods that your body craves is key to satisfying sugar cravings. The recommended fructose level is below 25 grams per day, which includes both natural and artificial sweeteners.

Next time you're in for an appointment with Dr. Morrow, Dr. Lai or Dr. Edwards, let us know if you have any questions about aspartame or 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!

Cheese and your child’s oral health

Did you know research shows cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth? Not only does cheese provide large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also fights cavities. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss and Mozzarella all do their part to stimulate our salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris ...and protect them from acids that weaken them.

What does that mean? Cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's pH level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Hope this helps!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Visiting Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry regularly will not only help keep your child's teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of their body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, our team would like to take this opportunity to remind parents about the importance of children developing good oral hygiene habits at a young age.

Drs. Morrow, Lai and Edwards recommend that patients brush four times a day for optimal oral hygiene: after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and at bedtime. Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and we will discuss with you the right time to start flossing. Please let our office know if you have any questions about brushing, flossing or your child's oral health during their next appointment.

Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards Support American Heart Month

Did you know February is American Heart Month? It’s a great time to take notice of the health of your heart, says Dr. Lai, Dr. Edwards, and Dr. Morrow. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our office on a regular basis can help prevent gum disease because children are learning the importance of good oral hygiene at a young age. If you have any questions about heart health, or about your child's treatment at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry, please give us a call today!

Share your smile with the world!

Folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Drs. Morrow, Lai and Edwards have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

Debunking the rumors about swallowed gum

At Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry we know the rumors going around—mostly among young people—that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!

Time to Replace Your Toothbrush-Cold and Flu Season is Here!

Winter is officially here, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, our team at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Morrow, Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards: What’s so bad about nail biting?

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:
• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.

• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.

• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?
Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!
Your friends at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards

Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards, protecting your child from cavities this Halloween

As Halloween is only two weeks away, Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards know that there will soon be many tricks and treats! While this festive holiday is full of costumes and fun community activities, it can also be a harmful time for the teeth of young trick-or-treaters in our Tulsa, OK neighborhoods.

With all of the sugary, sticky, and chewy treats that are often shared with trick-or-treaters, it is important that you take the necessary steps to prevent cavities this Halloween.

Be sure to visit our understanding cavities blog to learn more about cavities, and how they can be avoided by good oral hygiene habits. Don't hesitate to ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards or our staff for more information about cavities and your oral health during your next visit.