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JUNE 2023
WWW.GREATSMILESNJ.COM | 908-561-0225
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS! A Childhood Fall Can Trigger Major Dental Issues
I’m sorry if the title of this article scared you. I don’t want to be an alarmist! But at the same time, it’s incredibly important every parent knows just how dangerous a playground fall can be for a young, growing child. Even if your kiddo bounces back and runs off like nothing happened, even a stumble can cause serious damage to their face. If the scenario I’m describing sounds familiar, that’s because this is another Episode of “The 4 Biggest Dental Problems to Watch for in Your Kids”! As I said back in February, one of the big four is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries. Most people have never heard of TMJ injuries, but they’re extremely serious, and they can happen after something as simple as a stumble at recess. ‘What is the TMJ, and why does it matter?’ Your child’s TMJ connects their lower jaw to their skull, and it’s actually a growth plate. Because of that status, TMJ injuries can be just as dangerous to a child’s growth and development as a broken leg. You probably know that if your son or daughter breaks their leg on the playground, you must ensure it heals perfectly so they won’t end up with one leg shorter than the other, which can lead to coordination issues, back problems, and hip pain. The TMJ is just as important — and your child could
seriously damage it if they fall and hit their chin. The fall might not seem bad or even cause any bleeding, but it could still shock the TMJ and hinder the growth of the jaw. ‘What TMJ red flags should I look for?’ Right after a fall, your child might complain about pain, pressure, or clicking in their jaw, which could indicate a slipped disc. Long-term, you might also notice that your child’s jawline is shorter on one side than the other or that their jaw looks like it has been pushed to one side. If your son or daughter grinds their teeth, regularly gets headaches, has a weak chin, or has a prominent nose, those might also be signs that they are at risk of having a TMJ issue. These signs and symptoms are a big deal — even the ones that seem small — because they can ultimately lead to early childhood malocclusion (ECM) and airway issues that cause behavioral issues and long- term health problems. ‘What should I do if my child falls or has TMJ symptoms?’ If your child falls and hits their chin — or shows any of the signs of the TMJ problems I listed — take them to the dentist immediately. You should also turn to a dentist before considering plastic surgery if your child doesn’t like the appearance of their nose and/or chin. If they have a nose job before seeing a dentist, the surgery could do serious damage to their airway. I’ve helped several kids who had nose jobs too soon and ended up with breathing issues. Their parents didn’t realize until too late that their nose was the right size for their face. Their lower jaw was just too small! You can avoid this mistake by bringing your kids to the dentist when they’re as young as 1 1/2. We can screen them for TMJ issues and, if needed, use orthodontia or another treatment to manage the growth of their jaws and teeth before it’s too late.
The more proactive you are as a parent, the healthier your child will be.
To your great smiles and better health,
A weak chin (left) vs. a normal chin (right) could be the result of a damaged TMJ during growth.
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DON’T LET YOUR TEETH HOLD YOU BACK
Consider Getting Dental Implants
Missing teeth can affect your speech, chewing patterns, and bone strength and rob you of your confident smile. Because of this, it can hinder you from engaging with others and living your life to the fullest. However, not all hope is lost! You can get your bright smile back with the help of dental implants. What are dental implants? Dental implants use small titanium screws that insert into your jawbone that function and look like natural teeth. Each implant has three parts: a crown supported by titanium posts, a connector placed on top of the implant, and a screw- like post that connects the crown to another post inserted in your jaw bone.
People tend to consider receiving dental implants because they’re more natural, more comfortable, and longer-lasting. With the proper care, there’s no need to worry about replacing a dental implant. What is the procedure like? The first step is the initial evaluation. Your dentist examines your mouth to determine the best steps moving forward and if you have enough jaw and bone support for the procedure. Your dentist may want to take X-rays and collect additional information about your condition to ensure implants are right for you. If you don’t have enough jaw and bone support for dental implants, that doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible for the procedure! Health care providers can use bone grafting to ensure your mouth has enough stability for the implant. Furthermore, if you have remaining teeth that need to be extracted, your dentist can remove them the same day they install your implants. Once the evaluation, tooth extraction, and bone grafting (if needed) are completed, your dentist can install your implants! How do you care for your implants after the procedure? You want to brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day. A softer toothbrush will help prevent scratching and other damage to your implants. After you brush, carefully examine your teeth to ensure everything looks good. Additionally, be sure all your oral products are free of abrasive ingredients. Please avoid using products with baking soda or stain-removing properties during this time. Other than brushing, you want to avoid chewing or eating hard foods, such as candy, chips, and ice. It’s best to eat soft foods for 6-10 weeks post-surgery. Furthermore, if you smoke or drink, while it’s best to refrain from these actions altogether, it’s imperative to quit after getting dental implants. The ingredients in tobacco and alcohol can affect the healing process! After everything is fully healed, you can go back to your routine! If you have any questions or concerns about the dental implant process, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will gladly break down the process and schedule your evaluation so you can get your beautiful, bright smile back!
