Ever find yourself reaching for the pain meds such as Advil or Tylenol due to clenching your teeth? Clenching your teeth can have a variety of effects on your dental health. It can lead to the flattening of the surfaces of your teeth, TMJ disorder, cracked or fractured teeth, ear aches, shoulder pain, jaw pain, headaches or in severe cases, migraines.  While you might grind and clench your teeth while sleeping, it is possible to do so while awake, too. In some cases, you might grind your teeth subconsciously. Luckily, in most instances, it can be pretty easy to take control of this issue. Relieve Your Stress Levels At Treasure Valley Family Dentistry we understand that life in general can cause stress! In some cases, this is what causes you to grind your teeth. Even worse, you might not know that you are stressed. If you think that the cause of your issues is stress, look for ways to relieve it. For instance, you can rely on healthy approaches such as massage, meditation, exercise, acupuncture, and even self-hypnosis to give the peace you need. There are many free apps available to help you manage your stress levels. Some examples are; Breethe and FitOn. Also, try getting enough sleep. It can help your body process stress more effectively. The most effective way for dealing with the stress, however, is to eliminate the issue leading to it completely. Wear A Mouth Guard to Protect Your Teeth If you tend to grind your teeth at night, let our Meridian office know and we can help create a mouthguard for you. This will also apply to situations where you grind your teeth subconsciously while awake. The mouthguard will protect your teeth from the effects of grinding and preserve the shape of your teeth. Grinding your teeth is dangerous and can do a lot of damage if it is not stopped early on. By contacting us, we can take the time to look over your mouth, figure out an effective treatment plan, and correct any dental problems that may exist due to these habits. For more information or to set an appointment, call or stop by our office.  Brought to you by: Treasure Valley Family Dentistry 

It’s 9 PM, its past bedtime and the kiddos are still not in their jammies… do you take the time to have them brush their teeth or just throw them in bed? Look we get it, as parents, it is not easy. With everything you have to juggle every day sometimes the little stuff gets passed up. You know that oral health is important, but when you are already beat from another long day of parenting its hard to survive, let alone remember to brush your kids’ teeth. Here is a simple tip to help: The Healthy Twoth plan, 2-2-2. There are only three “twos” you need to remember as a parent to set your kids up for better oral health: 1. Children Should Brush and Floss Their Teeth for 2 Minutes We know this is not easy. When you step back 4 minutes a day doesn’t seem like much, but when your wrestling a toddler into her jammies and trying to brush your 4 year old’s teeth 2 minutes is an eternity. The trick is to get your kids to brush their teeth themselves and be excited about it. Yes, it is possible to get your kids to like to brush their teeth, for 2 minutes. Some hints? First, make it a routine. If you can some way help your kids tie tooth brushing into the routine of demanding bedtime stories, or their obligatory drink of water, then they’ll demand it instead of you. Second, talk to your kids about brushing their teeth in a way they understand (This “Why do We Brush Our Teeth” video may help). Third, timers are a helpful tool. There are elaborate timers like the R2-D2 Timer or just using fun online timers. You can also sing a song that helps them know how long to brush. 2. Children Should Brush Their Teeth 2 Times a Day It is important to get in brushing 2 times a day. You might find that for your family that the morning or evening brushing is easier. And if you get one in a day as a busy family we applaud you. For best tooth health it is important to brush 2 times a day. Try finding ways to get both in, making it a priority now will help your kids as they grow into teens/adults have good habits that will last a lifetime. A question we get often is “when is the right time to start brushing?” As soon as your child gets their first tooth. Once that tooth comes out it is important to protect it.  3. Visit a Dentist 2 Times a Year Regular appointments are the key to good family dentistry. Make sure you always have an appointment on the calendar for your kid’s next check-up. If you don’t right now have one on the calendar, set an appointment. When looking for a dentist for your kids be sure to look for one that relates well to them. Our Meridian office will offer rewards for kids, TVs in the ceiling and other kid-friendly features, but the most important thing to look for is making sure the dentist and staff are friendly and attentive to your child. Finding the right dentist will help ease your child’s concerns. Healthy Kids, Healthy Teeth As a busy parent, it’s not easy fitting in one more thing (trust us we know). Healthy oral habits are important to start early, even when it might not be easy.  Our hope is that every Treasure Valley mouth is a happy, healthy one. That’s why if you ever find that your kid’s toothbrush is getting worn, or they threw it in the toilet (again), we welcome you to stop by our office and we’ll give you a replacement, free.  Here’s to Health Twoth Habits! Brought to you by Treasure Valley Family Dentistry

