Spring is here and with that comes sports season for the kids. Team sports like baseball, soccer, softball, lacrosse and track and field all offer great exercise for kids, not to mention lessons in teamwork and self-esteem. But injuries are also part of the game, so to speak. At Huszti Dental Care, we see lots of sports injuries — in both children and adults — and while they may feel like the end of the world, they really aren’t. Especially if parents take some simple steps to protect their children’s precious smiles. The most important way to protect your teeth is to have your child use a mouthguard during both practice and games. These are readily available at sporting goods stores, even drug stores, but you should have a chat with us to see whether you’re getting the right one for your child and their sport. We suggest you don’t purchase the inexpensive, one-size-fits all mouthguards, as one size does not fit all. Because of this they can be uncomfortable, which means your child won’t want to wear it, and it can’t protect their teeth in their sports bag. The boil-and-bite mouth guards are still inexpensive but provide much better protection because they can be formed right to your child’s bite, which keeps it in place, doing what it is meant to do. If your child is in a particularly aggressive sport, a custom-fit mouth guard may be the best option. It costs a little more but they are worth the cost especially for older athletes who have all their adult teeth and have maybe even had some costly orthodonture. You may not consider helmets a way to protect you child’s teeth, but they can protect the jaw or mouth from any blows, especially in contact sports. Not to mention protecting the child’s head, as well! Huszti Dental Care can help. Ask us about it at your next appointment or give us a call. We’ll help you choose what’s best for your child — or yourself — and their teeth.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical that has been added to public water supplies for nearly a century. In 1944, Michigan's own Grand Rapids was the first city in the world to take this step. Today, 70% of the world's population living in more than 133 countries benefit from the practice of adding low-levels of fluoride to the water their residents drink. Decades of research has shown that fluoride reduces cavities, increases oral health and has no realistic downsides. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control put the addition of fluoride to water systems — along with vaccines, recognition of smoking's health hazards, motor vehicle and workplace safety regulations — in the top 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century. It's safe, inexpensive, and effective in preventing tooth decay no matter what the economic status or access to care. And yet, remarkably, probably part of the trend of distrust in public institutions that has roiled the United States for many years, removing fluoride from the water is on the table. Here's what you need to know. In the early 1900s, oral cavities were commonplace among the population. Yet dentists noticed that there were some areas of the country where they were not. Researchers looked into the issue and found that, in some parts of the country, fluoride was naturally present in the water supply. They also noticed that many people who lived in those areas had discolored teeth. It turned out fluoride — more accurately really high levels of fluoride — were responsible for that too. After much study, scientists and doctors determined that a very low level of fluoride in water would prevent cavities and all the issues that come with them. In the United States, the recommended ratio is 0.7 milligrams fluoride per liter. Individual states can set their own levels, up to the maximum level of 4.0 milligrams per liter. Some people have suggested there are side effects from hip fractures to bone cancer to delays in brain development in fetuses and young children. All studies have proven there is no relationship to these concerns and fluoride at low levels. In some countries where fluoride naturally occurs at very high levels people can develop a condition whereby their bones become very brittle. There are no areas in the United States where that is a concern, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. While it may be good to question some institutions and long-held beliefs, questioning the efficacy of fluoride in public water supplies should not be one of them. It would be irresponsible to remove it.