WINTER 2013

Is your teensmoking?PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM RECEPTION AREA. Visit us online www.youroralhealth.ca

A must – for kids – and adultsMOUTHGUARDSMOUTHGUARDS

How your dentist can helpHow your dentist can help

Sugar + AcidWhat you need to know

FRUIT JUICESFRUIT JUICES

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Our Contributors

Welcome fromDr. Deborah Saunders, Editor-in-Chief

Julia Aitken (“Putting theSqueeze on Fruit Juice”) haswritten three cookbooks andwrites regularly for Food andDrink and Diabetes Dialogue.She is Food Editor of MyAdvantage and Expressionsmagazines. Julia started writingprofessionally at the age of eightwhen she fashioned a“magazine” in crayon, and soldcopies to her neighbours innorthwest England. Her mothermade her give the money back.

Cheryl Embrett (“Helping YourTeen Butt Out”) has written andedited for many nationalmagazines, including CanadianLiving, Today’s Parent,Homemaker’s and Best Health.Toronto-based Cheryl is gladthat so many kids today,including her 12-year-olddaughter, Scotia, are beingtaught the dangers of smokingfrom an early age.

Jennifer D. Foster(“Expecting a Baby”) has writtenfor Homemakers, CanadianLiving, Today’s Parent andCanadian Health. When Jen waspregnant with her son, Darius,who is now 10, she craved BLTsandwiches and chocolate milk.She is still a big fan — and sois Darius. They live in Torontoand both brush and floss daily.

Bonnie Dean (“How to Pack aHealthy School Lunch”) is theODA’s CommunicationSpecialist. Bonnie lives indowntown Toronto. She tries topack — and eat — a healthylunch every day and succeedsmost of the time.

Heather Buchan(“Mouthguards”) is a freelancejournalist who has worked atHomemakers, House & Home,Metro and Hello! Her sonNathan has just turned two andis too young to play sports butonce he does, he will definitelybe wearing a mouthguard.Heather, husband Mike andNathan live in Toronto.

With summer now a distant memory, and the colder weather upon us, we arelooking for ways to make our daily routines work for our families — and our-selves. That may include packing heartier (and healthier) lunches for the kids,signing up for much-needed exercise classes or finding time for winter events.We know that every day is jam-packed for you. Welcome to our second issue ofYour Oral Health in which we answer your oral health-care questions — whileyou are in your dentist’s office — and try to make your daily tasks easier to tackle.

I am a Medical Director, Department of Dental Oncology, in a Sudbury hospital, and I am also a very busy andactive mom. I talk to patients every day, and we always end up discussing more than just flossing and brushing(although those are important topics too!) They know that I have three kids — and my questions are often thesame as theirs when it comes to the oral health of my family.

In this issue, we have included more answers to your questions on pregnancy and oral health, fruit juices andtheir risks and the latest on mouthguard use, as well as helpful advice on teenagers and smoking. This year, ourODA Oral Health Strategy is focusing on tobacco cessation. Did you know that your dentist can help you — or amember of your family — quit smoking? An alarming statistic is that most smokers start in their teens, and everyday, between 82,000 and 99,000 young people around the world start smoking1. For more information, read“Helping Your Teen Butt Out” on page 8.

All of our content is reviewed and vetted by our member dentists. Our Consulting Editor is Dr. Ian McConnachie,a Past President of the ODA, and a pediatric dentist with a practice in Ottawa. Our Advisory Board consists of ODAPresident Dr. Arthur Worth; President-Elect Dr. Rick Caldwell; Vice-President Dr. Gerald Smith and Past PresidentDr. Harry Höediono, all dentists with busy practices, who are concerned that every patient receives the best oralhealth care and information possible.

We hope that you enjoy Your Oral Health — and, as always, if you want to tell us what you like (or dislike) aboutYOH, email us at jkuipers@oda.ca.

Winter 2013 3

1 Canadian Lung Association

Did you know?

4 youroralhealth.ca

What’s InsideWINTER 2013

PublisherKari Cuss

Editor-in-ChiefDr. Deborah Saunders

Consulting EditorDr. Ian McConnachie

Art DirectorKimberley Strange

EditorJulia Kuipers

Assistant EditorGilda Swartz

ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Arthur WorthODA PresidentThamesville, Ont.

Dr. Rick CaldwellODA President-ElectTemiskaming, Ont.

Dr. Gerald SmithODA Vice-PresidentThunder Bay, Ont.

Dr. Harry HöedionoODA Past PresidentKitchener, Ont.