Hands On Time 20 Mins Total Time 55 Mins Yield Serves 4 A quick balsamic vinaigrette doubles as a marinade for the vegetables and a sauce for the pork. Taking the roasting pan from stove to oven jump-starts cooking so the pork, potatoes, and onions finish at the same time. Ingredients 4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided 12 ounces small red potatoes, halved 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into 8 wedges 1 (8-ounce) package cremini mushrooms, halved 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 ounce Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup) How to Make It Step 1 Preheat oven to 425°. Step 2 Heat a large heavy roasting pan over high heat. Sprinkle pork evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add pork to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Place pork on a plate (pork will not be cooked through). Reduce heat to medium-high. Add potatoes to pan, cut sides down; cook 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Step 3 Combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, and tomato paste in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine 2 tablespoons balsamic mixture, thyme, onion, and mushrooms in a bowl, tossing to coat. Add mushroom mixture to pan. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Arrange pork chops over vegetables; bake 10 minutes or until a thermometer registers 145°. Remove pork from pan. Sprinkle vegetable mixture with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place 1 cup vegetable mixture on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with 1 pork chop, 2 teaspoons remaining balsamic vinegar mixture, 1 1/2 teaspoons parsley, and 1 tablespoon Gorgonzola cheese. Nutritional Information: Calories 385 Fat 21.7g Satfat 5.2g Monofat 12g Polyfat 2.2g Protein 27g Carbohydrate 21g Fiber 3g Cholesterol 73mg Iron 2mg Sodium 415mg Calcium 83mg For more information on this deliscious recipe: ROBIN BASHINSKY March 2015 RECIPE BY COOKING LIGHT  http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/how-to-make-pork-chops-balsamic-roasted-vegetables-video

Laying out goals for the New Year is a great way to inspire yourself to make positive changes that can improve your health. For example, many habits—both good and bad—affect the health of your teeth and gums. Here’s a list of risky habits to kick, and mouth-healthy habits to adopt: Habits That Risk Oral Health Smoking. As if oral cancer weren’t enough to worry about, smoking also promotes gum disease and tooth loss. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, smokers have double the risk of gum disease compared to nonsmokers. And according to the Academy of General Dentistry, smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as nonsmokers. For help quitting, visit smokefree.gov. Snacking. Nibbling all day can create the perfect conditions for tooth decay—especially if your snacks contain sugar and other carbohydrates. Sticky snacks like cookies, crackers, chips and candy bars that cling to teeth tend to remain in the mouth and attract decay-causing oral bacteria. The acid these bacteria produce can penetrate the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities. Soft Drinks. Speaking of tooth-eroding acid, soft drinks have plenty of it. And this includes both regular and diet varieties of soda, sweetened iced tea, sports drinks and so-called energy drinks. The healthiest drink for your teeth is water! Mouth-Healthy Habits Brushing. You probably brush your teeth every day already, but are you doing it correctly? To get the most benefit from this healthy habit, brush twice each day for a full two minutes each time. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with toothpaste that contains fluoride, and don’t scrub too harshly! Flossing. Yes, it’s worth the effort! If you don’t floss, you’ll miss cleaning about 40% of your tooth surfaces. A toothbrush just can’t reach in between teeth, where decay-causing dental plaque can hide. If you find dental floss difficult to work with, try using disposable floss holders. Regular Dental Checkups. Keep up a regular schedule of professional teeth cleanings and exams! This allows us to remove any hardened dental plaque (tartar) that has built up on your teeth, screen you for oral cancer, and treat minor dental problems before they become major ones. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to review your at-home oral hygiene. If you have any questions about how to improve your oral health, please contact us or  request an appointment online for a consultation. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “10 Tips for Daily Oral Care at Home” and “10 Tips to Help You Stop Smoking.”

Watching your newborn develop into a toddler, then an elementary schooler, a teenager, and finally an adult is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences there is. Throughout the years, you’ll note the passing of many physical milestones — including changes that involve the coming and going of primary and permanent teeth. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about children’s dental development. When will I see my baby’s first tooth come in? The two lower front teeth usually erupt (emerge from the gums) together, between the ages of 6 and 10 months. But your baby’s teeth may come earlier or later. Some babies are even born with teeth! You will know the first tooth is about to come in if you see signs of teething, such as irritability and a lot of drooling. The last of the 20 baby teeth that come in are the 2-year molars, so named for the age at which they erupt. When do kids start to lose their baby teeth? Baby teeth are generally lost in the same order in which they appeared, starting with the lower front teeth around age 6. Children will continue to lose their primary teeth until around age 12. What makes baby teeth fall out? Pressure from the emerging permanent tooth below the gum will cause the roots of the baby tooth to break down or “resorb” little by little. As more of the root structure disappears, the primary tooth loses its anchorage in the jawbone and falls out. When will I know if my child needs braces? Bite problems (malocclusions) usually become apparent when a child has a mixture of primary and permanent teeth, around age 6-8. Certain malocclusions are easier to treat while a child’s jaw is still growing, before puberty is reached. Using appliances designed for this purpose, orthodontists can actually influence the growth and development of a child’s jaw — to make more room for crowded teeth, for example. We can discuss interceptive orthodontics more fully with you at your child’s next appointment. When do wisdom teeth come in and why do they cause problems? Wisdom teeth (also called third molars) usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25. By that time, there may not be enough room in the jaw to accommodate them — or they may be positioned to come in at an angle instead of vertically. Either of these situations can cause them to push against the roots of a neighboring tooth and become trapped beneath the gum, which is known as impaction. An impacted wisdom tooth may lead to an infection or damage to adjacent healthy teeth. That it is why it is important for developing wisdom teeth to be monitored regularly at the dental office. If you have additional questions about your child’s dental development, please contact us or schedule a consultation. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Losing a Baby Tooth” and “The Importance of Baby Teeth.”