Our Blog

Great question! Yes, in fact, tooth decay is preventable! Decay, which is caused by sugars left in your child’s mouth, can turn into an acid, which in turn can break down his or her teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents tend to be lax in their oral hygiene habits.

So, how can your child prevent tooth decay?

• Start early. After the age of two, brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. And, if possible, clean between the teeth with dental floss at least once a day, preferably before they go to bed.
• Don’t allow your little ones to eat after cleaning teeth at bedtime, as salivary flow decreases while they sleep and their teeth become vulnerable to cavities.
• Do not allow your little ones to nibble food or sip drinks continuously, and keep in mind that a low-sugar diet also helps keep tooth decay at bay. Allow time between meals for saliva to neutralize acids and repair the teeth.
• Drinking water frequently throughout the day can also reduce the possibility of new cavities forming.
• Dental sealants can also protect your children’s teeth from cavities. Sealants, which are applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, act as a shield between the tooth and harmful bacteria.

Finally, make sure your child visits Rick Johns Dental approximately every six months for a checkup and routine cleaning! Please give us a call at our Highland, IN office.

We love this time of year, and not just because of how great Pumpkin Spice Lattes are. The leaves are gorgeous, the air is wonderfully crisp, and we get to be crafty with our seasonal decorations! This month on the Rick Johns Dental blog we bring to you some pumpkin decorating tips, courtesy of our very own Kelly! Enjoy her suggestion below, and let us know how you like to decorate your pumpkins at your next visit to our office!

From Kelly:

A Halloween tradition at our house is carving the pumpkins, and while it's fun it can be a lot of work!  The kids weren't able to help much because using the knives could be a little bit dangerous.  Since I am not a pumpkin carving artist , the faces don't always turn out the way you hoped, and once you carve them, they only last a day or two before they start to go bad.  So last year I tried a different approach and chose to decorate the outside instead of carving them!

Angry birds was very popular at the time and that was the theme my daughter picked.  It was very easy to paint the different sized pumpkins using various craft paints, and the kids could do it themselves!  I cut out their features using craft foam and applied them to the pumpkins once the paint dried using a glue gun.  Super easy and fun, not to mention safer!  And the best part is you get to keep them around a lot longer. Enjoy the Halloween season!

How better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Dr. Rick Johns and our team at Rick Johns Dental encourage you to warm up your mind this fall season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading when balancing a hectic schedule, but reading is vital to brain development. Besides, reading is always a blast!

This week, we thought we’d ask what you or your child are reading this fall. Do you have any suggestions for must-read books this year? Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian here in Highland, IN for some ideas.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites below or on our Facebook page!

At Rick Johns Dental, we have been creating beautiful smiles for years. Whether you have visited Dr. Rick Johns and our team for a week or for your entire life, we would love to hear your thoughts about your experience! In fact, we encourage you to leave a few words for us below or on our Facebook page!

We look forward to reading your feedback!