ADVERTISINGFor more information about advertising orsponsorship opportunities for Your Oral HealthBrought to You by the ODA, please contactJanet Jeffery or Jennifer DiIorio at DovetailCommunications at 905-886-6640 orjdiiorio@dvtail.com or jjeffery@dvtail.com.

DISCLAIMERThe publication of an advertisement should not beconstrued as an endorsement of or approval by theODA. The opinions expressed in Your Oral HealthBrought to You by the ODA are those of the authors,and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ODA.

CONTACT USWe welcome your feedback!Please contact us at the ODA —jkuipers@oda.ca or 416-355-2276.

The ODA is the voluntary professional organizationwhich represents the dentists of Ontario, supports itsmembers, is dedicated to the provision of exemplaryoral health care and promotes the attainment ofoptimal health for the people of Ontario.

We have more information

about many oral health topics

on youroralhealth.ca

– the ODA’swebsite. Andit’s all ODA-approved!

5

11

14

16

All photos in this issue: iStockphoto.com

www.youroralhealth.ca

5 Expecting a Baby? Part TwoWhat you need to know about oral health care.Jennifer D. Foster

8 Helping Your Teen Butt OutAsk your dentist for help.Cheryl Embrett

11 Putting the Squeezeon Fruit JuiceIt may not be the best choice for your kids.Julia Aitken

14 MouthguardsWhy they are a must for kids in sports—and adults too.Heather Buchan

16 How to Pack a HealthySchool LunchAnd how to get your kids to eat it!Bonnie Dean

18 Your Children’s TeethA healthy mouth is important to your child’soverall health.

20 Kids’ ZonePuzzles, quizzes and fun for the younger set.

Winter 2013 5

By Jennifer D. Foster

aExpecting

?

What you need to knowabout your oral health care.

PART TWO

In Part One, (YOH Spring 2012) weexplored some of the questions that pregnantwomen may ask their dentists. In Part Two, weanswer more of these questions, including onesthat you may never have thought of asking!

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baby

6 youroralhealth.ca

Q: How does my oral healthaffect my baby’s?

A pregnancy is a time of great joy and expectation for new par-ents. It is also a time of significant changes to a woman’s body.Equally, some of these changes may affect the health of the

pregnant patient’s mouth. Evidence suggests a strong needto protect against gingivitis and gum disease, as well asdecay problems. These problems can also affect the

health of the baby, including having preterm and lowbirth-weight babies. Sudbury-based Dr. Isabel Teijeiro,who, along with husband Russell, welcomed baby

Andrew in August, says: “The oral health of the momdefinitely affects baby. I actually just had my familyphysician ask me this question at one of my prenatal ap-

pointments (before I had Andrew), since some of his pre-natal patients had come in with dental neglect and he wantedto provide them with some good advice.”

Q: When is the best time fordental work during mypregnancy?

Says Dr. Teijeiro: “The safest time for dental treatment is in thesecond trimester, and after that we prefer to postpone any elec-tive work for after the baby is born. Our team also always rein-forces extra care with oral hygiene during pregnancy anddiscusses symptoms such as pregnancy gingivitis due to in-creased hormone levels.”

Q: I’ve heard preventativedental work is essentialto avoid oral healthinfections, such as gumdisease, which has beenlinked to preterm births.Is this true?

Absolutely, says Dr. Teijeiro. “In recent years, maternal peri-odontal disease/poor oral hygiene has been implicated as a riskfactor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm (pre-mature) births and low birth weight, as well as even miscarriageand stillbirth.”

Q: I am experiencing morningsickness and acid reflux —and am scared to eat what Inormally would. Do I have tolive on crackers?

Not only are nausea and acid refluxannoying (to put it mildly), they alsopose a significant risk to the mother’smouth. Dr. Isabel Teijeiro advises herpregnant patients to eat bland floodsand drink plenty of liquids — water isalways a good choice. The followingtips from the New York State’sDepartment of Health1, which Dr. IanMcConnachie provides for his patientsin his Ottawa-based pediatric practice,may also help:

To reduce tooth decay in pregnantwomen experiencing frequent nauseaand vomiting, try this:

• Eat small amounts of nutritiousfoods throughout the day.

• Use a teaspoon of baking soda(sodium bicarbonate) in a cup ofwater as a rinse after vomiting toneutralize stomach acid.

• Chew sugarless or xylitol-containing gum after eating.

• Use gentle toothbrushing andfluoride toothpaste to preventdamage to demineralized toothsurfaces.

