Tooth Fairy Post

The Tooth Fairy and the Mouse

 

When a growing child loses his or her first tooth, what should you do with the tooth? In America of course, the parents put it under the child’s pillow for the Tooth Fairy to collect in the middle of the night. On the face of it, the Tooth Fairy seems like a cute but insignificant little tradition. In actuality, it reflects a rite of passage that extends across just about all cultures worldwide.

 

The specific traditions regarding what to do with children’s baby teeth vary from country to country. Sometimes the tooth is thrown somewhere—up into the sun, into a fire, or over a roof. Sometimes it’s buried. Sometimes it’s hidden where animals can’t find it, and other times it’s given (either symbolically or literally) to an animal to take or swallow. In some cases, the mother swallows the tooth, and in other cases the child does.

 

The loss of the child’s tooth signifies the boy or girl is taking an early step into adulthood. This step can be scary for the child, and ritualizing the disposal of the tooth can bring comfort. Other children are excited about losing their first tooth, because they can’t wait to grow up. However the kid feels about it, all cultures agree that doesn’t seem right to let the moment pass without performing some sort of custom.

 

The animal most associated with these traditions is a mouse. Mice have strong teeth that continually grow, and parents wish to transfer the idea of strong, healthy teeth to their children. In France, it’s not a fairy but La Bonne Petite Souris, or “The Good Little Mouse,” who sneaks under kids’ pillows to trade a tooth for cash or candy. In Spain, the mouse is named Raton Perez (or some variation on this). He looks under the pillow too, but sometimes, the tooth is left in a glass of water on the nightstand. In the morning the water and tooth are gone and replaced by coins or a small gift. In South Africa, instead of under a pillow the tooth is left in a slipper on the floor, sometimes with a piece of cheese.

 

Asian countries, from China to Japan to Vietnam to India, favor the tradition of throwing the tooth somewhere, and while it’s in the air, they might ask for the tooth to be replaced by the tooth of, yes, a mouse. In Iraq and Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, the tradition is also to throw the tooth.

 

Some of these traditions can be traced back hundreds and hundreds of years, but the Tooth Fairy tradition in America is relatively new. Its first appearance in print appears in 1927, and it is believed to have started a few decades before that. Americans at the epoch were becoming enamored with the figure of a kindly, motherly fairy, as seen in everything from Glenda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz to fairy godmothers in classic Disney movies. The Tooth Fairy herself seems to be a mixture of this sort of fairy and European mouse traditions.

 

How about the money she leaves? Well, since losing a baby tooth symbolizes the path to adulthood, the giving of cash is part of that transition. Money belongs in the realm of adulthood, not childhood. A child can make his or her own decisions about what to do with the Tooth Fairy’s gift, whether buying something independently of Mom or Dad or saving it for the future.

 

February 28^th is National Tooth Fairy Day, but the next time a child you know loses a tooth, you can hide it for the Tooth Fairy to find, give it a mythical mouse, or throw it into the sun.

 

Regardless of how old a child is when they begin losing teeth, studies show parents should bring their children to visit the orthodontists at the age of seven. Schedule your child’s appointment with Dr. Burris today at any of our locations in Arkansas.

Preventing Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

“I have had braces for about two years. I admit that about 70 percent of the days I’ve had them I haven’t brushed more than once a day,” a teenager says in an online forum. He goes on to wonder if he can hold off tooth decay if he were to brush more often. If he came to us, we’d tell him that the answer is “yes,” but there’s also more he could do.

Since food gets stuck in unseen places on teeth when braces surround them, cleaning teeth requires both frequency and special tools. Here are some suggestions:

• Brush after every meal or big snack. The less time food sits on your teeth, the less likely it will cause decay.
• Use a soft bristle brush at a 45 degree angle or an electric toothbrush, which we frequently recommend because it allows you to easily brush each tooth individually. Be sure to brush all sides of your teeth. Fluoride toothpaste is best.
• Use a floss threader or a proxabrush to clean between braces and under wires.
• Use a Water Pik. The pressurized pulsating water it emits removes food particles from hard-to-reach places.
• End your cleanings with a fluoride mouth wash, which helps disinfect under your braces and other spots where a brush can’t reach.
• Even if you can’t brush after every time you eat, carry mouthwash to use after eating. At a minimum, rinse your mouth with plain water. It’s better than nothing.
• Have a dental professional cleaning at least twice a year.

The type of food you eat can also increase the likelihood of decay as well as damage your braces. Any food high in sugar or starch can cause decay. Especially, avoid eating the following:

• Sticky foods such as gum or caramel, which can get stuck on your braces and be hard to remove.
• Crunchy treats like chips and popcorn, which can bend or break your wires.

Eating hard foods like apples, corn on the cob, and carrots can break your braces. Still, they can be part of a healthy diet, so cut them into small pieces so you don’t have to bite down hard.

