At present, there no known cure for aphthous ulcers (canker cores). Most people suffer recurrent outbreaks. the ulcer is thought to be caused by a reaction in the person’s immune system to an unrecognized substance. Many factors may trigger this reaction.

The most common suggested factors are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), nutritional deficiencies, allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain foods, mechanical trauma, hormonal changes, medications, and bacterial or viral attacks.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent present in most toothpaste and mouthwash formulas. People who are sensitive to SLS may find relief by using oral care products that are  made without this substance.

Brands that do NOT contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)

Symptomatic relief of discomfort caused by aphthous ulcers may be provided by several options at our office. Ask one of our dentists for a recommendation.

Help us reach 300 likes!! Once we reach 300 likes we will be having a drawing for a FREE custom teeth whitening. This will include custom whitening trays and bleaching gel. Over all package is valued at $399.00

 Be sure to like our page as well as the whitening contest link to be entered in the drawing

We love seeing children in our dental practice and Nathan is a perfect example of why.  He is only 4 years old and we chased out all his sugar bugs this day (i.e….we did a filling) and made his tooth healthy again.  He was the highlight of my day!–Dr. Stacy Forrest

We had a wonderful time participating on Friday in Give Kids A Smile Day. The famines were so appreciative and the children were so sweet. We went into this hoping to be a blessing to our communities families and we came out of it feeling like we were the ones blessed. For pictures and interviews from the families, see the article in the Mint Hill Times this Thursday.

We are constantly looking for ways to give back to our community in Matthews, Mint Hill, Stallings & Indian Trail.  This year we are thrilled to be partnering with The American Dental Society in it’s program, Give Kids A Smile.  On Friday March 9th, we will be seeing 50 children from the Stallings, Fairview and Hemby Bridge elementary schools.  Our goal is to see children from under-served families that don’t have dental insurance and are not on Medicaid.  We are pleased to be providing cleanings, exams, and fluoride treatments to these children for FREE.  We are thrilled to give back in a small way to the community that has given so much to us!

We were lucky to help with a fundraiser with Stallings Elementary’s PTO drive.   We are donating  a snack container for each family that participates.  Our goal is to help families give healthy ‘real food’ snacks in these containers each day for school.  We see first hand the effects of unhealthy food choices….soda, candy, gummy treats, etc. on our children and how it relates to poor dental and overall health. 

A friend of mine, Lisa Leak, has developed this ‘elementary school safe nut-free snack list’. It gives some great ideas for snacks that are not  loaded with sugar or highly processed.   

Elementary School Safe Nut-Free Snack List

“Food impacts how well a child’s brain works, affecting their moods and abilities..In a child’s brain junk food can cause neurotransmitters, which pass along information, to function improperly.  smart foods, however, allow information to be processed correctly and help the child function at their optimal level.”–Dr. Sears, on of America’s most renowned pediatricians and author of over 40 books

Real Food is…

• 100% whole grain
• Made with very little (or no) refined sweeteners like white sugar or corn syrup
• Fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably organic), dairy products, seeds, dried fruit, humanely raised animal products
• More a product of nature than a product of industry

Real Food is NOT…

• “Low fat” or “low carb” or “low calorie” products (in most cases)
• Made with artificial sweeteners like Splenda
• Deep fried in refined oil
• 100-calorie packs made with refined grains like white flour (labeled as “wheat flour”)
• Something out of a package containing ingredients you cannot pronounce
• Highly processed food that is labeled as organic

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

• Apple, Banana, Carrots, Celery, Mango, Pear, Grapes, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Oranges, Peaches, Plums, Grapefruit, Avocado,Pineapple, Papaya, Star Fruit, Gigs, Honeydew Melon,Cantaloupe,Watermelon
• Black beans, Pinto beans, Lima beans etc.
• Cherries, Edamame, Sugar Snap Peas,Green beans, Sweet Potato (with cinnamon), Sliced Bell Peppers, Trader Joe’s Ready to Eat Beets, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes, Snow Peas, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Lentils,Garbanzo beans

