Author: Holly Chestnut

THE CDC REPORTS that 1 in 5 children (between ages 5 and 11) in the US have untreated tooth decay. Not only should tooth decay be treated in regular dental appointments, but it should also be prevented! Tooth decay is 100 percent preventable with effective personal care and regular dental cleanings.

In honor of Children’s Dental Health Month, we’re spreading the word about children’s dental health.

YOU Can Help Little Ones Have Healthier Smiles!

1. Encourage them to brush for two full minutes. 
2. Pick a song about two minutes long and sing it to them during brushing time.
3. Set reminders to brush twice a day. Brushing after breakfast and just before bed are the best times for preventing bacteria growth from food.
4. Show them flossing is fun, not harmful. Be gentle at first when doing it for them. A bad experience can stop them from flossing on their own.
5. Be persistent. Don’t let fussy children off the hook. Be motivating! Kids may gladly brush for a sticker or star if you make it an activity.
6. Set their first dental appointment before age 1. Having positive dental experiences early will make dental visits easier and less frightening when older.

To celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month Lane & Associates Family Dentistry is sponsoring a Coloring Contest! Enter your completed coloring sheet via our Facebook pages for your chance to win a $100 Gift Card to www.marblesthebrainstore.com! We are giving away one gift card at each of our 27 locations! Coloring sheets can be downloaded and printed at https://lanedds.com/coloring-contest. There are 4 designs to choose from.

Contest rules can be found on our Facebook pages and directly on the coloring pages.

Help Us Spread The Word!

Share this message with your friends and family, and especially with the children in your life. Thanks for being our valued patients and friends!

FEELING A BIT TIRED at times during the day is completely normal, even with a good night’s sleep. Some people, however, struggle every night for a restful sleep, especially those with sleep apnea.

Did you know that one in five adults has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 80 percent of cases going undiagnosed? This condition can disrupt your sleep and increase your risk of severe health problems.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times per night, immensely disrupting their sleep. Here are some indications of a problem:

1. Morning headaches
2. Excessive daytime drowsiness
3. Irritability
4. Impaired mental or emotional functioning
5. Insomnia
6. Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep
7. Waking with a dry mouth or a sore throat

We Can Help

Dentists are often the first professionals to become aware of a potential case of OSA and many are specially trained for the treatment of sleep apnea. We are just such a practice!

While the most common treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliance therapy that dentists provide is the increasingly preferred form of treatment. This is due to the high rejection rate of CPAP therapy and the fact that oral appliances are much more convenient, portable, and easy to care for.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy uses a mouth guard-like device to maintain an open, unobstructed airway while you sleep. They are typically as easy to wear as most retainers. There are two ways the oral appliance works to open up your airway:

By repositioning your lower jaw, it keeps your throat muscles engaged as you sleep, preventing them from collapsing.
Oral appliances can also move your tongue forward, keeping it from falling back and blocking the throat.

At Lane & Associates, Oral Appliance Therapy is covered by your medical insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid! Call us to see if an oral appliance might be right for you or for more information about sleep apnea.

Don’t Ignore Sleep Apnea

Never underestimate the power of a good night’s rest! The quality of your sleep is extremely important to your overall health and well-being. Ask us today how you can better your life by treating sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy!