1. Adults generally have 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
  2. Children have 20 baby teeth that start to grow in when they are about 6 months old.
  3. Humans only have 2 sets of teeth in their lifetime.
  4. Sharks have around 40 sets of teeth in their lifetime!
  5. The enamel of your teeth is the hardest substance found in your body.
  6. Your teeth start to form before you're even born!
  7. People tend to lose their first tooth around the age of 6 or 7.
  8. The 2nd most common disease, after the common cold, is tooth decay!
  9. Crocodiles may not brush their teeth, but there are birds that will pick scraps from their teeth to help keep them clean!
  10. George Washington did not have teeth made of wood. He did, however, have dentures made from walrus, hippopotamus, and cows' teeth.
  11. The first commercial toothbrush was made in 1938.
  12. Newborns do not have the bacteria that cause tooth decay in their mouths. The bacteria is often transmitted from parents to children when they share food or give kisses!
  13. Snails can have over 25,000 teeth! Imagine having to brush and floss all of those!
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The DCDC Rap 05/11/2011
 
One of our part time employees, Steve, has been writing lyrics for a Douglas County Dental Clinic rap song. Here's what he came up with:

Got an ache?
Did your tooth break?
Need a dentist or hygienist?
No insurance?
We're assurance!
We take Medicaid! 
Your dental needs should not be delayed!

Cheryl and Kelly,
They're on our team...
Leticia and Holly,
They'll make your teeth gleam!
We'll complete your filling,
And clean your teeth...
If you're willing!

We'll look at every tooth,
For both adults and youth...
We'll get you out of pain,
That makes you go INSANE!

Douglas County Dental Clinic!
We're here to help,
Don't be a cynic!

-Steve
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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, also known as Early Childhood Caries, results from children falling asleep with a pool of sugary liquid in their mouths. The sugar in milk or juice creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which damage their teeth.
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This process may lead to severe decay which can cause life threatening abscesses and a multitude of other oral health problems.
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Here are some steps that parents, grandparents, and other caregivers can take to prevent baby bottle tooth decay:
  • DO NOT put children to bed with a bottle.
  • DO NOT use a bottle of milk or juice as a pacifier during the day.
  • Teach children to drink from a cup as soon as they are old enough to hold one. Most children can do this well before their first birthday.
Please contact the Douglas County Dental Clinic at 785-312-7770 if you have any questions or concerns about baby bottle tooth decay.
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The Douglas County Dental Clinic and the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program would like to remind parents that children with Kansas Medicaid / HealthWave are always welcome at the dental clinic! 

The medical card pays for most dental services for children ages 0-18 and ABCD provides the following services:

Case Management
Referrals To Pediatric Dentists
Transportation To Appointments
Childcare During Appointments
Spanish Interpreting
Oral Health Education
Free Toothbrushes And Toothpaste

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Access to Baby and Child Dentistry
The Douglas County Dental Clinic recommends that children start seeing the dentist once they turn a year old.  Initial visits to the dentist will be “happy visits” where the dentist will do a visual exam to look for any obvious signs of decay, provide oral health education, and provide a free toothbrush.  If any problems are noted, the dental clinic will provide referrals to pediatric dentists in the area that also accept Medicaid / HealthWave.

Please call the Douglas County Dental Clinic at 785-312-7770 with any questions you may have about Access to Baby and Child Dentistry!

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New Blog 05/02/2011
 
We've decided to start a blog after receiving a generous grant today from the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation to use social media to promote good oral health habits! We're not quite sure what type of information the blog will contain, but we will certainly use it to meet our objective of promoting oral health awareness in Kansas!
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