Fun Fact Friday - Veteran's Day Edition

We here at Alpharetta Children's Dentistry are very proud of all our Veterans and those brave men and women who still serve in our great military, including our very own Dr. Shirley! We send a big thank you for all you do to keep us safe!

Now on to our fun fact...

Did you ever wonder why Veteran's Day is November 11th? It all goes back to World War I. In 1918, American troops had worn out the German defenses. And on November 11, 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire. The armistice was signed at 5am, but went into effect six hours later. The "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the world knew peace once more". For the next 36 years, America remembered the heroes of the war on Novemember 11th as Armistice Day. But in 1954, Congress decided that the name didn't fit anymore. It was officially changed to Veteran's Day to reflect the service of all the Armed Forces from every American war. This year is extra special as Veteran's Day is on 11-11-11. So please remember and send thanks to all our retired and active service men and women today!

Trick or Treat! It's Fun Fact Friday!

With Halloween being on Monday, we thought it might be fun to find out where trick or treating originated...Well, it all started with an old Irish tradition. The Irish believed that on Halloween night the veil between our world and the spirit world was thin. On that night, ghosts could come back to visit their loved ones. But they also believed that some ghosts were unhappy and used Halloween to frighten people. The Irish people would put out bowls of milk and fruit on their doorstep. If the spirits were happy with their treats, they would go somewhere else to make their mischief. Everyone tried to stay inside on Halloween night where it was safe. But anyone who had to go out for some reason would wear a costume and a mask. If the costume was good enough it would confuse the spirits and they wouldn’t bother you. Over time these traditions changed. During the Middle Ages, teenagers and young adults took the place of the spirits. They would dress up and go door to door saying “trick-or-treat.” If they were given a treat, they went on to the next house. But if not, they played a trick on that person. These were harmless tricks and no one ever got hurt from them. Still, it was better to just give them a treat. When the Irish came to America during the Great Potato Famine, they brought the tradition of “trick-or-treat” with them. Soon everyone was joining in and who can blame them? What could be more fun than dressing up and going from house to house getting candy and treats?

(thanks to Kimber Krochmal for the info!)

FUN FACT FRIDAY

Did you know that an adult shark can have up to 300 teeth in it's mouth at one time? They also have new teeth that are constantly being formed in the rows on their jaw. A shark loses and replaces their teeth every 8 days.

Talk about keeping the tooth fairy busy!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The kids are back in school, the weather is finally cooling off, and the sounds of cheers fill the air. It’s fall, and in many houses that means football season! While we here at Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry LOVE football, we love healthy teeth even more! Keep your favorite ball player’s smile looking camera ready by making sure they use a mouthguard.

There are several different kinds of mouthguards out there: stock, boil and bite, and custom guards. Each mouthguard provides varying degrees of protection. Stock mouthguards are usually generic in size, can be bulky, and not necessarily effective. Boil and bite mouthguards generally offer a better fit and more protection because they are formed around the teeth. Just like the name suggest, you first dip the mouthguard in hot water to soften the material, then bite down to shape the mouthguard. These are the most commonly used mouthguards. Custom fit mouthguards are just that; they are made for the individual by a dental professional.

Football players aren’t the only ones who should use mouthguards. Contact sports such as ice hockey, and lacrosse are notorious for mouth injuries. Basketball isn't much better, 34% of those injuries are mouth related. Accidents can happen during any physical activity. We’ve seen all kinds of sports related mouth injuries from baseball to karate to cheerleading to skateboarding. Wearing a mouthguard doesn’t prevent all injuries, but it definitely makes a difference. They can limit the risk of mouth related injuries to the lips, tongue, and gums. Mouthguards can also protect against chipped and broken teeth, and even tooth loss.

Even with mouthguards, accidents happen. If your child gets hit in the mouth or bumps their teeth, check the following: (A) If a baby tooth is knocked out or displaced, call us as soon as possible. Do not try to place a baby tooth back in your child’s mouth. It may cause damage to the developing permanent tooth. (B) If your child knocks a permanent tooth out or displaced, call us or get to our office immediately. If possible, rinse the off the tooth with cool water. NEVER touch the root. Try to place the tooth back in the socket and hold it there with a clean cloth. If you can’t get the tooth back in the mouth, place it in milk, or water (when no milk is available). (C) If no teeth are knocked out, check for chipped teeth, and bruising or bleeding of the gums. If you notice any of these, call our office soon as you can. It may not be an emergency, but it is always a good idea to let us take a look! For more information, visit our website www.AlpharettaChildrensDentistry.com

Drop by our facebook page and tell us your favorite fall activity or your favorite football team! www.facebook.com/alpharettachildrensdentistry

Alpharetta Children's Dentistry Partners with Better World Books

Do you have books crowding your shelves? Looking for someone to take them off your hands?  Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry announces a partnership with Better World Books to help raise funds for local libraries and Cooperative for Education, a non-profit organization which creates sustainable textbook, computer center, reading, and scholarship programs in Guatemala.  Now located at both Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry locations, Better World Books will have their green drop off boxes conveniently located to donate your books with the promise that they will be used to positively impact someone else's life.

Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry is always looking for opportunities to give back and the book collection program from Better World Books was a natural fit with their other philanthropic initiatives.  By partnering with Better World Books, Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry now provides an opportunity for the entire community to get involved.

“At Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry it’s about more than just teeth,” said Dr. Mac. “We love to give back and inspire whenever we can and this partnership with Better World Books allows us to transform something unwanted into something needed – used books into much needed funding.”

Donated books will be sold on the Better World Books website, with portions of the proceeds going to the Fulton and Forsyth County Library and Cooperative for Education.  Books that cannot be sold by Better World Books will be responsibly recycled.  To date, Better World Books has successfully re-used or recycled more than 55 million books and raised over $10 million in funding for local libraries and global literacy.

The bright green Better World Book drop boxes will be placed outside each Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry location and books can be dropped off at anytime.

FUN FACT FRIDAY

Think it's a pain to brush all 32 of your teeth?! Next time you're brushing, think about our tiny snail friends who can have about 25,000 teeth.  On their tongue!

Can you imagine having that many teeth on your tongue? That's one long tongue!

Don't Sport the Sports Drinks This Summer

After a soccer game or long day outside in the yard, a sports drink is all you crave. While they are a great source for rehydration, drinking too much could be a bad thing for your teeth.

According to a 2009 study by the International Association for Dental Research, prolonged consumption of sports drinks – including Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water and Propel Fit Water – can lead to excessive teeth erosion. And not just from the sugar content of these drinks, but also from their high acidity levels.
The study showed that sports drinks can cause significant staining of the teeth and soften a tooth’s enamel.  When the enamel gets softened, bacteria can easily sneak through the weakened tooth shell and cause an infection. Sugar only helps encourage bacterial growth.

The best solution is to limit your child’s intake of sports drinks. But if it’s the only way to refuel your little one, then follow up each drink with a glass of water to rinse away the sugar.  Also, according to Mark Wolff, DDS, chairman of the department of cardiology and comprehensive care at New York University College of Dentistry, wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming sports drinks.  This will allow the tooth enamel to reharden before taking a tooth brush to them.

Of course water is always the best solution for hydration, but we sometimes can’t resist the sports drinks either. If you can’t get the sports drinks out of your child’s hand this summer, mention their increased intake to your dentist at your next visit. That way, if they do see any issues with the enamel they can recommend an acid-neutralizing toothpaste or give you some other great tips to help combat the problem!