Pediatric Dentist
Orthodontic Showcase
Don’t Skip the Floss
By Estelle Rodis-Brown
When you consider health priorities for your family, does dental flossing even make the list? It’s more foundational to overall health than you may realize.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing two times daily for at least two minutes each time as the first step in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. But even the most advanced electric toothbrush can’t fully cleanse the spaces between your teeth. That’s why the ADA also advises that you floss once a day to remove hidden food particles and plaque—the sticky film coating your teeth—that can lead to cavities and periodontal/gum disease.
We asked a local dental health specialist—and father of three—for further advice. Dr. Peter Maragos, D.D.S., M.S.D. owns a family periodontal practice in Brunswick, serving patients in Cuyahoga and Medina counties since 2000. Periodontists treat gum disease and other conditions affecting the gum tissues that
surround and support the teeth, and the underlying jawbone, which anchors teeth in place.
He says, “Most periodontal disease occurs between the teeth because that’s where the tight spots are. When we’re brushing our teeth, we’re only hitting the surface of the tooth. The only way to get in between, in those gaps and crevices, is with flossing.”
Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that begins with mild gum inflammation called gingivitis (the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the developed world). Signals of periodontal disease include red, swollen, painful or bleeding gums.
It all begins when the bacteria living in plaque multiply and cause an infection in the surrounding tissues of the teeth, causing them to become painfully irritated. Eventually, this infection can cause the jawbone to recede and the teeth to become loose.
Maragos explains, “The main cause of periodontal disease is the plaque
and tartar buildup on the teeth. Plaque is a very sticky film composed of bacteria. It forms from the sugars and starches in your food that interact with the bacteria in your mouth. If the soft plaque stays there long enough, it becomes tartar, which is harder to remove. The main problem is not getting to the plaque in time. Once it becomes tartar, it’s a main cause of periodontal disease.”
“It can lead to tooth loss, gum infections, periodontal disease, disease surrounding the bone, and even chronic health conditions, including heart disease… Only floss can remove the bacteria in the plaque and tartar between the teeth,” Maragos says.
He stresses that dental hygiene is an effective defense against periodontal tooth loss. It involves not just brushing, but flossing and regular dental checkups. “You can’t just rinse with mouthwashes, power brushes or Waterpiks. These are all nice adjuncts but they cannot take the place of dental floss. Flossing is very important to optimize your oral health.”
Dr. Maragos offers these top tips for families:
TIP #1 - SHOW KIDS HOW
When flossing, use an up-and-down motion (not a sawing motion) between teeth. Once you’re in the gap, angle the floss toward the right with an up-and-down motion, then bring it back up from the pocket area and curve the floss around the left side of the tooth, again with an up-anddown motion. So you’re flossing two sides each time you floss between teeth.
TIP #2 - START EARLY
It’s challenging to encourage children to incorporate good oral home care into their daily routines, so set expectations early on. Brush your child’s teeth from the time they erupt until your child is about 2 years old. Then they should be encouraged to brush their own teeth. The ADA recommends starting flossing once your child’s teeth are making side-by-side contact with each other (the previous gaps have closed). This will lead to excellent independent home care as children gain hand dexterity and control, Maragos says.
TIP
#3 - MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR
“Kids will be very compliant if they see their parent doing it; especially if they do it together,” Maragos says. “Establish that this is something we do together every night and every morning.”
TIP #4 - FIND THE FUN
Put on some music to play for the two minutes of brushing and then another song for flossing. To encourage correct oral hygiene, you can encourage your toddler to brush and floss on their favorite teddy bear or doll. There are also read-aloud books about dental care you can enjoy together.
“As parents, we encouraged good oral hygiene with our kids by making it fun for them,” Maragos says. “My wife is a hygienist; she would sing to them and make the process a game.”
TIP #5 - GIVE THEM CHOICES
Ask “What color/theme of toothbrush do you want? What toothpaste flavor do you like?” Just ensure the toothbrush bristles are soft and the toothpaste is approved by the ADA
with the recommended amount of fluoride for your child.
And let them pick their floss. While regular floss offers better control and flexibility to get into the pocket areas, other floss threaders with handles— dental picks, tiny brushes, or water flossers—are also effective.
