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Happy April from Dr. Dad, Dr. Matthew, and the whole Grapevine Kids team! This month there is so much to look forward to! Both in our office and around Grapevine, TX community. Join us on today’s blog to learn the latest office updates, prize giveaways, and discover top-notch dental tips!

Are you looking forward to visiting the new Harvest Hall in Grapevine? Just down the street from our office on Grapevine Main Street, Harvest Hall is now open and we're enjoying the amazing food and atmosphere it has to offer. Before or after your next appointment, make sure you stop by and see this new must-see eatery.

The best part of our post-COVID world is seeing and reconnecting with friends and family that have been separated for so many months. As our community continues to get stronger, we invite you to return to the dentist and receive the oral care you need. Our office is proud of the hygiene, cleanliness, and safety measures we take to ensure your families have a safe and comfortable dental visit.

In the office, we're so excited about seeing our first recall patients and exams. Having been open for over six months now, we're getting to see our first patients and friends return for their cleanings and exams. It's so wonderful to reconnect and see your beautiful smiles again! The habit of seeing us every six months for your check-up and cleaning will provide your children a lifetime of health benefits and prevent any major dental problems from happening in the future.

If you have hesitations about visiting our office during this time, rest assured that our office is VERY unique in offering private rooms for ALL patients. Most pediatric and orthodontic offices have open-bay chairs where there is little to no barrier or separation between patients. We're fortunate to have an office that has individual rooms for each patient providing an extra step in protection and safety.

In other news, we have our first gift basket giveaway going on right now! Refer any friend or family member to the office and enter to win our gift basket full of board games, toys, and goodies galore! In addition to our gift basket giveaway, any NEW patient who mentions this blog will receive a FREE sonic toothbrush with their first check-up, exam, and cleaning. Call us today!

Do you use a mouthguard during sports activities? For small mouths, sometimes it’s hard to find a mouthguard that is comfortable and fits well. Grapevine Kids Dental and Orthodontics can help measure you for a custom mouthguard that will be comfortable to wear and in your very favorite color! Both of Dr. Matthew's sons are playing football and were recently fitted for custom mouthguards after the store bought ones were uncomfortable and hard to fit. We recommend using mouthguards for all team sports and many individual sports including: soccer, basketball, and, of course, football.

Did you know: you should change your toothbrush every three months? If you find your toothbrush is getting frayed or worn out before three months, you may be chewing on it instead of just using it to brush. Also, make sure to rinse out your toothbrush all the way after each use so the toothpaste doesn't build up between the bristles. You can even safely put your (non-electric) toothbrush in the dishwasher to freshen it up!

We hope everyone has a lovely spring season. We look forward to seeing you and your family in our office again soon!

The idea for Earth Day was the brainchild of Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin. He envisioned an Earth Day that would be a kind of environmental teach-in. The first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970, and a surprising 20 million people participated on that day. Ultimately, it became the largest organized celebration in US history.

Earth Day Over the Years

Over the years, the recognition of the day, and the number of people celebrating it all over the world, turned Earth Day into an international celebration. Because it is celebrated throughout the world, it is not only the largest international environmental observation, but it is also more widely celebrated than any other environmental event in the world. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 175 countries where over 500 million people participate in celebrations.

The Earth Day Movement

The Earth Day movement is credited with developing the idea that people should “think green”. It encouraged congress to enact laws, including one that resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. It also inspired the passage of the Endangered Species Act.

