Today we’re covering a fun mix of both indoor and outdoor games, crafts, snacks, and other activities to get everybody up out of their seats

Preventative services are one of the best ways to keep your family’s teeth healthy - and save money! Studies estimate that every dollar spent on preventative services means $8-50 saved on restorative or emergency care. And that’s just the financial cost saved - stress, energy, and time spent on restorative treatments can also feel like a cost. When combined with good oral habits such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and eating a balanced diet, preventative services ca

In 1997, the first complete clear dental aligning system was invented by two Stanford University students named Zia Chisti and Kelsey Worth. The invention followed decades of orthodontic innovation, including various removable appliances intended to more easily straighten teeth and make other minor dental corrections. With the passing of time, invisible aligners have evolved and have now reached top-level convenience for those who wish to save time and money and limit face-to

Gum disease affects over 50% of adults and, while cases in children and adolescents are less prevalent, there is still a risk. In this age of COVID-19, the ramifications can be even more widespread: gum diseases make COVID-19 patients three times more likely to develop severe symptoms and experience complications. As we find out more about this disease and how it can cause such a severe response in some people, dentists are discovering that preventing and treating gum disease

Dental care is considered essential health care by both the ADA and the CDC (1,2), and we definitely agree! Amazingly, infection control practices that have been in effect for years are helping to make visits to the dentist during this COVID-19 era quite safe (3). In fact, one study found that less than 1% of dentists have tested positive for COVID-19, which is much lower than all other healthcare professions (3). Extra measures (as recommended by the CDC and ADA) that dental

Have you had root canals or crowns done on your teeth and are unsure about whether braces would work for you now? Are you missing teeth, but would like braces to help straighten the rest of your remaining teeth-or perhaps to help close the gap? With the American Association of Orthodontists reporting the number of adults seeking orthodontic care rose to a whopping 1,690,000 in 2016, you’re most certainly not alone! Adults are increasingly seeking orthodontic care for various

Perhaps you’re sharing a meal with your kiddo, or you’re playing and joking around, when your child grins or open their mouth wide - and you notice a few white spots on their teeth! You think: is that white spot new, or has that always been there? And more importantly, is it a sign that something is wrong? The answer to both of those questions will depend on the cause. Demineralization One of the most common causes of white spots is demineralization, which is the beginning st

As we begin a new year, it’s always fun to reflect on the highlights of years past. For us here at Jungle Roots, it’s interesting to think about how far the dental and orthodontic professions have come since the earliest days of tooth care. Join us as we take a walk-through time and look at some wild and wacky ways the world has thought about teeth throughout history. ANIMALS IN DENTAL FOLKLORE Some of the original dentures of the past were made from hippopotamus teeth, altho

We all know by now that a healthy mouth requires good oral hygiene: brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and regular check-ups and cleanings. What about mouthwash? It isn’t mentioned as often, so is it necessary? What is mouthwash used for and does it even work? Is it safe for kids? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more. 1. Flavor is not the only thing to consider when picking out mouthwash. It may surprise you to learn that mouthwash can have different ac

Whenever you eat away from home, how do you deal with food getting stuck in your braces or aligners? Or worse--what if something damages your orthodontics while you’re traveling? These are common problems, but they don’t always come with easy solutions. We’ve done a little research on what works best for our patients, plus a little investigating into what others have found effective and ended up with some great remedies! Follow along and consider which of these tips and trick

The tongue is an interesting part of the human body, but many of us don’t ever think about it unless our tongue hurts. We could live without a tongue, but it would be much more difficult to eat and speak without it. Since it is one of our main sense organs, food wouldn’t taste nearly as enjoyable without the tongue. It also can give us interesting clues to some health problems. We have compiled this list of some of the most intriguing tongue facts, and helpful health insights

Pulling a perfectly healthy baby tooth… Why would you even consider this? Interestingly, it can be an incredibly important step in preventing orthodontic problems. We always recommend the most conservative treatment option and often opt to wait and see if your child’s mouth will develop naturally. However, for some kids, extracting a baby tooth that won’t come out on its own can eliminate or minimize future orthodontic treatment. Let’s talk about when this may be the best opt

The good news is that tobacco smoking among Americans has decreased in prevalence from 40% in the 1960s to around 14% in the year 2017. The bad news? Habits like vaping and water pipe (hookah) smoking are on the rise, primarily among teens and young adults, mostly due to the misconception that they are harmless (1). While most of us are aware of how damaging cigarettes can be to the mouth and overall health, the newer habits of vaping and waterpipe (hookah) smoking are a bit

Halloween candy is a delicious temptation that few people resist. Before you indulge in all the leftovers, you may want to know that certain kinds of candy could crack a tooth. Sometimes you can hear or feel the crack, but many times it can be small enough that you don’t even notice. No matter the size, it is important to get a cracked tooth evaluated and treated right away. Read on to learn more about the interesting symptoms of a cracked tooth, common causes that can be av

At Jungle Roots, we pride ourselves on achieving optimal results with all of our patients. Once your freshly aligned teeth are finished here, it’s up to you to keep them in their best condition and contact us if you need help. Aside from continuing the good dental hygiene habits we taught you, one item in particular will need regular upkeep as it’s essential to keeping your newly straightened pearly whites in line. This item - the key to preventing your teeth from drifting ou

During ABC’s Good Morning America (10/19) show, medical correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton responded to viewers’ coronavirus questions, including whether it is safe to receive nonemergency dental care during the pandemic. The ADA and the CDC say “dental care is considered essential health care,” noted Dr. Ashton, and “dentists have been taking extreme precautions” since even “before the coronavirus pandemic.” With this in mind, “you should not delay dental care,” said Dr. Ashton. T

As parents, it is difficult to watch our children feel miserable when they have a childhood illness. Oftentimes, all you can do is try to minimize their discomfort and get them to eat a little bit and drink enough to keep from getting dehydrated. So, what happens when an illness like hand, foot, and mouth disease or chickenpox causes sores or blisters in their mouth? Foods they normally would eat when sick may cause pain and just the thought of brushing their teeth is awful.

Have you ever thought about how your smile might look different as you get older? Even if you maintain perfect dental hygiene and avoid bad habits like smoking, natural shifts and gradual changes can make a youthful smile appear vastly different as age sets in. Loss of bone density over time, repeated pressure placed on certain areas of the mouth, teeth grinding, missing or loose teeth, and other issues can lead to a significantly different look than your once-brilliant smile

It seems like everyone wants beautiful teeth these days. Braces and whitening products have become the norm for teenagers, but it may seem like brushing, flossing, whitening, and wearing braces are the only way to impact your teeth, and the rest is up to chance and genetics. That actually isn’t true at all! There are 5 important steps teens, and teen athletes can take to have a beautiful healthy smile. 1. Mouthguards First things first – you can’t keep teeth healthy after the

Everyone’s lives look different these days. Some kids are back to school, some are modified and only online part-time, others are completely remote, some kids are not going back until the new semester, and many of us are experiencing change from month-to-month. All this change comes with challenges, and many challenges that we are hearing about have to do with online learning. We have put together a few useful tips to help out your kids and families, and included a few fun, s