Maragos adds, “The fun flossers are a good start to get used to cleaning in between the teeth, but by age 5-6, their dexterity is better and they should be able to get regular floss around their teeth, especially if their parent is right there, encouraging them along.”
TIP #6 - ADAPT YOUR APPROACH FOR TEENS
Teenagers may be tempted to neglect oral hygiene routines. So you need to change your motivational strategy and appeal to social cues.
“Teens are always worried about their breath,” Maragos says. “Bad breath comes from bacteria on the tongue and gum tissues. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, resulting in fresh breath.”
While you may want to avoid a confrontation about flossing, he adds that he has noticed more periodontal problems among younger patients over his 25-year career.
“I don’t know if it has to do with their oral hygiene or their lifestyle choices—vaping, smoking, sugary drinks, acidic diet colas, stress—these
are all contributing to trends of an increase in tooth decay and gum disease among teens and young adults.”
Delegate some of the messaging to your family dentist and hygienist when your teen goes in for checkups and regular cleanings.
“The hygienist will help educate them to ensure their hygiene techniques are most effective. They can also discuss lifestyle issues that affect plaque buildup,” Maragos says.
TIP # 7 - SUPPORT YOUR YOUNG ADULTS
After your kids leave the nest, encourage continued good dental habits through care packages with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss bearing the ADA Seal of Acceptance. And coordinate with them to schedule dental checkups and cleanings when they’re home on break. Or help them find a dentist near campus or their new job to ensure they keep up with their regular maintenance visits.
TIP #8 - CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES
If you or your children avoid flossing, you’ll eventually experience decay and cavities between the teeth. This can be painful, expensive, aesthetically compromising, and potentially worse.
Ultimately, “We can repair and replace teeth but prevention is better,” Maragos says.
From the moment your child steps into Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry, they’ll experience a fun, supportive dental visit designed just for them! Dr. Rachel Rosen and Dr. Christi Walsh, both board-certified pediatric dentists, provide comprehensive, evidence-based oral healthcare for children from newborns to young adults up to 21 years old.
As an Ambassador for The Breathe Institute, Dr. Rachel Rosen is a recognized leader in airway-focused pediatric dentistry. She specializes in functional tongue and lip tie releases using the Solea laser. Taking a collaborative, team-based approach, Dr. Rachel Rosen partners with feeding specialists, pediatricians, bodyworkers, myofunctional therapists and orthodontists to support your child’s optimal airway health, jaw growth, and dental development.
Dr. Rachel Rosen and Dr. Christi Walsh are highly skilled in minimally invasive dentistry, offering preventative dentistry and drill-free options like laser dentistry, SMART fillings, SDF treatments, and Hall crowns. These innovative solutions ensure stress-free visits while preserving and protecting your child’s smile.
Because every child deserves exceptional care, the Great Beginnings team proudly provides specialized services for children with unique needs, including special needs dentistry and in-office sedation options. Our compassionate team tailors each visit to create a safe, comfortable environment for every child.
Give your child a great beginning to a lifetime of health and smiles by joining our dental family today. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends your child have their first dental visit by age one or first tooth, whichever comes first! Drs. Rachel Rosen and Christi Walsh are now accepting new patients 16 years of age and younger in their dental office conveniently located on the border of Twinsburg and Solon, Ohio. Call to schedule today!
At Brecksville Kids Dentistry, we create memories that rival the fun of the great outdoors while providing exceptional dental care for children and special needs adolescents. We strive to foster a lifetime of positive dental experiences for the children that we care for. Our team is committed with this mission in mind by serving the surrounding communities through education and outreach programs.
Brecksville Kids Dentistry is the only pediatric dental practice in Ohio that offers the Solea Laser Dentistry and Certified Therapy Dogs. We offer parents to play an active role in their child’s healthcare. We allow parents to be in the room during the appointment.
In addition, this year, we are opening the first Ohio Center for Pediatric Tongue Ties! We will be bringing multiple services such as myofunctional therapy, a certified lactation consultant, a chiropractor and a sleep therapist under one roof. We are excited to welcome your family to our practice.