Experiencingmorning sickness?

1 Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Early Childhood PracticeGuidelines, New York State Department of Health, August 2006

Winter 2013 7

Q: I have a major gag reflexand it has worsened whilepregnant. What can bedone about this whileI’m at the dentist?

Explains Dr. Lynn Tomkins, a Toronto-based dentist and anODA Past President: “The gag reflex is something a few ofmy patients experience, and we just work around it, suchas not having the chair back too far, avoiding trigger spotslike the back of the tongue or the posterior roof of themouth, not leaving the saliva ejector in the mouth, and forhome we usually recommend that patients use a minimalamount of toothpaste, not brushing right after they eat.”

Visit youroralhealth.ca

for more informationabout your baby’s oral health.

Q: What about my oralhealth and my baby’s,post-delivery?

“It’s important for the new mom to have a routine dentalvisit, and for baby to be introduced to the dental office set-ting. Good oral health habits start at birth with good nu-trition, mouth cleaning (even before the teeth start toerupt) and regular visits to the dentist,” stresses Dr.Tomkins. Also, comments Ottawa-based pediatric dentistDr. McConnachie, as the decay-causing bacteria is trans-mitted to most infants from their mother early in infancy,it is important to discuss with her dentist different strate-gies to delay or prevent this. Changes made can dramati-cally alter the decay risk to the child. �

8 youroralhealth.ca

“I want

Helping Your Teen Butt Out– with your dentist’s help

Kids are attracted to smokingfor any number of reasons — to feelgrown-up, combat stress, look cooland, most importantly, fit in withtheir peers. According to the Cana-dian Lung Association, while the risksof tobacco use are well-known, almost20 percent of Canadian teens age 12to 19 still light up — either daily oroccasionally. And while the CanadianLung Association states that smokingrates for youth have slowly declined

since the 1990s, Dr. Deborah Saunders,Medical Director of a dental oncologyprogram at the Health Sciences North,North East Cancer Centre in Sudbury,says teen smoking is still prevalent.And, most people who become smok-ers, according to the Lung Association,start in their teens. “Evidence from a2008 report shows that tobacco de-pendence is now widely accepted as apediatric disease that carries over intoadulthood” says Dr. Saunders.1

“That’s why prevention is the bestcure,” says Dr. Arthur Worth, Presidentof the Ontario Dental Association. Butcigarette advertising and peer pressurecan be very convincing. “It’s impor-tant to have a frank discussion aboutthe issues with your teen,” saysDr.Worth. And a trusted health-careprofessional like your dentist or physi-cian can help.

By Cheryl Embrett

Winter 2013 9

“My friendssmoke.”“I need to lose weight.”

“We’re obviously at the forefrontfor identifying and discussing therisks and hazards of lip and tonguepiercings,” adds Dr. Saunders. “Wecan extend this knowledge and ourrecommendations to the effects ofsmoking in the teen population too.”

The good news is that youth smok-ers make more attempts to quit smok-ing than adult smokers, according tothe Canadian Lung Association.Whether your teen is trying to kick

the habit or you want to prevent himfrom taking that first puff, thesestrategies from health-care expertscan help.

Avoid scare tactics“These tend not to work with teens,”says Dr. Saunders, “and may evenhave the opposite effect. Focusing onyour teens’ appearance tends to bemore effective than telling them

they’ll die of heart disease or cancer.”Talk to your kids about the immediatedownsides to smoking: shortness ofbreath (especially relevent for youngathletes) bad breath, yellow teeth,smelly clothes.

According to the Canadian Lung Association,almost 20 percent of Canadian teens age

12 to 19 light up – either daily or occasionally.

�

to look cool.”

10 youroralhealth.ca

Do the mathWhile teens may not relate to the tollsmoking takes on their health, theymay relate to the toll it takes on theirfinances. “If you smoke a pack of cig-arettes at $10 a day, that’s $70 a week,$300 a month, $3,600 a year,” saysDr. Worth. “That’s a very significantamount of money.”

Discuss ways torespond to peerpressureNever negate the importance of peerpressure, advises Dr. Marilyn Herie,Director of the Teaching Enhance-ment in Applied Cessation Coun-selling project (TEACH) at Toronto’sCentre for Addiction and MentalHealth (CAMH). “When kids areyounger, they look up to their par-ents, but when they’re older, theylook up to their peer group. Their de-velopmental task is to rebel againstauthority.” While some kids may feelconfident simply saying “no” to light-ing up with friends, others may needto rehearse alternative responses suchas, “I hate the way cigarettes make myclothes smell.”

