Why Do Children Suck Their Thumbs? 
Children suck on things because sucking is one of a baby’s natural instincts. Sucking makes them feel secure and content and may induce drowsiness. Prolonged sucking (or pacifier sucking) interferes with the proper growth of the mouth and the alignment of the teeth. This improper development, if not corrected, will change the appearance of a child’s face.
When Should Children Stop Sucking Their Thumbs?
Children should have stopped sucking their thumbs between the ages of 2-4 years old. If you are having trouble breaking your child’s habit, try to:
- Comfort him if he is feeling insecure, sometimes children are sucking their thumb for a sense of security.
- Instead of scolding your child for thumb sucking, praise him when he doesn’t suck his thumb.
- Explain to older children the dangers of thumb sucking and involve them in choosing a method to break the habit.
Results Of Long Term Thumb Sucking
An open bite often results from thumb sucking or prolonged use of a pacifier. If the open bite is not corrected early, the child may develop a habit of deviated swallowing and/or anterior tongue thrust. (this is when a child presses against the back of his teeth repeatedly and subconsciously with his tongue). These habits lead to further dental problems and make correction of the open bite more difficult.
The best cure for an open bite, is to prevent it in the first place by eliminating thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers as early as possible for your child. Untreated, an open bite can lead to facial malformation, abnormal speech patterns and significant orthodontic complications. If you have any questions about your child, be sure to ask Dr.Shlafer at your next check up. 
Q: Why do I have bad breath?
A: Many times bad breath (halitosis) is caused by the bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue. Sometimes it can be an indication of gum disease. Either way, your first step to address persistent breath problems should be a dental appointment. If gum disease is present, it must be treated promptly to avoid tooth loss. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults!
Possible causes for bad breath are:
- Tooth decay
- Periodontal (gum) disease
- Inadequate oral hygiene
- Odor-causing foods
- Use of tobacco products
- Sinus or Respiratory infections
- Continued Mouth Dryness
- Some medical disorders
- Some medications
Dr.Shlafer can help you determine the cause, and if it is an oral condition, a treatment plan can be developed to combat this common source of embarrassment.
The most common area for children to get decay (like most adults) is on their permanent back teeth–the molars. Your molar teeth have very deep grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces. This is where food and bacteria hide and form cavities. No matter how well your child brushes, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the bacteria from these grooves and pits.
Sealants are a white or tooth shaded material that is bonded to the chewing surface of the back teeth, sealing off deep grooves and pits. This makes the grooves smoother so you toothbrush can more easily keep your tooth clean.
Applying sealants is a simple procedure. The teeth are first cleaned, then etched with a solution to help the sealant adhere. Next the sealant is brushed on, then a special light is used to harden the material. The procedure is “child friendly” because there is no need for anesthetic or drilling.
Sealants are recommended for all children when they get their permanent first molars, around the age of 6, and again when they get their permanent second molars around the age of 12. Be sure to talk to Dr.Shlafer at your child’s next check up to see if sealants are right for them.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Bars Recipe
Ingredients:
- Canola cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon butter or canola margarine
- 1/3 cup reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows, lightly packed
- 1 cup low-fat granola
- 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal (or other puffed rice cereal)
- 1/3 cup ground golden flaxseed (golden flax works better in this recipe)
Preparation:
- Coat an 8×8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Put the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until mixture is just melted. Stir to blend.
- Microwave again briefly if the mixture isn’t melted or smooth. Then stir in granola, puffed rice and flaxseed.
- Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, flattening it evenly with a sheet of waxed paper. Let it cool completely before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars.
Yield:
8 bars
A crown fits over the entire top of the tooth above the gum line. Crowns cover, protect, seal and strengthen your tooth. A crown is needed when there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling. A crown may be made of all porcelain (no metal), or porcelain fused to gold, or gold.
There are many situations that may call for a crown:
- Large decay. If a tooth has decay so deep and large that a filling will not stay, or if a tooth is weakened, a crown must be placed.
- Large old fillings. When large old fillings break down or get decay around them, they usually need a crown. This is because after the removal of the decay and an old restoration, there is not enough of the natural tooth left to support a filling.
- Cracked tooth. When a tooth has cracked, a filling cannot repair it. A crown is made and placed over the tooth to protect it and make it stronger. If a crown is not placed, the tooth will become sensitive and eventually break. If the tooth breaks vertically then the tooth can no longer be saved, it must be extracted and you now must decide how you will replace that missing tooth——implant or perhaps a bridge.
- Broken or fractured tooth. A tooth that has broken is too weak to hold a filling. A crown will hold the tooth together. If the fracture involves the nerve, a root canal may be required before the tooth is crowned. Again, in some cases a broken tooth cannot be saved and must be extracted and a replacement choice must be made.
- Sensitive teeth. Teeth that are very sensitive, either from wear, or receding gums, sometime require crowns to seal and protect teeth from hot and cold sensitivity.
- Root canal therapy. A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment will need a crown to properly seal and protect the tooth. A tooth with a root canal is more brittle and likely to break than a tooth with a healthy nerve and blood supply. A crown provides that necessary support.
As you can see, there are many situations where a crown is needed and many types of crowns that can be made—porcelain fused to gold; gold; all porcelain (with no metal) these are all fabricated at the lab. There is also a CEREC all porcelain crown that is made in our Detroit area office where Dr.Shlafer uses this technology to fabricate an all porcelain crown in one appointment. This allows a patient to complete the process in one appointment, avoiding the impression, temporary crown, and second visit to cement your permanent crown.
