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Losing their first tooth is a big deal for children—and often for their parents, too. It marks a step toward becoming a “big kid” whether they are ready for that or not. Whatever emotions stirred by a lose tooth—excitement, trepidation, impatience—one of them doesn’t have to be fear. Here are some tips from Huszti Dental Care in Milford, Mi., on the right way to deal with a loose tooth. Right around the age of 6, sometimes earlier sometimes later, children begin losing their baby teeth to make way for their permanent teeth. It starts with just a little wiggle and children can’t help but push against it with their tongue. If left alone, the tooth will come out on its own, sometimes when the child is eating. But it might be best to not let it go that far. If a tooth wiggles easily and if it’s becoming a nuisance, you might want to think about helping it out, literally. But when? One absolute sign that it’s time to pull a loose tooth is when it’s, as they say, hanging by a thread. Start by washing your hands well. Then sit down with the child to make her comfortable and talk through the process. Use a facial tissue or some toilet paper to help you grab the tooth firmly and gently pull straight down. It might be uncomfortable or, at the very least, unfamiliar to the child, but it shouldn’t be painful. If it doesn’t come out easily, don’t force it. Wait a day or two and try again. While it is not common, there might be reasons to see a dentist instead of removing the tooth yourself. If the child is feeling pain or there are signs of infection such as redness or swelling, you should contact our Milford dental office immediately to ensure no further complications. If you notice a permanent tooth breaking through while the baby tooth is still firmly in place, you should make an appointment for us to take a look at it. Similarly, if your child has had previous dental issues, or you just have a feeling that something isn’t right, it doesn’t hurt to bring us in. And one last, very important step, don’t forget to notify the Tooth Fairy!

The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry’s Titans for Teeth Mobile Clinic recently visited Hoover Elementary School in Highland Park, bringing smiles and essential dental care to students right where they learn. Among the volunteers was Sophia Huszti— a Milford High School alumna and future dentist at Huszti Dental Care in Milford, MI—who is training to become one of the next generation of dental leaders. Staffed by dental students and faculty, the mobile clinic provides preventive and restorative services, oral health education and more to underserved communities across metro Detroit. It's all part of Detroit Mercy Dental's mission to expand access to care and instill healthy habits in young patients—one school visit at a time. The Titans for Teeth School Based Mobile Dental Clinic is a 38-foot mobile dental coach. It has eight chairs, four inside the van and four portable units that are set-up on-location. Throughout the academic year, the clinic travels to local participating schools in Detroit and Wayne County to provide comprehensive care for K-12 children. Treatment is performed by dental students under supervision of a licensed dentist and/or dental hygienist faculty. The Titans for Teeth School Based Mobile Dental Clinic was funded in large part by a grant from the Delta Dental Foundation. Detroit Mercy Dental has been taking oral healthcare on the road since the 1970s, providing dental care to populations that often don't have access to it. Today, the School's mobile programs provide services to children, adolescents, adult and geriatric populations in underserved areas in southeast Michigan. Thousands of patients receive necessary treatments and procedures through these free outreach clinics. In addition to helping the community, it also provides community health experiences to the dental students to build competence and confidence in interacting with a diverse patient base. These personal interactions lead to better trust and more effective communication about oral health. Finally, the clinics keep many patients out of emergency rooms because issues are addressed early on, before they become major problems. It's a great program where everybody benefits!

A new patient came in to Huszti Dental Care recently for a cleaning appointment. He had not been to the dentist for many years — and only came because his wife insisted — because his teeth are very sensitive and he didn't think he could handle the exam. "They hurt when I drink something cold and they hurt when I drink something hot. Sometimes even chewing and even brushing my teeth set it off," he said. This is not uncommon. While sometimes a hidden cavity, an old filling, a chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain. It could also be a recessed gum that exposes the root. When you tell us your teeth are sensitive, these are the first things we look for, because they are easily fixed. But there are other causes of sensitive teeth and there are ways to make you feel more comfortable. First the causes: If you don't have any of the issues listed above, you may be brushing your teeth too hard. Or you may be using products to whiten or bleach teeth. These actions can expose your dentin — the layer of your teeth just beneath the enamel. Dentin is not as hard as enamel, so it is naturally more sensitive. Grinding your teeth at night can also cause sensitive teeth. One thing we can't do much about, though, is that teeth sometimes get naturally more sensitive as you age. But don't worry, there are many ways to combat tooth sensitivity. Desensitizing toothpastes or mouthwashes can help a great deal. If you're brushing at least twice a day — and you should be — use one of the American Dental Association-approved desensitizing toothpastes. You'll know it by the ADA logo on the box. Not all are alike, so if your first choice isn't doing the trick, try a different one. And always use a soft-bristled toothbrush and don't push too hard: It's the brush, not your muscle, that does the cleaning. Use fluoride rinses and toothpaste with fluoride in them. You can also receive professional fluoride treatments from Huszti Dental Care. If you are using tooth-whitening products — especially any home remedy you saw on social media — you may want to lay off for a while to see whether that is the cause. Many of these products are highly acidic and can damage the enamel. (This was, in fact, the case with the patient who prompted this post and he said he would stop using them to see if it makes any difference.) Are you grinding your teeth at night? You probably don't know since you're asleep. But we can determine whether you are by the wear pattern on your teeth. We might suggest wearing a mouthguard at night to protect the enamel. Other things to consider are cutting down on acidic drinks like pop and wine. You can also use a straw, which effectively bypasses the teeth. As always, it is important to let us know. We can help you find the cause of your sensitive teeth and the solution!

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. Huszti Dental Care, as a family focused dentist in Milford, see's 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 is your dentist in Milford- we 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.