Dry mouth, also called xerostomia results from an inadequate flow of salvia. Dry mouth is a sympton rather than a specific disorder. Specific problems associated with dry mouth are soft tissue irratation which can make them inflammed and more susceptible to infections. Decay and periodontal disease can be found more common with dry mouths. Bad breath and dentures are less comfortable as well.

Causes of dry mouth can be attributed to prescription and over the counter medications and certain autoimmune diseases, stress and treatments for cancer.

Increasing fluid intake helps or you can use artificial salivia which is available at local pharmacies. You can also try  gum or candy that contain xylitol which stimulates salivia, frequent sips of water, alcohol free oral rinses and try restricting intake of caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages.

Regular dental check ups are always important. Your dentist is the best source for advice specific to your own situation. Always be sure to tell the dentist which medications you are taking.

Dr Scholes and his staff would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas  with your family and friends. We hope for happiness, joy, peace and good health for each and every one of you. May God bless you all!

We have a new assistant named Joani. She is a graduate from Carrington College in Spokane, Wa. We are so proud of Joani as she graduated with honors for having a 4.0 gpa  and perfect attendance! Our patients and staff love her!

Joani has been married to  Andy for six years and they have  a  four year old little girl named Chloey. The family loves dirt bike riding and horse back riding.

Joani believes in preventive dentistry and is available for any questions you might have. We know you will love her as much as we do!

Your teens are making their own decisions about snack choices. Just help them be aware of the amount of sugar in sport drinks, sodas, and simple carbohydrate snacks such as french fries, chips and cookies, etc. It is not just how much sugar they eat or drink but also how often they snack.

Diet sodas and non-carbonated sports and fruit drinks contain acid that are just as damaging to the teeth as regular soda.  Remind your teen to make these drinks a sometimes treat and to avoid sipping on them throughout the day.

Watch for systems of gum disease in your teen. 1. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing. 2. Red and swollen gums. 3. Chronic bad breath. If you suspect gum disease, call your dentist for your teen to be seen.

Teenagers should be brushing and flossing 2 times per day. When brushing, they should also brush their gums and tongue.

Wisdom teeth usually come in between 17 and 21 years of age. Just like the other molars, food and plaque gather easily on the top surfaces. It is important to see your dentist during these years so your dentist can see how the wisdom teeth will erupt and effect the other teeth.

From 2 – 5 years of age you will need to take turns with your child brushing their teeth. Have your child brush first, with you brushing after to clean any areas they might miss. Brush your own teeth with your child so they will watch & imitate you. Use only a 1/2 pea-size amount of toothpaste, preferably with fluoride.

Establish set snack times so your child will not be continual snacking. If you notice after 20 minutes of having a snack  that food is still visible, then thie snack is not a healthy snack  for your child’s teeth and gums. Read juice and snack labels to know how many sugar grams they contain and limit your child’s sugar intake. Healthy snacks include cheese, yogurt, cut up veggies and fruit. Have your child drink water after snacking to help wash away food from the teeth and gums. Brushing after snacks is desirable.

By age three, your child should see a dentist every six months,  and they should be on a supplemental fluoride treatment as well.  Dr. Scholes is great with little ones as he makes their first visit fun and kids love him. We have a “No Cavity Club” program where the children with no cavities get to put their name on the board and then we have a drawing where your children can win $25.00 gift certificates to their favorite stores.  This works as a great incentive for the children to develop life long,  good hygiene home care.

When your child can tie their own shoes, then they have the dexterity to properly brush their own teeth. However, it is important that a parent continues to monitor their brushing. We recommend brushing twice daily for two minutes and flossing.

At the age of 6 years, you should increase the amount of toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush to a pea size amount. Your child will start losing their baby teeth around this age as well. Permanent molars will begin to erupt.

Ninety percent of children’s cavities occur on the tops of their molars where there are many “pits” and “fissures.” Having dental sealants will reduce cavities by seventy-two percent.

Braces trap food and can make cleaning the teeth and gums a bigger challenge. Be sure your child continues to have regular check-ups with your dentist in addition to seeing their orthodontist.

It’s a good idea to invest in a mouth guard if your child plays sports to protect those permanent teeth.

Today is Dr. Scholes’ wife’s birthday. Even though it was her birthday JayLyn made us all a wonderful cheese cake to enjoy!  Hmmm…wonder where Dr Scholes is taking JayLyn tonight?

All of us at Dr. Scholes wish JayLyn a terrific birthday and a year ahead of God’s blessings:)

We love you!

Pam, Julie, DeeDee, Barb, Joani & Rayleen

When your child’s teeth erupt, begin brushing using a small, soft bristled toothbrush with just a tiny smear of toothpaste. You may begin flossing when their teeth touch together. Coeur d’ Alene and our surrounding areas do not have fluoride in our water so you will want to contact your dentist or pediatrician about a fluoride supplement. Remember, never to share toothbrushes because you can pass bacteria back and forth to your family members. Also, avoid having your child drink anything other than water or snacking throughout the day. Anything else creates acid in the mouth, which weakens the tooth enamel and cavitites can start. You will need to schedule a “first visit” to the dentist by their first birthday if you or the child’s siblings have a history of cavities.

Before your baby’s teeth erupt you will want  to wipe their gums with a small soft damp cloth twice a day. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle other than water as liquids will remain on their teeth causing decay. Do not put items from your own mouth into your baby’s mouth as you can pass the bacteria to your baby that causes tooth decay. It would be wise to have baby drinking out of a sippy cup by his first birthday.  Milk and water should be baby’s main source of liquids. Give juice in moderation and dilute it with water.

When your baby is teething you can rub his/her gums with a clean finger or a chilled teething ring or cold damp washcloth.

Many people ask “When should my child see a dentist for the first time?”  Here at Scholes Family Dental, our motto is “if they have teeth, we want to see them.”  Your child’s early visits helps to establish a routine with your child to help get rid of the fear or anxiety of dental visits.  During these “Happy Visits” as we call them, the dentist sits down with the parent and child and we do as much of a cleaning as the child will let us.  Some children will let us clean their teeth the first time and some children only let us get a quick peak, but we are building experiences to learn from every time.

After baby’s teeth erupt, begin using a small, soft bristled toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. You will want to floss their teeth when any two teeth touch together. Fluoride is not in our water here in Coeur d’Alene, so you will want to ask your dentist for a fluoride prescription.  Do not allow your child to sip on drinks or continually snack throughout the day. Anything other than water creates acid in the mouth, which weakens the tooth enamel and can start cavities. Avoid sharing toothbrushes with other family members.  Brush your infant’s teeth often and especially after eating and at bedtime.

See your dentist early in your pregnancy and be sure to let them know that you are pregnant. Many dentists have hand outs that have valuable information regarding gum and tooth care for your infants.

Your mouth should be as healthy as possible before your baby is born.  Untreated gum disease and cavities can put your baby at risk to be born early or underweight or develop cavities. Did you know that the bacteria that causes cavities can be passed from a parent to a child? So this is why it is very important for mother’s to have good dental care before their babies are born.

Remember to brush twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day.  Try to rinse your mouth out with water after snacking if you are not able to brush. Try to limit your amount of sugar. Four grams of sugar is equal to one sugar cube. If a drink contains twenty grams of sugar, it’s equal to having five sugar cubes.

Next week, we will discuss dental care for your infant.