Be aware of tobaccoand media influences“I don’t think that youth really ap-preciate that the cigarette is the mostsophisticated drug delivery systemever invented,” says Dr. Herie. “It’sdesigned to induce addiction, rightfrom that first puff.” Moreover, there’sevidence that tobacco companieshave used product placement inmovies often seen by a teen audience,and this role modelling can impactsmoking initiation.3 The more thatteens see actors smoking on TV showsand in movies, the more likely they’lltry it themselves, says Dr. Herie.Nearly all of the cartoon charactersseen on the popular TV show TheSimpsons, (including the children)have been seen smoking.

Stay involvedKnow who your children’s friendsare, where they’re going and whatthey’re doing. Look for opportunitiesto have the “smoking talk,” askingquestions like, “Why do you think somany kids smoke, knowing it’s sodangerous?” Or “What do you findappealing (or unappealing) aboutsmoking?” Try to avoid lecturing ornagging. Nothing turns teens off faster.

Get a plan in placeArrange a meeting with your teen’sdentist or physician who can offersupport and a treatment plan such asnicotine replacement (gum, patches,inhalers or nasal sprays). “One of themethodologies I’ve used is simply en-couraging patients to slowly reducetheir cigarette intake without settinga cut-off date,” says Dr. Worth. “I findif you set a deadline for quitting andthe patient doesn’t meet it, they feellike they’ve failed. And it’s not a fail-ure because anything they do to re-duce their consumption is certainly astep in the right direction.”

Most importantly, take a positiveapproach to helping your teen quitsmoking, advise the experts. Offer in-formation and resources (CAMH hasa great online storybook to open theconversation with younger childrenin grades one to five called Smokingand Quitting: Clean Air for All 2) — andalways look for every opportunity tooffer praise and reinforcement. �

1. Fiore, M.C., Jaen, C.R., Baker, T.B., et al. Clinicalpractice guideline: Treating tobacco use anddependence: 2008 update. Rockville, MD:Department of Health and Human Services.

2. http://knowledgex.camh.net/educators/elementary/Documents/smoking_cleanair.pdf

3. Pardun, Brittain, McKee and Karrh 2003, in IsabelleGolmier, Jean-Charles Chebat, and Claire Gélinas-Chebat. CAN CIGARETTE WARNINGS COUNTERBALANCE EFFECTS OF SMOKING SCENES INMOVIES? Psychological Reports: Volume 100(2007)

Do the math

for 1 pack ofcigarettes per day

days per month

$10

x 30

= $300 per month

OR $3,600 per year!

Winter 2013 11

Feeling thirsty, but want a healthier choicethan pop? You reach for fruit juice, right? Truth is, whilefruit juices provide healthy vitamin C, their sugar and acidcontent strikes a double whammy to your dental health, saysDr. Arthur Worth, a general practitioner in Thamesville,Ont., and President of the ODA.

“Fruit juice bathes the teeth in acid which softens theirstructure, then the sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouthwhich, in turn, produce even more acid,” explains Dr. Worth.

If you must drink fruit juice, says Dr. Worth, it’s best en-joyed as part of a meal because food buffers some of theacids in the juice and those acids will work on the foodrather than your teeth.

It may not be the best choice for your kids.

Putting the

By Julia Aitken

on Fruit Juice

�

12 youroralhealth.ca

Drinking juice quickly rather thansipping it is better, too, so you reduceyour teeth’s exposure, explains Dr.Jody Zajacz, a family dentist with abusy practice in Etobicoke, Ont. Forthe same reason, when giving juice toa child, always provide a straw andavoid putting fruit juice in a youngchild’s sippy cup.

Says Dr. Zajacz: “A bottle or sippycup encourages children to sip ratherthan drink which means smalleramounts over longer periods of time.This increases the time that the acidand sugar is on the young child’steeth which in turn increases the like-lihood of cavities in the baby teeth. Ifthey are going to have fruit juice it isbetter to decrease the contact time onthe teeth.”

Vegetable juices may be a betterchoice as they contain less sugar, butavoid acidic vegetable juices, such astomato and V8, and check the label assome vegetable juices can be high insodium.