If you have additional questions about how to care for your teeth, feel free to ask us when you’re in for your next appointment.

Do I Really Have to Wear My Rubber Bands?

In a word, Yes. Our doctors would not have made rubber bands part of your orthodontic treatment if they didn’t determine them to be necessary.

            The typical purpose of rubber bands is to correct an overbite or underbite. Once treatment is over, your teeth will fit together nicely. Your smile will look lovely, and eating will be a lot easier. Rubber bands can also be used along the brackets of one jaw to help move teeth in a way that braces might not be able to do alone.

            Tips for wearing rubber bands:

• Wear them consistently – You will need to take out your rubber bands now and then, during brushing for example. But be sure to wear them consistently. If you take them out and don’t put them back in, even if just for a little while, your jaw or teeth can start moving back to original positions, which can significantly extend treatment time. In effect, you might be starting all over.
• Use the right rubber bands – Rubber bands come in different diameters and elastic strengths. Make sure you use the ones given to you by us, or your jaw won’t move into place properly. If for some reason you want to order some rubber bands off the Internet, don’t do it. Instead, call us. We’ll give you the ones you need.
• Don’t improvise – Patients have been known to double up on rubber bands thinking that it will make their teeth move faster. In reality, it doesn’t work that way. Patients might also wear a set of rubber bands longer than instructed instead of replacing them daily or as directed. But rubber bands can lose their elasticity quickly, and wearing one set too long will negatively affect treatment.

How you wear your rubber bands will depend on our instructions. Some patients who wear rubber bands need to wear them all the time. Others only need to wear them while sleeping. Some will need to wear them throughout their entire treatment time, but others will only need to wear them for a portion of it.

Causes of Crooked Teeth

As children grow into adults, their bodies naturally become strong and healthy. Sure, everyone gets sick now and then and some kids come down with diseases or medical conditions, but across the population in general, our hearts, lungs, and other organs develop as they should. If that’s the case, why do so many people have crooked teeth? Studies have estimated that 70% of the population has at least a mild malocclusion, meaning some sort of crooked teeth or misaligned bite. That figure seems exceptionally high. Why isn’t a perfect bite and smile the norm rather than the exception?

            The truth is no one can pinpoint exactly what causes crooked teeth.

            Some scientists posit evolutionary reasons. They point out that humans used to live in hunter-gatherer societies, where they hunted animals for food and gathered berries and roots to eat. But they were always moving to follow game, and they never farmed food. About 12,000 years ago, people began to switch to agricultural societies and raised domesticated animals. Humanity flourished under this new model, and naturally our diets changed. Some anthropologists believe that this change in diet, where we no longer eat hard, raw foods, led to changes in our facial structure. Because we didn’t have to use our jaws as much, they shortened either through natural selection or because children growing up with a different diet developed differently. The teeth however remained the same and couldn’t fit well in the smaller jaw. This overcrowding is what leads to crooked teeth.

            Other researchers agree that crooked teeth weren’t as common in the past, but it’s our modern diet to blame. They claim that processed foods and the modern, industrialized diet aren’t nutritious enough to support a good jaw structure for a straight bite.

            While these types of studies have scientific evidence behind them, their conclusions are not definitive, and they don’t explain why at least some people have naturally straight teeth while others need orthodontic treatment.

            Genetics also play a role. Just as some people are born with long limbs or curly red hair, others have jaws that are too narrow for their teeth or bites that are misaligned.

            There are other factors that can cause crooked teeth. They can result when babies suck their thumbs or use pacifiers too long. Habits like mouth breathing can influence how teeth grow in as well. Crowded, misaligned teeth can also happen when someone loses their baby teeth too soon because an accident knocked them out or because adult teeth started pushing in early.

            The long and the short of it, there is no one single reason we can point to as the ultimate cause of crooked teeth. Depending on the individual, various factors can contribute to the problem. At least we have a solution: modern orthodontics!

Beware of Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks… You Don’t Want to Give Your Teeth an Acid Bath!

Researchers found teenagers and young adults are facing the negative effects of sports and energy drinks more than any other age group, according to the American Dental Association. These drinks erode tooth enamel, which makes teeth become more sensitive and more prone to cavities and decay.

The study, published in the May/June 2012 issue of General Dentistry, comes from the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry.

“Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda,” said Dr. Poonam Jain, lead author. “Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

Braces by Burris recommends our patients steer clear of energy drinks and sports drinks. Sports performance can be boosted through other practices. Exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep and drink plenty of water to keep your body active and healthy without jeopardizing your dental health!

What’s the difference between Baby Teeth and Permanent Teeth?

What is the difference between “baby” teeth and permanent teeth? At between six and ten months of age, most infants begin to get their “baby” teeth.

 

The Central Incisors (front middle teeth) usually come in first, and then teeth begin appearing on either side and work their way back to the second molars. By the time a child has reached three years old, most of the “baby” teeth should be present.

