Kids and Family Archives - Plotting with Dr. Potts

The Life Cycle of Teeth

September 30, 2018 by Lara Leave a Comment

You probably remember losing your first tooth as a kid… Wiggling it with your tongue until it finally popped out on its own, or with the help of some floss and a doorknob… Being excited to put it under your pillow before bed and wake up to see what the tooth fairy left for you in it’s place. However, have you ever wondered about the actual life cycle of teeth? When did the baby ones come in? Why not just always have the same teeth? Keep reading and find out!

Life Cycle of Teeth

Babies are born without teeth and will usually begin teething between five and eight months old. This can be a painful process of the teeth growing in and cutting through the gums, starting with the front teeth and working backward through the mouth. All the teeth should be fully grown by the age of two. There will be no molars yet.

The second part of the life cycle of teeth happens between the ages of six and thirteen. This is when the permanent adult teeth begin to descend from pockets within the now fully developed jaw. The baby teeth, also known as milk teeth, will start to shift, loosen, and eventually fall out in order to make room. The first and second sets of molars also come in during this time.

Finally, between the ages of sixteen into possibly the late twenty’s, the wisdom teeth will come in. These are the final set of molars and usually when complications may arise. This could be because they come in crooked, become impacted, or simply because there isn’t enough room in the jaw for them. Most people will need their wisdom teeth removed at some time or another to avoid discomfort and/or a major shift in the rest of the teeth.

There you have it! The life cycle of teeth! Chances are, if you’re reading this, you already have your permanent teeth. Remember to take care of them so they last as long as you do, and make regular dental appointments! Call the office today, 866-604-3327, to schedule yours.

Simple Things Can Make Big Difference

December 19, 2016 by smiles4u Leave a Comment

In just a few short days, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season will be behind us and we’ll turn our focus to the New Year.

Will you be scrambling to make some New Year’s resolutions?

You’re not alone.

Roughly one in three Americans resolve to better themselves in some way.

But did you know that a much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resolutions?

Let’s be honest, resolutions are fun to make, but very difficult to maintain. In fact, many are long-forgotten as soon as February.

How can you make 2017 your best year yet?

Do you want to live a healthier life? Lose weight? Make more time for you?

New Year’s Resolution don’t have to be lofty – even the simplest, everyday things can make a big difference. Try these on for size:

>> Instead of driving your car, walk or ride your bike more often

>> Put the cell phone away during work meetings, social events or dinner (make it a family affair)

>> Make dinner at home 2-3 times a week (you’ll eat healthier and save money)

>> Skip emailing or texting and just call someone

>> Pick someone each month to send a handwritten card or note

>> Do something out of your comfort zone – like taking a dance or art class

>> Join a book club

>> Put away the credit cards and only try to use cash (unless it’s an emergency)

>> Wake up early and eat a healthy breakfast each morning

>> Floss your teeth more often (I couldn’t forget this one since I’m a dentist!)

>> Find a hobby you enjoy

>> Carve out “family time” at least a couple times a week

>> Start a garden

>> Tackle the clutter in your home or closet

>> Make plans for a family vacation and start saving a little each week

>> Eat more fruits and vegetables (go for fresh over canned whenever possible)

>> Get out and volunteer — at church, your kid’s school or elsewhere in the community

>> Pay down debt (credit cards, etc)

>> Drink more water

>> Get more sleep (try for at least 7 hours a night)

>> Find ways to reduce stress

>> Talk less and listen more

>> Have more patience

All of us at Lake County Dental wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you.

Halloween Candy Tips for Kids and Parents

October 26, 2016 by Jamie Spaulding Leave a Comment

Halloween is right around the corner, which is the kick off of candy-eating season. You may not realize that it’s not just kiddos that indulge on Halloween candy. According to a survey by Delta Dental, nearly 80 percent of parents admit to raiding their child’s Halloween candy. Adults need to be aware of what Halloween candy to avoid this season, as much as children do.

The fact of the matter is, sugar is sugar. If you are going to indulge, it’s better to go for it. When you consume a large amount of candy in one sitting, it’s actually better for you. Tooth decay tends to occur when candy consumption occurs over time. The longer your teeth are exposed to sugar, the bacteria naturally breaks it down and turns it into acid and plaque.

Unless you have the will power of an Olympic athlete, the statistics speak for themselves. Most of us will fall into temptation and indulge after putting the kids to bed.

Chocolate Halloween candy is a better choice than hard candy.

One helpful tip is to eat candy that melts or is consumed quickly. This will limit the amount of exposure to the harmful acids that cause decay. For example, chocolate dissolves almost instantly after being consumed. That said, don’t go for those chocolate bars that are filled with chewy caramel, nugget and nuts.

Helpful Halloween Candy Tips

Here are some other helpful Halloween candy eating tips to get you through Halloween.

Enjoy candy after a meal or as a dessert, so you’re not as hungry.
Avoid snacking on candy throughout the day.
Brush your teeth after enjoying these sweet treats. Or at the very least, rinse out your mouth with water.
Avoid hard candy like lollipops. These types of candy are enjoyed over a longer period of time. And it’s almost impossible to avoid some kind of chewing or chomping on hard candy. This can be especially dangerous to enamel and can cause chipping or cracking.
Lastly, avoid sticky, chewy candy. Caramels, Swedish fish or gummy candies have very high sugar content and get stuck easily in the crevices and grooves of teeth. Sticky candies are more difficult for your saliva to break down.

You should avoid gummy Halloween candy.