Pure Water 7.0 0 tsp(neutral)

Barq’s Root Beer 4.0 11 tsp

Minute Maid (R) Orange Juice 3.8 9 tsp

Propel (R) Fitness Water 3.4 1 tsp

Red Bull (R) 3.3 10 tsp

Sprite (R) 3.3 10 tsp

Mountain Dew (R) 3.3 12 tsp

Diet Coke (R) 3.1 0 tsp

Sierra Mist 3.1 10 tsp

Full Throttle Energy Drink 3.0 11 tsp

Diet Pepsi (R) 3.0 0 tsp

Gatorade (R) 2.9 5 tsp

Sunkist (R) Orange Soda 2.9 13 tsp

Dr. Pepper (R) 2.9 10 tsp

Vault Energy Soda 2.9 12 tsp

Amp—Mountain Dew (R) 2.8 11 tsp

SoBe (R) Energy Citrus 2.6 12 tsp

Minute Maid (R) Lemonade 2.6 10 tsp

Pepsi (R) 2.5 11 tsp

Diet Schweppes Tonic Water 2.5 0 tsp

Coca-Cola (R) Classic 2.4 10 tsp

Battery Acid 1.0 0 tsp

** 4.0 grams = 1 teaspoon sugar* Laboratory tests, Dr. John Ruby, University of Alabama,

Birmingham School of Dentistry, 2007.

Minnesota Dental Association, Sip All Day, Get Decay, © 2002.

Alas, juice is no substitute for freshfruits and vegetables, explains con-sulting dietician Cathy Pearson, whois based in Richmond Hill: “Freshfruits and vegetables are always a bet-ter option. Juice doesn’t contain fibreand is a significant source of calories.”

Dr. Worth agrees and adds that theaction of chewing fresh fruits andvegetables produces saliva whichhelps protect the teeth from the natu-ral sugars and acids they contain.

For fussy eaters, Pearson suggestssneaking fresh fruits and veggies intomeals by adding fresh berries to abowl of cereal, blending fruit and yo-gurt into a smoothie, stirring finelychopped vegetables into a pasta sauce,or puréeing vegetables to make soup.

The best tooth-friendly thirst-quencher for all ages? Good old water,of course. Bottled and tap, they’reboth good, says Dr. Worth, but headfor the tap if your municipality fluor-idates the water as it can protect yourteeth from potential decay. �

Sugar**Per12 ozserving

Acid*Low = Bad

Sugar + Acid= Double Trouble

Winter 2013 13

Safety First

Visit youroralhealth.cafor more information

about tooth-friendly snacks

Fruit Juice PrimerIf you want to give your child fruit juice, here are Drs. Worth’s andZajacz’s tips on how to lessen the potential damage to her teeth:• Give your child a straw so the juice doesn’t come in direct contact

with her teeth.• Make sure the juice is consumed as part of a meal because food

buffers the teeth against some of the acids in the juice.• Wait for about one hour before brushing your child’s

teeth after she’s had juice because saliva is very pro-tective and it will actually help to reconstitute the toothstructure.

Unlike most commercially produced juices, homemade juices aren’t pasteurized to kill bacteria.

On its website, Health Canada says that, while most healthy adults can safely consumer unpasteurized juice, it’s not

recommended for children, pregnant women, older adults and people with a weakened immune system. If you do

make your own juice, the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education has the following safety tips:

� Wash fruits and vegetables under cool, running water before juicing them, even if you’re discarding the peel.

� Use a brush on fruit with creviced skin, like melons.

� Ensure your juicer, knives and work surface are spotlessly clean.

� Refrigerate fresh juice promptly and consume it within 24 hours.

Drink Up!Cathy Pearson recommends shelving

fruit juice in favour of these tooth-

friendly thirst-quenchers:

• Water

• Milk

• Drinkable yogurt

• Unsweetened soy beverage

• Low-sodium vegetable juice

Mouthguards

14 youroralhealth.ca

Why they area must for

kids in sports

You wouldn’t dream of lettingyour child play hockey without a hel-met, so why would you send him (orher) onto the ice without a mouth-guard? After all, a properly fittedmouthguard can prevent far morethan just chipped or broken teeth.“Mouthguards also protect the softtissues around the mouth and, inmore serious injuries, can reduce therisk of jaw fracture by absorbingmuch of a blow to the jaw,” explainsDr. Ian McConnachie, an Ottawa-based pediatric dentist. “It is furtherbelieved that there can be reductionof risk of concussion or severity ofconcussion.”

Dr. McConnachie points to thewide-ranging extent of oral injuriessustained in contact sports such as

• Like anything else that goes into themouth, a mouthguard will attract bater-ia and should be cleaned and disinfec-ted regularly. Rinse a mouthguard undercold water after every use and air dry.

• Occasionally clean it with an antisepticmouthwash. You can also clean it with atoothbrush and toothpaste or cleaningtablets.