 

The process begins to repeat itself when the child is about seven years old. The Central Incisors fall out first and are replaced by permanent teeth. This is the perfect age and stage in a child’s life to make their first trip into an orthodontists  office. This does not mean children will be put in braces at this age, but it is a great time for a consultation.

 

“Baby” teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. “Baby” teeth play an important role in the development of speech and chewing.

 

Source: www.healthyteeth.org

What Causes A Cavity?

Bacteria latches on to the enamel on healthy teeth. They can multiply and grow into a colony that turns into a film layering over your teeth. This layering is known as plaque. Cavities are essentially holes in your teeth that should be filled to preserve your teeth.

It is especially important to brush and floss carefully and tediously during orthodontic treatment. It is not difficult to work around brackets once you learn the proper brushing and flossing procedure. Do what works for you. Many of our patients like using threader floss or floss picks to reach those hard-to-reach places where bacteria can collect.

Healthy smiles are happy smiles. Always brush your teeth at least twice a day. Ideally, brush your teeth after eating, especially after consuming sugary or sticky treats. Floss once a day to get rid of food stuck in places your toothbrush won’t reach.

If you have any questions about brushing or flossing with braces, call our office. One of our friendly staff members would be happy to provide you additional tips.

Meet Our Doctor- Dr. Ben Burris!

My practice philosophy is to have a fun and friendly environment where families can come and receive the most technologically advanced treatment from our caring and talented team. I love to watch the transformation of a shy, insecure person who will not even smile to a confident, outgoing individual who feels good about themselves and the image they project when they share their smile with the world. I enjoy spending quality time with my wife, Bridget and our son and daughter, traveling to new places, fishing and hunting.

Fun Facts about Dentistry

We have assembled a list of fun facts about dentistry and orthodontics which you probably never knew:

• Straight teeth have always been important to people. Rudimentary braces made of catgut and metal have been found in Egyptian mummies.
• The spinner dolphin has more teeth than any other animal, up to 252 teeth. Compare that to people who have only 32 teeth as adults.
• Siwak sticks, also called miswak, are a precursor to the toothbrush. They have been used for thousands of years and are still used today in parts of the Middle East and Africa. Siwak sticks are twigs from the arak tree, which fray into bristles when you chew on them and which you can then use to brush your teeth.
• Dental disease has been with humans since prehistoric times, but the incidence of cavities increased dramatically in Europe in the 1600’s when imported sugar became part of the diet.
• Bears, who have a large appetite for honey, are the only non-domesticated animal that gets cavities.
• Contrary to popular belief, George Washington never had wooden false teeth. He did have dental problems all his life, however, and for a time wore partial dentures made of ivory.
• As of 2011, there are 193,000 professionally active dentists in the United States, according to the American Dental Association.
• As of 2012, there are 5,530 orthodontists in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Three Ways to Protect Your Braces When Playing Sports

Getting braces doesn’t mean you have to give up your athletic activities, but it does mean you need to be a little more careful about them. A hard hit in a football game can lead to a popped-off bracket, a cut wire, and damage to your teeth or the inside of your mouth. And a really hard hit can dislodge a tooth or two. Even an impact in a less intense sport than football—say baseball, softball or even tennis—can harm your braces and your mouth.

If you play sports, you should look into these three ways to protect your braces and your mouth:

Full-Facial Guard

A full-facial guard is the hard plastic piece that juts out in front of the mouth on football, hockey, and lacrosse helmets. If you wear braces, be sure to wear a helmet when you play rough contact sports (and even if you don’t wear braces, wearing a helmet provides general head safety). While a full-facial guard will protect your mouth from external impact, collisions and tackles can still cut the inside of your mouth or damage braces.

Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are made to absorb and disperse the shocks that come from collisions with other players, balls hitting your face, and falls to the ground. They are worn inside your mouth to fit directly over your upper teeth, and you can find some dual-arch models that are designed to fit over your lower teeth as well. There are many different types of mouth guards available at just about any sporting goods store. They should be used for sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. They are also a good idea for non-contact sports like gymnastics, biking, and skateboarding where a fall can still harm your mouth.

Make sure your mouth guard fits well, is comfortable and allows you to breathe. We don’t recommend the “boil-and-bite” type for our patients that wear braces, because these mouth guards can stick to brackets and pull them off when removed. Ask us during your next visit for specific advice about what mouth guard she recommends for your particular sport or to judge how well a recent purchase fits.

Dental Silicone or Wax

Dental silicone comes in long strips that you cut to size and press into your braces. A good brand is OrthoSil Silicone Dental “Wax” (which is not really made of wax). Dental silicone is a great way to supplement protection when you’re wearing a helmet with a full-facial guard. You can use the strips to protect the inside of your mouth during other athletic activities where an impact can cut your mouth or damage your braces. Depending on your preferences, you might favor actual dental wax or a product called Gishy Goo.