We know you probably won’t be giving out apples and veggies when those cute goblins come knocking on your door. But, now you know how to avoid an emergency dentist appointment for yourself and your youngsters this year.

It’s Not Too Soon To Get Ready For Summer

March 26, 2016 by Lake County Dental Care Leave a Comment

Summer is coming up! Make your plans now so you can make the most of it.

Looking forward to warmer temps and play dates outside? Us too! Here are a couple exciting activities we’re hoping to attend this summer.

Last year’s Ravinia Festival had a number of great performers and we’ve been wondering who would be there this year. Well, if you’ve been wondering too, you’re in good luck!

There’s a great lineup this year at the Ravinia Music Festival! TonyTheTiger at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Ravinia Festival.

The oldest music festival in North America just recently published their line up and we couldn’t be happier. All the performers are great and a few really caught our eye.

Bob Dylan will be performing as will Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Paul Simon and Tony Bennett (without Lady Gaga), Barnaked Ladies and Duran Duran just to name a few. You can find the whole summer list at VisitLakeCounty.org.

There’s more fun places to visit this summer in Lake County.

Rollercoasters are part of the fun this summer at Six Flags Great America! By Jeremy Thompson from United States of America [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Coming up in June we’re looking forward to Restaurant Week. And I’m sure this summer we’ll find time to fit in a visit to Six Flags and KeyLime Cove Waterpark.

Summer sure goes by quickly but there’s so much fun in Lake County we’re looking forward to making the most of it!

Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you.

American Heart Month: Love Your Teeth, Love Your Heart

February 15, 2016 by Lake County Dental Care Leave a Comment

Show your heart and your loved ones you care by taking extra good care of your teeth and gums.

February is not just about Valentine’s Day but also American Heart Month and because we love you so much, we want you to take care of your heart by taking care of your teeth!

Heart disease is a top concern for men and women.

Chances are you’ve heard about the dangers of periodontitis to your teeth and gums. This disease is caused by a build-up of plaque in your mouth.

There’s a connection between heart and dental inflammation because those with periodontitis also have risk factors for atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque in the arteries and blood vessels that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.

It’s possible the connection is caused because the two diseases share other risk factors, including age, diabetes, and smoking. What we do know is that periodontitis can raise the level of inflammation in the body resulting in extra stress being placed on the arteries and blood vessels.

When the body experiences inflammation, a protein is created that is a known factor in heart disease. If your teeth are heavily inflamed because of gingivitis and periodontitis, then you will produce this protein that can cause your risk level to increase.

What can you do about this?

Show how much you care about your heart by caring for your teeth. Make sure to brush and floss regularly. Visit a dentist twice a year for check-ups and routine dental work. If you do develop gingivitis or periodontitis, then consider mentioning this to your doctor to see if you’re also at risk for heart disease.

Eat properly and exercise regularly. Your health is not something to mess around with!

She doesn’t worry about heart disease now that she read these tips!

Helpful Instructions for Teaching Children to Brush Their Teeth

January 27, 2016 by Lake County Dental Care Leave a Comment

Like father, like son. Show your child how important and fun brushing can be for a lifetime of oral health!

One of the best things you can give your child is the knowledge of how to properly brush their teeth and take care of their gums.

Children need to learn the proper way to brush their teeth and realize that after they lose their baby teeth, their adult teeth will be for life. The habits they get into now will follow them for years to come.

Get your gear ready

Assemble all of your tooth brushing gear. Be sure to get a kids toothbrush with soft bristles that is specifically made to fit smaller mouths.

If your child has trouble holding small instruments, you can get adaptive toothbrushes they can use more easily. It’s best to let your child pick the toothbrush. A cartoon character brush is a great way to help motivate kids to brush regularly. Some parents even buy more than one so they can “mix things up” each night. (“Do you want to use the Spongebob toothbrush tonight or the Olaf ?”)

After you get the toothbrush, help your child pick out his or her own toothpaste. Make sure you get toothpaste with fluoride. (If your child is still an infant, however, you don’t want to use fluoride toothpaste yet.)

Pick up a pack of dental floss and, if you like, colored tablets that help kids see the plaque on their teeth. This can turn it into a game as they scrub off the coloring to get rid of all the plaque before they cause cavities.

Brushing Basics

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Brushing teeth can be fun when done together!

Once you get them set up with the gear, explain that they will need to do this for two minutes every morning and two minutes right before bedtime. Join them and brush your teeth at the same time to make it a family event and to show them you value your teeth as well.

Put a pea size dab of toothpaste on the brush and have them open wide. Kids should start at the back of their mouths and work their way to the front so they don’t forget to hit any spots.

Have your child move the brush around in small circles, kind of like the wheels on a train as they chug along. They should brush the top, front, and backsides of each tooth thoroughly and then gently brush around their gums to keep them healthy.

Be sure to tell your child to spit the toothpaste out when he or she is done brushing. If they swallow the toothpaste, they could get a stomachache.

What about flossing?

Parents will probably have to help with flossing for a while as many younger children lack the fine motor skills to floss properly. Start flossing twice a week as soon as your child has two or more teeth touching each other.

First, break off a piece of floss and hold it tightly between your thumb and fingers. The floss should be about eighteen inches long. Curve the floss into a “C” shape against the side of the tooth and then pull it tight.

Then, begin rubbing it back and forth as you pull the floss away from the gum line. You should never go all the way down to the gum line so that you cut the gums. Do this in between each tooth and you will be on the way to good dental health for your child.

PLOTTING WITH POTTS