100% Whole Grain Snacks

• Triscuits
• Oatmeal
• Shredded Wheat
• Crunchmaster Multi-seed crackers
• Organic Brown Rice snaps or chips
• Brown Rice or Wild Rice Cakes
• Wasa Rye Crispbread Varieties
• Kashi Heart to Heart Whole Grain Crackers (original and roasted garlic)
• Whole-Wheat or Brown Rice Pasta
• HT Naturals Organic Brown Rice (good with bits of avocado and soy sauce)
• HT Naturals whole wheat couscous

Other “Real Food” Snacks

• Cheese, plain yogurt sweetened with a little honey
• Raw sesame and pumpkin seeds 
• Hard-Boiled eggs
• Organic black,green and kalamata olives 
• GoRaw Live “granola bars” and “pumpkin bars”

Dried and Canned Fruit

• GoGo Squeeze Applesauce
• Unsweetened Raisins
• Trader Joe’s Fruit Leathers
• Trader Joe’s Fiberful Fruit Bars
• Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Mango, Banana slices, Blueberries or Strawberries
• Costco-Brothers All Natural Crisp (dried fruit)
• Dried Apple Rings
• Native Forest Organic Mandarins, Papaya Chunks, Mango Chunks, Pineapple
• Made in Nature Dried Apples, Apricots, Mission figs
• Eden Organic Dried Cranberries, dried blueberries, dried cherries
• Organic Just Cherries, Blueberries, Cranberries

We hope this gives you some ideas for healthy snacks!

Stacy Oller Forrest, DMD

The beautiful dog in these photos  is none other than Forrest & Forrest’s very own Derby dog.  One of the many things we enjoy about practicing in a small community is how well we get to know our patients and neighbors.  Caring Heart’s Animal Hospital (located in our shopping center) had a Pups and Suds day where all the proceeds went to the Humane Society.  We were happy to participate in this great event (even if Derby wasn’t!……she’d much rather be rolling in dirt!).  Keeping your pet groomed is great but keeping there teeth pearly white is even better.

Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets.  An astounding 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS).  Oral disease begins with a  buildup of bacteria in the pet’s mouth.  Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations that accumulate on the tooth.  As bacteria grow in the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tarter.  Without proper preventative or therapeutic care, plaque and tarter buildup leads to periodontal disease, which affects the tissues and structures supporting the teeth.  Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause oral pain, dysfunction, tooth loss and systemic complications.

The good news is that pet owners can reduce the risk of oral disease by following AVDS recommendations.  Pet owners should practice a regular dental care regimen at home, which may include brushing the pet’s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste.  It’s best to start early, but grown dogs and cats can learn to tolerate brushing.  Toothpaste for humans is not recommended because it may upset the pet’s stomach.  Schedule regular follow-up care with your family vet and ask about specially formulated foods with proven benefits in plaque and tarter removal.

And don’t worry…..if you need a dental cleaning at Forrest & Forrest and we’re booked….we’ll just send you to Caring Hearts for your cleaning and heart worm prevention!!

Yes…those are my children eating cotton candy in the photo.  And yes, I am a dentist.  So what is the rational behind allowing my children to eat pure sugar….pure exhaustion! 

We went to see the Charlotte Knight’s baseball game a few weeks ago.  Baseball games are long enough but this one went into extra innings.  By the end of the game my kids had broken me down and I gave in to the plethora of sugary ‘treats’ that were available at the  game.  To make up for my poor dental parenting, I’ve decided to write an  article on what we should be eating and what to avoid. So here it goes….

Dentists have long recognized the link between good oral health and sound nutrition.  For years, the American Dental Association has recommended that children and adults limit eating and drinking between meals and, when they must snack, give preference to nutritious foods. The foods we choose  generally affect our overall health, including our teeth and gums.

Eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay.  The reason is a sticky film of bacteria, called “plaque”, that constantly forms on the teeth and gums.  Each and every time bacteria come in contact with sugar or starch in the mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth.  This eventually can result in tooth decay.

