Count the Floss with Pediatric Dental Partners!

Now in the Pediatric Dental Partners Shreveport, LA office, we are beginning "Count the Floss," our new fall contest. The next time you're in for an appointment, be sure to make your guess at how many floss containers are in the jar for your chance to win silly bands. We're excited to read all of our patients' guesses!

As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your next appointment at our Bossier City or Shreveport, LA office.

Don't forget about your gums! From Pediatric Dental Partners

Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can be difficult to recognize. Many people do not recognize the warning signs - bleeding and swollen gums - as a precursor to gum disease. This month, a national campaign is underway to raise awareness about gum health and periodontal disease, and we at Pediatric Dental Partners wanted to do our part to help spread the word!

Early recognition and action are the most important steps to health gums, and ultimately a health body too! Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as the heart. One of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs for gum disease. These can include:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. We can take proactive steps to prevent gingivitis and gum disease, while showing you how to improve gum care in your daily oral hygiene habits.

Happy Baby Safety Month, from Pediatric Dental Partners

In honor of Baby Safety Month, Bossier City and Shreveport pediatric dentists Dr. Daniel Crawford, Dr. Lauren Wallace, Dr. Shannon Backofen and Dr. Susan Chidlow would like to encourage all of our patients and their families to become educated on the importance of childproofing your home. Your child’s health and safety is of the utmost importance to our team at Pediatric Dental Partners, which is why we would like to remind all of our patients to be mindful of some of the common hazards that may be in your home.

Children are vulnerable, and it is important that you take the necessary precautions in your kitchen, bathroom, nursery, and around the home to minimize the risk to your baby. For example, never leave poisons or toxic materials under the sink where they can be easily reached by a child. In the bathroom, remember to remove soaps, razors, and shampoos from the edge of the tub and close the toilet lid. Children are naturally curious, so it is necessary that you cover all electrical outlets, keep all trash containers locked, and ensure that hanging cords from phones, lamps, and appliances are kept out of reach.

We hope that these baby safety tips help! For more tips, visit the Royal Baby Safety website. As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about baby safety or pediatric dentistry for your little one.

Smile wider, live longer, from Pediatric Dental Partners

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Pediatric Dental Partners has known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Pediatric Dental Partners on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!