The Five R's and Their Importance

• Reduce – Reduce by avoiding unnecessary purchases. Reduce your use of materials that wind up in landfills. Reduce the use of chemicals around your house. Reduce your use of disposable bags, plates, cups, eating utensils, and batteries.
• Reuse – Instead of using plastic bags for your groceries or purchases, bring your own reusable bags. When you go to buy coffee at Starbucks, take a travel mug so you don't have to get your coffee in a disposable paper cup. Instead of storing food in disposable refrigerator containers, buy containers that can be washed and reused. Don't use regular batteries. Whenever possible, opt for rechargeable batteries that you can reuse.
• Recycle – Most cities offer a recycling program to collect used bottles, cans, and newspapers. Recycling includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers and manufacturing raw materials into new products.
• Re-buy – Make an effort to purchase things that are made through recycling. When purchasing furniture, look for items that are made from reclaimed wood. When buying paper for kids school work, computer printer paper, holiday cards, or anything else, make a point of purchasing recycled paper products. Instead of buying clothing at full retail price, shop for second hand clothing. You will save a lot of money by doing so!
• Rethink – Rethink the way you do things so that you do them in an eco-conscious way at all times. Instead of driving to work alone, consider taking the bus or going in a carpool. Walk or ride your bike when you're only going a short distance. Plan your shopping trips and errand runs so that you can do everything on one day, and do it in a way where you can save time and gas.

Other ways to "think green" include growing your own food, composting yard waste and food scraps, or by participating in local recycling programs. Join a group like Freecycle so you can share your unneeded and unwanted possessions with people who can use them. Likewise, you'll be able to get things you need or want for free.

Earth Day teaches people that the planet belongs to everyone, so everyone is equally responsible for protecting it. Although Earth Day is an environmental celebration, our team at Grapevine Kids wants to remind you that you don't have to wait until then to make changes that will allow you and your family to live a greener life.

Happy Earth Day from the team at Grapevine Kids.

If your teeth don't line up like they used to any more, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, often called TMD. This is a term that can actually be applied to any condition that occurs because the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is inflamed.

The temporomandibular joint is essentially the hinge that holds your lower jaw to your skull, and when it is inflamed or damaged in any way, it can be extremely painful. You have two temporomandibular joint, one on each side of your jaw, and it is typical to experience TMD in both sides at the same time.

Shifting of the Teeth

The reason that your teeth may not line up as they once did is that the ball and socket joints are often out of alignment and, as mentioned above, often very inflamed as a result. In order to correct the problem, Drs. Schofield and Dad may prescribe dental orthotics such as a lower jaw splint.

Sometimes, the wisdom teeth can play a role in the shifting of the teeth as well. If shifting wisdom teeth is combined with TMD, it may be necessary to have your wisdom teeth removed. Dental splints may follow if your teeth don't shift back to their proper positions on their own.

TMD is certainly a difficult thing to deal with, so if you experience your teeth shifting, scheduling an appointment at our Grapevine office is the smartest course. We want to help you get your smile back, so give us a call anytime.

The Importance of Facial Protection

Americans from all walks of life should mark April as National Facial Protection Month on their calendars. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, Academy for Sports Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have combined forces to sponsor this annual campaign, which aims to educate and remind us of the importance of protecting our face and teeth against impacts and injuries.

Wearing a helmet can save your life and prevent devastating physical damage in a variety of situations, from playing football to riding a bicycle. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, helmets reduce the risk of various head injuries by as much as 85 percent. Whether helmet laws apply in your area or not, Drs. Schofield and Dad and our team at Grapevine Kids want you to make sure you and your loved ones wear helmets with the appropriate safety ratings for specific activities. (A sticker on or inside the helmet will usually indicate this rating.) Helmets can also help save your teeth if they come with an attached faceguard, an essential addition for football players and others involved in contact sports.

Preventing Dental Injuries

A mouthguard can protect you against a variety of dental injuries, such as cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth. The American Dental Association states that mouthguards play an essential role in preventing up to 200,000 dental injuries each year, and many states mandate their use for sports activities such as football and hockey. The Academy for Sports Dentistry warns, however, that these mouthguards must be custom-fitted as precisely as possible to prove effective. Have a professional-quality mouthguard molded and fitted by our team at Grapevine Kids for better protection than a generic store-bought or “boil-and-bite” variety can offer. These cheaper versions tend to wear out quickly, interfere with proper breathing, and provide uneven degrees of cushion against impacts. Always have a fresh mouthguard fitted for each new sports season.

Choose the right combination of helmet, faceguard, and mouthguard to protect your teeth and face this April, and tell your friends to do the same! To learn more about mouthguards, or to schedule an appointment with Drs. Schofield and Dad, please give us a call at our convenient Grapevine office!