Pediatric Dentistry is an area of specialization that focuses on treating children from birth through adolescence. Take one step into our friendly office, intended in every way to help patients through the experience. Dental health is too important for kids to be frightened, so we use a gentle tone with playful, comforting, and encouraging language. Colorful animal wildlife and “under-the-sea” decor gives our place a playful outdoorsy feel and we provide dental chairs and other equipment sized and designed for kids so they can feel comfortable. Dr. Greg Mertes and Dr. Kelsey Stehli and their staff are pleased to provide compassionate pediatric dental care specifically tailored to fit the needs of every child.
Have you ever heard your teen complain of jaw pain, swollen or tender gums? This can be a sign of impacted teeth or impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth are teeth that are not able to fully erupt into a normal position.
The most common type of impaction are wisdom teeth. Another common tooth to become impacted are the canines. According to Keith M. Schneider, MS, DMD, FACS, and Oral Surgeon at Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial and Implant Surgery, “Impacted canine teeth are some of the second most common type of impacted teeth in the upper jaw, occurring in 1 out of 25 people”. These teeth
At Bay Pediatric Dentistry we are dedicated to providing your child the highest standard of care in a pleasant and comfortable environment, from cradle to college.
One of the Premier Pediatric Dental Practices in Ohio, we specialize in treating children who present with challenges related to their age and behavior. Our goal for every child is to establish communication and alleviate the child’s dental fear and anxiety, promoting a positive attitude towards oral healthcare.
We offer minimally invasive procedures backed by evidence based dentistry and are known for our expertise in Laser dentistry (no shots needed). Dr. Chhibber and Dr. Kyrkos are board certified pediatric dentists and Diplomates in American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Our office is located at 660 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, Ohio. Call us at Bay Pediatric Dentistry phone number (440) 892-5556.
can get wedged against other teeth, grow sideways, or even upside-down!
In the case of impacted wisdom teeth, 9 out of 10 people have at least one impaction. When this happens to your teen or young adult, they are said to be at the “Age of Wisdom”! “Age of Wisdom” comes between 17 and 25 years of age, the same time third molars are erupting. If left untreated, impacted teeth can cause damage to adjoining teeth, become infected and transmit bacteria into the blood stream.
Wisdom teeth can also be impacted with no symptoms, but Dr. Schneider says, it is important to remember that
“painfree” does not mean “disease-free”. The area of the wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean, making it an inviting environment for bacteria that can lead to infection. For a confirmed diagnosis, your dentist will help identify impacted teeth during a routine dental examination. For a more thorough evaluation, the dentist should refer you to an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.
For more information, to book a consultation or talk to an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon please visit www.ohsurgery.com or call one of our offices!
PHOTO COURTESY OF BAY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Donald P. Lewis, Jr
Maria A. DeLeonibus
Maximillian G. Beushausen
Keith M. Schneider
Jill M. Weber
George Boukas
At Thriving Smiles, we understand that as parents, you want the very best experience for your little ones. Their oral health and dental journey is a vital part of their overall well-being, and it should never be entrusted to just anyone. Our dedicated team, led by Dr. George Boukas, specializes exclusively in pediatric dentistry, ensuring that every child receives the individualized care they deserve. With specialized training and a deep understanding of children’s needs, Dr. George creates a welcoming environment where dental visits are not just necessary, but enjoyable!
We know that positive experiences in the dental chair can shape a child’s attitude towards oral health for a lifetime. That’s why our state-of-the-art practice in North Ridgeville focuses on making each visit fun and comfortable. Using the latest technology, we provide treatments that minimize discomfort and maximize engagement, making every appointment something your child will look forward to!
Our specialized team is among the best in the region at creating memorable experiences that blend education with enjoyment. We take the time to educate both parents and patients about proper dental hygiene, fostering healthy habits that last a lifetime. From interactive games to colorful decor, our office is designed to make children feel at ease, allowing them to explore their curiosity about dentistry in a safe space.
At Thriving Smiles, we’re not just about treating teeth; we’re about nurturing smiles and building confidence. Join us in creating a foundation for lifelong oral health. Schedule your appointment today and let the adventure begin! Together, we’ll ensure your child leaves with a bright smile and the knowledge to maintain it. Because at Thriving Smiles, we’re committed to helping your little ones thrive!