• Store a mouthguard in a firm, perforatedplastic container and away from ex-treme heat, as heat can distort it.

• Check a mouthguard regularly for tearsor holes (these can irritate the mouthand weaken the mouthguard). If you no-tice any, replace it immediately.

hockey and football from lost teeth,to fractured jaws, to tooth fragmentsembedded in lips, to bone loss. “Thelong-term considerations [of notwearing a mouthguard], includingcosts and future additional treatment,can be significant and involve thou-sands of dollars,” he says.

According to Dr. Arthur Worth,President of the ODA and aThamesville, Ont.-based dentist, ath-letes are much more likely to suffer anoral injury when not wearing amouthguard. “Even hockey playerswho currently wear both helmets andface masks should wear a mouthguardto protect against head and neck in-juries by absorbing trauma or blowsthat could otherwise cause jaw frac-tures or concussions,” says Dr. Worth.

By Heather Buchan

Caring formouthguards

DESCRIPTION: This mouthguard, generallymade of thermoplastic material, must bewarmed in very hot water to soften it, so theuser can bite into it to create an impression.When moulded within the mouth (or“bitten”), the plastic takes on the shape ofthe wearer’s mouth; however, the fit is notas precise as that of custom-made mouth-guards – and it may be somewhat bulkierBoil-and-bites come in three sizes: small,medium and large, and are also sizedby age.

ADVANTAGES: This type of mouthguardcan work very well, says Dr. McConnachie,especially when the athlete is in the processof losing teeth (naturally) or having newteeth erupt.

COST: Approximately $10 to $40.

DESCRIPTION: Made of rubber or polyvinyl,these mouthguards are held in place byclenching teeth together. As a result, they offerthe least amount of comfort, protection anddurability, and are often bulky and loose.

ADVANTAGES: These are the cheapest typeof mouthguard and can be bought at mostsports stores and worn immediately.

COST: Approximately $5 to $30.

DESCRIPTION: A dentist makes an impres-sion of the patient’s mouth and then createsan exact-fitting mouthguard from a castmodel of the teeth impression using vacuum-formed thermoplastic material.

ADVANTAGES: Although they are the mostexpensive type, custom-made mouthguardsprovide the best fit, protection and comfort,and are the most durable. Dr. McConnachiealso recommends them for children withbraces, as these mouthguards will give thebest fit and are adjustable.

It is vital to ensure that the mouthguard isproperly fitted. “Each patient’s specific needsmust be addressed for maximum comfort andprotection,” says Dr.Worth. “A dentist will con-sider a number of factors including the size ofhis or her mouth and the type of sport played.”

COST: Approximately $85 to $115, plus labcosts (between $50 and $75).

Winter 2013 15

Mouthguards aren’tjust for children.One of the most common causes of dental injury in adults, aged 18to 50, is sports. Mouthguards are necessary in any sport where there might

be a strong chance of contact with other participants or hard surfaces. Play-

ers who participate in sports such as football, hockey,

basketball, ski racing, baseball, soccer,

wrestling, lacrosse, rugby, gymnastics

and martial arts should wear mouth-

guards when practising or competing.

Mouthguards are also a good idea for

recreational activities such as skate-

boarding, in-line skating and cycling.

There are three main types of athletic mouthguards, and they vary in cost, comfort and effectiveness. Ideally, youwant a mouthguard that’s resilient, durable and comfortable — (one that fits properly, is easy to clean and doesn’timpede breathing or speech).

“A well-made and properly cared-for mouthguard can last several years, if the bite of the athlete is fully developed,” says Dr. McConnachie.“For an athlete with a changing bite, a mouthguard can last up to a year, but will need to be changed and/or adjusted more frequently.” Somedental offices offer reduced fees on custom-made mouthguards or participate in mouthguard clinics that provide reduced fees for sports teams.

Between 10 and 39 percent ofchildren’s dental injuries resultfrom sports accidents.Mouthguards are proven to reducethe incidence of these injuries.1

1. American Association of Pediatric Dentistry

Did you know?

CUSTOM-MADE BOIL-AND-BITE READY-MADE

HERE’S WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BUY:

Choosing a mouthguard

16 youroralhealth.ca

There’s the old adage, “Youcan lead a horse to water, but youcan’t make it drink.” By the sametoken, you can send your children toschool with a healthy and nutritiouslunch, but can you make them eat it?