The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines point out that soft drinks as a major source of added sugar.  Americans drank more that 53 gallons of soft drinks-per person- in 2000.  This amount surpassed all other beverages, including milk, beer, coffee and water.  One out of every four beverages consumed in America today is a soft drink, and it is clear that soft drinks have displaced nutritious beverages and foods from our diet.

Some soft drinks contain as many as 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving!  Although there are few studies reported in scientific literature that specifically evaluate the role of soft drinks in the development of tooth decay, increased sugar in the diet increases the risk of decay.  Almost with 100% accuracy, I can tell which of my patients heavily drink soda just by looking in their mouth.  Soda tends to cause decay at the gum line…where it sits and erodes away the enamel.

Most soft drinks contain phosphoric acid and citric acid.  Prolonged exposure to acids can do permanent damage to teeth by producing a condition called “erosion,” or the loss of hard tissue from the tooth surface.  Diet soft drinks rely on non-nutritive sweeteners (some of the items you can’t pronounce on the ingredient label!) instead of sugar.  They also contain acid with helps breakdown the tooth structure.

There are things you can do to beat the plaque.  Limit eating and drinking between meals and when snacking , give preference to nutritious foods.  Be mindful of the effects of frequent consumption of sugary beverages (i.e…soda and juice boxes that really contain no or little sugar) and non-nutritious snack foods.  Brush twice a day (at least 2x), floss daily and see your dentist (me, of course) twice a year.  And don’t forget, do as I say in this article and not as my children do (at least not at a Knights baseball game)!

Stacy Oller Forrest, DMD

Article Source: Jada.ada.org

When will my child lose his tooth?  The is one of the most common questions I hear from parents.  Most children begin to lose their baby teeth and get their adult teeth around the same age.  You can use this article as a guideline but don’t get distressed if your child doesn’t fall exactly into the age appropriate category……all children are different!

When the adult teeth begin to make their way into the mouth, they dissolve the root of the baby tooth that is in its way.  This is the process that causes the baby tooth to become loose.  Once most, if not all, of the root has been dissolved, the tooth becomes very wiggly, and is ready to come out.  What is holding the baby tooth in place is the gum.  Once you break the tooth free from the gum……the tooth fairy can swing by!

Of course, my six year old was not so impressed with this knowledge and convincing him was harder than I expected. For a while he looked like ‘Mater’ from the movie Cars. His two front teeth would greet you before the rest of his body joined him.

Between the ages of six to seven, your child may lose his first tooth.  The lower central incisors (bottom middle two) are usually the first teeth that are lost, followed by the upper central incisors.

From ages seven to eight, the next teeth your child may lose are the lateral incisors (top and bottom).  After a small break in tooth loss, a lot of changes take place between the ages of nine and thirteen.  The usual order of loss is as follows….the upper and lower baby first molars, lower canines (eye teeth),  upper and lower baby second molars and the upper canines.

By the age of thirteen, your child will have most of his permanent teeth; with the exception of his wisdom teeth, which erupt between the ages of seventeen and twenty one.

Impeccable oral hygiene is very important during your child’s tooth eruption and exfoliation stages.  Remember to encourage your child to brush and floss twice a day, and keep up with his regular visits to see the dentist.  Cavity prevention, along with checking for the signs of malocclusion, are important aspects during your child’s dental visits.

If you are concerned about how your child’s baby teeth are falling out, or have questions about the permanent teeth that will soon take their place, you can book an appointment or give us a call.

We had a wonderful time at the Town of Stallings Easter Egg Hunt.  We were thrilled to be the event sponsor.  Supporting the community that has helped our family business grow is very important to us.

We were able to give out bags and toothbrushes to all the little egg hunters.  I’m hoping the toothbrushes came in handy after all the candy the Easter bunny brought children on Sunday.

We also sponsored a spring coloring contest.  It’s not too late to enter the contest.  You can go to our website http://www.forrestandforrest.comand print off the coloring contest sheets.  All the information will be posted there……just make sure to drop off the coloring sheets to our office before May 5th.  Good Luck!