Cheese and your child's oral health

Did you know research shows cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth? Not only does cheese provide large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also fights cavities. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss and Mozzarella all do their part to stimulate our salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris ...and protect them from acids that weaken them.

What does that mean? Cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's pH level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Hope this helps!

Give us a call if you have any questions or ask Dr. Matt on Facebook!

Talkin' cavities with Dr. Matt

Our team at Smiles Dentistry for Kids read an interesting article not too long ago pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria have been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Dr. Matt Hillman knows tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Dr. Matt and team encourage you to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your child's treatment at our convenient Overland Park, KS office, please feel free to give us a call!

What are patients saying about Dr. Matt and Smiles Dentistry for Kids?

Check out what a few of our patients are saying about Dr. Matt Hillman and our professional and experienced staff at Smiles Dentistry for Kids lately! Thanks for writing in, everyone! By the way, Facebook is a great place to tell us how we're doing, but we also encourage you to head to our Google Places page and leave a short review there. Your generous reviews help Dr. Matt build more beautiful smiles!

"All I can say is....WOW!!! This dentist office is amazing. Dr. Matt and his staff are AMAZING! If I had went to a dentist office like that when I was growing up, I wouldn't have the dental anxiety I have now."

"The BEST dentist for children...ever I recently had the pleasure of taking my two daughters to see Dr. Matt. WOW! The new office was fantastic."

"Dr. Matt is an ANGEL and so are his assistants ... he is DEFINITELY a 5 star dentist with a 5 star crew and an outstanding office... I recommend this dentist to ANY parent with kids..and he see's kids 6 months and older.. YAAYYY Im happy and very satisfied!"

"I'm singing their praises! WOW is about all I can say! From the gals at the front desk, the hygenist & Dr. Matt - it was wonderful! My son is 4 years old and this was his first visit to the denist and he was talking about it for a few hours after we left."

"Absolutely fabulous! I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Matt and his office. He is an incredible dentist and his staff is awesome! And I haven't even mentioned the beautiful kid-friendly design of his office. My kids don't mind going for their checkups!"

Serving Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City and the surrounding areas of Kansas and Missouri, Dr. Matt Hillman (Dr. Matt) is your pediatric dental specialist, providing gentle, safe, and the highest quality dentistry for infants, children of all ages, and those with special health care needs.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Beginning in 1941 as a 1-day event in Cleveland, the American Dental Association, or ADA, has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

Tooth decay in kids is a growing problem in the United States, posing very serious health risks. Decay happens to be the most chronic disease affecting American children. A child's overall health is closely linked to his or her oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a jump start in maintaining a lifetime of good oral health.

Each February, Dr. Matt Hillman, our team at Smiles Dentistry for Kids and thousands of dental professionals focus on the preventive oral care of America's children. Dr. Matt and team remind you to developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Has your child visited our office during the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!