Lunches and snacks provide the en-ergy and nutrients to help kids getthrough the school day, as well as aidin their growth and development.Teeth and gums need a wide range ofessential vitamins and minerals forgrowth, development and goodhealth, just like your child’s body.

If you get your children involvedwith preparing their own lunches,they may be more likely to eat them.

How to pack a

HealthySchoolLunch

– and get your kids to eat it!By Bonnie Dean

Take your children grocery shopping and let them choose some of their favourite foods.Guide your children into making good choices by giving them healthy optionsto pick from — breads, vegetables, fruit and yogurts.

A child’s taste may change from one day tothe next. Try new foods regularly and keepthem interested with lunches that includea variety of shapes and colours.

Get your kids to pack their own lunches—older children can help make sandwiches,while younger children can place snacks intocontainers.

Get them involved.

Winter 2013 17

Here are a few ideas of what topack in your child’s lunchbox.

Fruits and vegetablesCitrus fruits and kiwi fruit are good sources ofvitamin C— important for healthy gums. Cel-ery, carrots and dried apricots contain betacarotene, which helps your body create vita-min A — a nutrient essential for buildingstrong teeth.

Lunch/snack ideas:• Cut up peppers, celery or carrots into

sticks for dipping into yogurt or hummus,or enjoy them on their own

• Grape tomatoes and sliced cucumbersdrizzled with low-fat salad dressing

• Non-salted tortilla chips with salsa andguacamole

• A tropical fruit cup, with mangos, kiwi andoranges

• A fruit smoothie, prepared with low-fatplain yogurt and honey, can pack a goodnutritional punch without additional fat orsugars

DairyCheese, yogurt and milk all contain calcium,which helps strengthen tooth enamel.Cheese also stimulates saliva productionwhich helps clear away food particles fromyour teeth.

Lunch/snack ideas:• Low-fat yogurt (with no added sugar) on its

own or for dipping veggies• Cheese slices on whole-wheat crackers• A milk-based pudding• Cheese-filled pasta with tomato sauce

ProteinProtein-rich foods like meat, poultry and fishare good sources of phosphorous, which isneeded for tooth development and is instru-mental in helping your body balance and ab-sorb calcium and magnesium. Beans, grainsand nuts are also rich in protein, magnesium,calcium and phosphorous.

Lunch/snack ideas:• Tuna on whole-wheat bread or pita with

lettuce and cucumber slices• Small whole-wheat or corn tortillas with

baked or refried beans, salsa and shred-ded cheese

• Whole-wheat pita slices and veggie stickswith hummus

• Slices of turkey or ham with mustard, let-tuce and tomatoes in a wrap

• Chicken salad flavoured with curry, onions,light mayo, pickles, apples or dill

• Nut-free trail mix

DrinksSoda, sports drinks and sweetened fruitjuices often contribute to tooth decay becauseof high sugar and acid content. Opt for water,milk or 100-percent pure fruit juices instead.

It can be difficult to get your child toeat more healthy fare. All it takes is alittle patience, knowledge and cre-ativity to establish good eating habits,which can lead your children on theright path to good oral and overallhealth. �

Source: EatRight Ontario

(www.eatrightontario.ca)

18 youroralhealth.ca

A healthy pregnancy helps thedevelopment of healthy teeth.

• Teeth start developing in the firstthree months of pregnancy.

• A mother should eat nutritiously andavoid tobacco, alcohol and non-prescription drugs to ensure ahealthy pregnancy.

• Visit your doctor and dentist regularly.

1 2 Baby teeth are very important.• The baby teeth start to eruptwhen a child is about sixmonths old.

• Baby teeth help your child eatand speak, and are importantfor overall health.

• Baby teeth are also called theprimary teeth and help adultteeth come in straight.

3 Healthy food makes healthy teeth.• A well-balanced diet is importantfor the development of healthyteeth.

• Cheese, yogurt and milk containcalcium that make teeth hard andcan help prevent cavities.

• The eight front primary teeth start to fall out afterage five, and the rest fall out by age 12.

• Between meals, choose unsweetened unflavoured milk orwater instead of juice or pop.

• Fresh or unsweetened canned fruits and vegetables areexcellent snacks.

• Whole grain crackers, bread, nuts and seeds are also goodsnacks.

Your Children’s Teeth

A healthy mouth is important to your child’s overall health.Here are several things as a parent you can do to help.

Winter 2013 19

4Feeding your baby.

• Clean the baby’s mouth and teeth following all feedings.

• Avoid letting your baby sleep at the breast or with a bottleof juice, formula or milk as this can harm your baby’steeth.

