Dr. Victor Siegel - Blog

As any parent knows, it's hard enough to get your child or teenager to eat a healthy snack after school.  But now that spring sports practices and games are fully underway, we now have a new challenge-finding a healthy snack to transition from the school day to practice before finally making  it back home many hours later.  Dr. Victor Siegel, your Rockville area dentist, encourages healthy snacks and lots of water so that your child stays energetic throughout his activities, not to mention maintaining a healthy mouth!

Many dentists, like Dr. Victor Siegel in Rockville, Maryland, have been recommending to their patients for years that the best way to clean your teeth at home is with a power toothbrush.  However many people still have not made the switch from a manual toothbrush, despite the power toothbrush's safety and the studies showing that it is much more effective than the manual toothbrush at removing plaque.  So, are you still holding on to your manual toothbrush?  Let's talk about why you should make the switch!

Many of our dental patients involved in sports activities have been advised by Dr. Siegel to use an athletic mouthguard to protect their teeth.  Well, this Rockville dentist practices what he preaches.  Dr. Siegel has been playing ice hockey for years and uses a custom mouthguard to prevent injury to his mouth or teeth.  

Baker's Dozen, the team Dr. Siegel plays on, recently lost their playoff game at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Maryland.  As you can see from the picture, though, it wasn't for lack of fan support!

If you would like to find out if a mouthguard is appropriate for you, or your child, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss the various options available.

When did you start brushing your child's teeth?  According to the American Dental Association,  your baby's mouth should be wiped after each feeding within a few days of birth.  After the first tooth has erupted, a child size toothbrush should be used to clean his or her teeth, rinsing with water, until your child is able to spit out toothpaste.  Why is it so important to start brushing at such a young age? Because dentists are increasingly seeing cavities in young children at all income levels.  In fact it is not uncommon to see 6-10 cavities in one preschooler's mouth!  It is not too late to stop, or at least slow down, this problem, however:

• Give your child fluoridated tap water instead of bottled water
• No juice or other sweetened beverages at bedtime
• Limit between meal snacking
• Brush your child's teeth twice a day
• Visit the dentist to have your child assessed for cavity risk