An Easter Favorite
This is a favorite holiday side dish in many homes across the country. In this light version, we used Healthy Request cream of celery soup, reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese (and less of it), and fat free sour cream. It’s bubbly and golden brown on top and totally irresistible!
The original recipe contains 330 calories, 22 grams fat, 11 grams saturated fat, and 41 mg cholesterol per serving.
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Healthy Request Cream of Celery soup, condensed
2 cups (8 ounces) reduced fat grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup fat free sour cream (light can also be used)
1 cup finely chopped onion
30 ounce (or 2 lb.) bag of frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, unthawed
1 ounce regular or reduced fat potato chips, crushed into coarse crumbs
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with canola cooking spray.
- Combine first 4 ingredients in large bowl and stir to blend well; stir in the hashbrowns.
- Spread into prepared baking dish and bake about 1 hour. Sprinkle top of casserole evenly with potato chip crumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.
Makes 12 servings
PER SERVING: 186 calories, 8 g protein, 24.5 g carbohydrate, 6 g fat (3.3 g saturated fat, .3 g monounsaturated fat, .7 g polyunsaturated fat), 16 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 392 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 29 percent.
Dental Implants have been used successfully for many years. The implant itself is a post that is surgically placed in the jaw–it becomes your new root. After a healing period of 4-6 months an impression is taken for a custom abutment and an implant crown. The impression is then sent to the dental lab to be fabricated. Upon return, the abutment and crown are attached to your implant and you have a fully restored and functioning tooth.
What are dental implants used for?
- As an artificial root for a single tooth replacement.
- As anchors for a fixed (bridgework) or removable prosthesis to replace multiple teeth (denture)
What are the benefits of dental implants?
With the exception of your natural teeth, an implant is the closest replacement to a natural tooth. One important benefit of an implant is that they slow the shrinking of the bone and gum tissue from the area of the missing tooth, thus preventing premature aging.
- Of Americans between the ages of 18-64, approximately 49% are missing at least one tooth.
- Dental implants are the most advanced tooth replacement system.
- More than 9 out of 10 implants last longer than 15 years
- Dental implants never develop decay
- Dental implants never require a root canal
How are dental implants placed?
- Step 1: The gum is gently folded back and a space is prepared for the implant to be palced.
- Step 2: The dental implant is put in place.
- Step 3: A temporary cap is placed on the implant and gum tissue is repositioned around the implant. The implant is left alone to heal for 4-6 months so the bone can attach to the implant and integrate with the bone.
Restorative Phase:
- Step 1: After the implant has healed, the temporary cap is removed.
- Step 2: The implant is now ready, an impression is taken of the implant and the custom abutment and implant crown are made.
- Step 3: The abutment and crown are permanently placed.
Considering an implant?
If you are considering a dental implant, let us know. Dr.Shlafer will make an evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate. We will provide you with the information you need to decide if an implant is for you.
Q: Do I really need bone grafting with my implant procedure?
A: When teeth are missing, your body resorbs the bone that used to support those teeth. If you later want to replace those teeth with dental implants, you may need to have bone grafting performed. There is an additional cost involved, however, if you try to shortcut this process you may end up with dental implants that are not adequately supported and will then the implant will fail.
The bone graft will need time to heal and knit together with your jaw bone. Once it has healed, your dental implants can be placed. There is an additional healing time needed before the implant can reliably used to support a crown.
Think of it as “whole body dentistry.” Dr.Shlafer and the staff view Holistic Dentistry as an approach or a mindset, where we believe that every procedure that we do (or don’t do) can have a profound effect on other parts of your body. In this type of an approach every part of the body is connected, so when one part of the body is treated, we want to consider the consequences it could have somewhere else. Many people can relate what they know about acupuncture and how those energy highways are accessed to help us feel better. Our teeth problems can also lead to stress and other health issues.
We want to approach our patients with concern, and take more into account than just your teeth. We want our patients to be informed so you can make a decision based on what you feel is appropriate for you and your situation.
Some goals of your Detroit Holistic Dentist are to discuss proper nutrition with our patients, which could lead to the elimination and prevention of dental and physical problems. We are seeking to rid our patients teeth of toxic materials–like old mercury amalgam fillings, and replacing them with bio-compatible dental materials, which minimize disturbances in your body. Another viewpoint of Holistic Dentistry is that a person’s bite or mal-occlusion can greatly impact and add to physical disharmony. So Dr. Shlafer will look at your bite in a different way–bite problems = physical imbalance. Think of what would happen if you walked around with a pebble in your shoe for 20 years and what the impact of that would be on your body. We also want to prevent and treat gum disease as a goal for Holistic Dentistry. Dr.Shlafer does look at the biological basis of the disease–Bugs! The systemic effect of oral disease and infection is very important.
If you have questions about any of these concerns, feel free to contact us.
Honey- Mustard Salmon with Roasted Asparagus
Photo: Mitch Mandel
Ingredients
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, until the butter and sugar have melted together. Stir in the mustard, honey, and soy sauce.
- Heat the oil in an ovenproof skillet over high heat. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and add to the pan flesh-side down. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until fully browned and flip. Brush with half of the glaze and place the pan in the oven until the salmon is firm and flaky (but before the white fat begins to form on the surface), about 5 minutes. Remove, brush the salmon with more of the honey mustard, and serve with the asparagus.
Nutritional Facts per serving
| CALORIES | 471.2 CAL |
| FAT | 27.3 G |
| SATURATED FAT | 6.7 G |
| SODIUM | 535 MG |
| CARBOHYDRATES | 17.9 G |
| TOTAL SUGARS | 11.4 G |
| DIETARY FIBER | 3.9 G |
| PROTEIN | 39.2 G |