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Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls
Inspired by HungryHobby.net
Ingredients
Have you ever had those days when you don’t want to cook? What about times when you’ve had a long day at work, and the last thing on your mind is dinner? Pulling out your pots, cutting boards, and food can be stressful when you’re mentally and physically weary. Is there anything you can do to make this part of your life easier? Meal planning and prepping takes the stress out of cooking! What are some benefits of meal planning? • Know the answer to “What’s for dinner?”: There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your pantry, looking at the food, and not knowing what to eat. It can be draining to decide what to cook each night. But meal planning helps you determine your dishes in advance, so you never need to wonder what you and your family will eat that night. And best of all, you only need to cook at least once a week. • Keep more money in your pocket: Sometimes, when you are unsure of what you want to eat, your first option may be to order takeout. While this is a quick and easy way to get dinner, it can create a huge hole in your wallet — especially if you eat out more than once a week or feed a family. You will no longer need to make nightly food runs when you meal plan! You can buy your food in bulk, prepare a few nights’ worth of meals, and save tons of money. What hinders people from meal planning? Making meals too complicated is the main reason why meal planning doesn’t work for some people. When starting out, it’s best to create easy and basic foods. Once you begin meal planning, you will discover more simplistic ways to make intricate dishes. Another reason people avoid meal prep is the amount of time spent in the kitchen. However, you will save yourself time each day, so you can continue doing what you want throughout the week and less time ordering takeout or quickly throwing a menu together. Go online to find meal prep guides and a multitude of recipe options. We can’t wait to hear about your meal-prepping experience during your next visit! I Don’t Know What I Want to Eat! Meal Planning Can Help With Indecisiveness
Chia Seed Jam • 2 cups Chelan fresh sweet cherries, pitted • 3 tbsp chia seeds
Greek Yogurt Bowl • 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tsp hemp seeds • 1 tbsp granola
• 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 cup water
Directions
Chia Seed Jam We suggest making the chia seed jam in advance and storing it in the refrigerator so you can quickly assemble these yogurt bowls all week. 1. Using a potato masher, mash down the cherries. Place a small pot on high heat and add the cherries, chia seeds, honey, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow jam to cool before using or refrigerate. Greek Yogurt Bowls 2. In a small serving bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with vanilla extract. Top the Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp cherry chia seed jam, hemp seeds, granola, and a few additional Chelan fresh sweet cherries, if desired. Take a Break
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Inside
This Issue
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An Important Message for All Parents
Get Your Confident Smile Back!
Tired of Wondering ‘What’s for Dinner?’ Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls Don’t Let Your Child Experience Learning Loss!
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How to Keep Children Engaged Over Summer Break RING THE BELL — SCHOOL’S OUT!
Your kids are probably looking forward to sleeping in, staying up past their bedtime, and having no homework or tests now that school’s out for summer. This seasonal break is an excellent time for your children to decompress and rest until the next school year, but it’s also imperative that they don’t forget everything they learned during the school year! According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the summer, many students lose some of their academic skills because they aren’t using them. After all, what kid wants to study when they can play outside? But when kids don’t engage in the skills they learned at school, they are more likely to struggle once they go back. So, how can you make learning over the summer fun and educational? Travel to the zoo. Many children love seeing various animals in their habitats, interacting with zookeepers, and running around the playground. You can make
your family’s trip to the zoo educational by asking your children questions about what kind of animal you’re looking at (carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore), the climates they live in, and where in the world they come from. You can also attend educational activities at the zoo or go online and print out various worksheets for your children to complete.
Take a nature walk. You can incorporate Mother Nature into your activities by taking nature walks. Not only can your children release their energy by running, walking, or hiking a trail, but they can also learn more about their environment. You and your child can identify trees and flowers during your walk and figure out why insects, birds, or bees gravitate toward particular plants. Dozens of rocks and gems are also lying on the Earth’s surface, and your children can also attempt to identify these pieces and learn how rocks break down to create sand or dirt. Do DIY experiments. Head to your local crafts store or supermarket or go online to find premade science project kits that are fun for the whole family! These kits come with everything you need to conduct all kinds of experiments, like making crystals or observing cells and germs under a microscope. For children who love hands-on activities, these kits are a great option!
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