• If your baby normally falls asleep while feeding, brush hisor her teeth before feeding.

5 Reduce your child’ssugar intake.

• Fruit is the best dessert.

• Limit fizzy drinks and natural fruit juices as they may containsugar and acids that cause tooth decay.

• Avoid feeding your child snacks containing sugar or sweeten-ers such as honey.

• Save sweets for mealtimes, when they are less likely to harmyour child’s teeth.

6 Brush andflossyourchild’steeth.

• Before the baby has any teeth, the gums should be wiped witha clean soft wet cloth after every feeding.

• Brushing should begin soon after the first teeth come into themouth, so your child will get used to it.

• Brushing should follow meal and snacks and sweetenedmedications.

• Use only a small pea-sized amount of toothpaste and be sureit is never swallowed. If your child routinely swallows it, do notuse toothpaste.

• Once the sides of the baby teeth touch each other, flossingshould take place at least once a day.

Visit the dentist.• A child should visit a dental office by the ageof one year, or when the first teeth appear.

8

7Lift the lip and look.

• If your child knocks out a tooth, call your dentist immediately!Gently rinse the tooth — do not brush or scrub. Wrap the toothin a clean cloth or gauze and put it in a cup of milk and get itto the dentist immediately.

• If your baby sleeps with a bottle,fill it with water.

• Germs in the mouthcalled bacteria feedon sugar fromfoods to make anacid that harmsteeth.

• Bring your child to the dentist forregular checkups to make surethere are no problems.

• Watch for changes in colour, lines or spots on yourchild’s teeth as these may be signs of a potentialproblem.

• Visits should continue from age two anda half when all the primary teeth are inthe mouth.

• Baby teeth are very important.

• Healthy food makes healthy teeth.

• If your baby sleeps with a bottle, fill it onlywith water.

• Reduce your child’s sugar intake.

• Brush and floss your child’s teeth.

• Check your child’s mouth.

• Visit the dentist!

• Tooth emergency? Call your dentist!

Tooth-healthy Snacks!Which snack below isn’t the best choice for a tooth-healthy snack?

20 youroralhealth.ca

colour it in !

Winter 2013 21

Visit youroralhealth.caClick on Kids’ Zone

for more games and puzzles!

Pam: “Why does a vampire cleanhis teeth three times a day?”

Dan: “I don’t know. Why?”

Pam: “To prevent bat breath!”

The hardest thing in your bodyis the enamel on your teeth.

Did you know?

ToothFun FactBeavers’ front teethnever stop growing!That’s why they chewon wood – to keepthem from growingtoo long!

Q: Why did the king go tothe dentist?

A: To get his teeth crowned!

h t o t o ________________

s f o l s ________________

r b s u h ______________

v a c y t i ______________

s t i n d e t ______________

Unscramble the lettersto find the word!

ANSWERS:

tooth;floss;brush;cavity;dentist

22 youroralhealth.ca

BRACESCHECKUPDENTISTFLOSS

FLUORIDEGOAL

HEALTHYSNACKHELMETMOLAR

MOUTHGUARDOFFSIDE

PUCKREFEREE

SMILESTICK

TONGUETOOTHBRUSHTOOTHPASTE

ZAMBONI

Word SearchSearch the puzzle for the words shown

in the word list, all about hockey and

healthy teeth. Circle each word that you

find until you find all the words in the puzzle!

© 2009

www.youroralhealth.ca

D R E F E R E E H C B E Y O T A I L L N S

W E T F G O L R S T D B G C F I N M T H F P

E B V J K I O L Y G T R Y X F U K L O P L C

M U H E A L T H Y S N A C K S T Y I O M O N

O O R A W H L N C E F C W A I D E N T I S T

L P U T F C B X E A D E P K D T V B H Q S L

A Y G T A W S F Z F O S P L E M B E B R S C

R A S B H T S M I L E D F P O U N P R E U P

U T G J L G K R S U W M D O T O N G U E S C

Y W U H P O U B G O Y A S E P K L F S C R B

P L E E M A T A G R P L S D C A S W H M K R

R F D L P L F C R I K V T O O T H P A S T E

H Z A M B O N I O D R F I G D C E A S A I L

P O L E F X C R T E I Y C H E C K U P K T F

T U Y T G F D C V E S P K T R F C E S H I A

WORD LIST

Your source foryour oral health.

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YOUR DENTIST CAN.BOOK AN EXAM TODAY.

IS A MEMBER OF THE ONTARIO DENTAL ASSOCIATION