Shoreh Selki DDS, Pediatrician and Orthodontics Blog

Lets Win The Battle Against Cavities, This Halloween!

by Dr. Selki

Halloween is here! We all will be trick -or- treating with our kids tonight and collecting lots of candies. With the incident of childhood decay on the rise, we all need to be more deligent in educating our children about better eating habits. Indulging on candies for one night might be alright , so long as it does not become a habit for them .

Here are some helpful tips to assist you in winning the battle against childhood cavities on this Halloween!

Some candy choices are smarter than other ones. Help your children pick candies that are less cavity producing. Here is a modifies list of American Academy of General Dentistry guide to best and worst Halloween candies.

Worst

Chewy/Sticky Sweets – Gummies, taffy and even dried fruit can get stuck in the crevices between teeth and become almost impossible to remove.
Sour Candies – Sour Patch Kids, Sour Straws and Sour Skittles are highly acidic and can break down tooth enamel quickly. Eat only in moderation and wait at least thirty minutes afterwards to brush.
Super Sugary Treats – Candy corn, cookies, cake, candy bars, etc. all contain high amounts of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.

Best

Sugar-free lollipops, candies and gums – Candies without sugar actually help the mouth produce saliva, which can be beneficial in preventing cavities. Moreover, sugar-free gums can also help dislodge food particles from spaces between teeth.
Dark Chocolate – True dark chocolates have been shown to lower blood pressure and even prevent heart disease.

Ask your kids to choose a handful of their favorite candies and trade in the rest. You can bring those candies to our office and we will trade them for a toy.

Have them brush and floss their teeth right after eating their treats and limit the frequency of eating them.

We hope that you have a fun, safe and cavity free Halloween. And remember that regulary dental exams and cleaning are essential in preventing dental decay.

Shoreh Selki DDS, Pediatric Dentist, Educates Children in our Local Schools.

by Dr. Selki,

Shoreh Selki DDS, is commited to eduacting the children and families in our community. Dr. Selki along with her dedicated staff visit our local preschools periodically. Our dental education program is designed for preschool and early elementary school aged kids. Using age-appropriate activities and engaging story boards we teach them oral hygiene and good eating habits. Our presentations are very engaging and fun for this age group and they are timed and tailored to the needs of each class that we visit.

If you would like to have our office visit your child’s classroom, please have your child’s teacher contact us to schedule a classroom call Encino: 818-501-3333 - Agoura Hills: 818-991-8010.

The Incidence of Tooth Decay is Rising in Children

by Dr. Selki

According to the recent report form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incidence of tooth decay is rising in children between 2 to 5 years of age. This rise in the prevalence of tooth decay in our preschool aged children is directly related to the overall increase of sugar consumption.

The great news is that tooth decay is absolutely preventable. Our best defence against tooth decay is good oral hygiene and good eating habits. In our practice we emphasize the prevention of cavities through patient and parent education. We take pride in teaching our patients good oral habits using the the most up to date information and techniques available.

5 Important Tips for Raising Cavity Free Kids

by Dr. Selki

Raising Cavity free kids is no longer an idealistic dream for parents. By following a few simple guidelines, we can make it happen for our children. As a mother of three, I understand the challenges we parents face in the battle against tooth decay; shops full of attractive looking junk food, soda and snack machines in every corner, sugar loaded birthday parties and class parties.

In the recent years, tooth decay has been identified as the single most common chronic childhood disease, yet 90 percent of all tooth decay is absolutely preventable if we follow a few simple but important steps.

  • Brush their teeth twice a day ( after breakfast and before bedtime). You can use non-fluoridated tooth paste until they learn to spit out, then switch to fluoridated tooth paste.
  • Start flossing their teeth at about age 3 at night time.
  • Minimize sugary snacks and drinks (juices and sodas).
  • Reduce snacking in between meals.
  • Bring them to the office for routine dental exams every six months.

Following the above guidelines will ensure lifelong healthy habits and beautiful confident smiles for years to come.

Please call our office to schedule your child’s next appointment. We look forward to teaming up with you to create beautiful healthy smiles.

Encino Office

Shoreh Selki, D.D.S.
Pediatric Dentistry

16101 Ventura Blvd.,
Suite 305
Encino, CA, 91436

Phone: 818-501-3333

Agoura Hills Office

Agoura Hills Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
29525 Canwood Street,
Suite 201,
Agoura Hills, CA, 91301

Phone: 818-991-8010

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