Eagle Dental June 2018

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Trying to slip out a window after Mom and Dad have gone to sleep is nothing new; kids have been trying to sneak out since the invention of houses. These three stories are sure to bring back memories of your own clandestine adventures and close calls! JESSICA: ‘GRAND THEFT MINIVAN’ My parents’ 1985 Ford Aerostar was something of a hot commodity because you could pack seven crazy teenagers in it and go for the best joyrides. As my parents were getting ready for bed, I’d run our air compressor to pretend I was pumping my bike tires, but I was actually using the noise to disguise the sound of the garage door opener. Once they were asleep, I’d pick up my friends, and we’d see how far we could make it in one night. One

time, we went too far, and I couldn’t fill up the tank before getting back home. I was sweating as my mom got ready to take me to school in the morning. She turned the key, saw that the tank was almost empty, and muttered, “Your father told me this would be good on gas ...” JAMES: ‘WISH I HAD A GRAPPLE GUN’ One night, I snuck out to see a girl. My roomwas on the second floor, and my parents had noise sensors that went off every time a door opened or closed. I popped out the screen on my window, figuring I could find a way out from the roof. The only option was to jump to an adjacent tree that was just out of reach. I went back to my room, grabbed a belt, and tried to use it as a whip, like Indiana Jones. It didn’t grab the branch tightly enough, though. I ended up with three bruised ribs and a sprained ankle, and I was grounded for a month. REBECCA: ‘SNEAKING IN’ Sneaking out was never my forte, but sneaking people in sure was. There was an entry to my basement from the garage, so I would leave the back door to the garage unlocked, and my friends could slip in. One night, we had the bright idea to sneak in some boys. After one of them tripped and knocked over our canned food collection, my parents came running downstairs. When my dad took two steps toward his gun safe, the boys high-tailed it out of there. formation in three major ways. First, fluoride actively halts demineralization, keeping your enamel healthy and strong. Second, when demineralization does occur, fluoride can help remineralize teeth, restoring them to their ideal condition. Finally, fluoride inhibits bacterial growth, eliminating nasty compounds that can lead to tooth decay. Many cities fluoridate their drinking water because it’s so beneficial to oral health. To find out if your community is one of them, you can go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “My Water’s Fluoride” website and search by state and county. Whether or not your drinking water contains fluoride, it’s a good idea for children to begin using fluoride toothpaste as soon as they have teeth. For little ones under 2 years of age, you should only use a smear the size of a grain of rice. Children between 2 and 5 can upgrade to a pea-sized dollop. If your kids love the flavor of their toothpaste, it’s a good idea to keep it in a place they can’t reach. Too much fluoride, while not dangerous in the long term, can cause an upset stomach. Plenty of adults can benefit from fluoride as well. Those with increased sensitivity and exposed roots will find fluoride helpful in lessening pain. Patients who take medications that cause dry mouth should also use fluoride to fight the bacteria that saliva naturally combats. Fluoride: The Cavity Fighter

KARA’S CORNER

Patients with young children always ask about fluoride. There’s a lot of misinformation about fluoride out there, leading some people to think it does more harm than good. I’m here to dispel those rumors and show you that fluoride is a crucial part of anyone’s dental hygiene routine.

Cavities occur when tooth enamel breaks down — called demineralization — causing decay. Fluoride helps prevent cavity

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