When it comes to mouth injuries in sports there’s a lot to be said for preventative care. Custom mouth guards are a must, but it starts way before that. On this episode of MoMotion Maureen speaks with her new dentist, Dr. Lewis Gross. He shares why it’s important for parents to work with their children early to establish healthy habits when it comes to dental hygiene, reveals some of the myths and unnecessary practices in modern pediatric dentistry, and explains how sleep issues may be at the root of many diagnoses and how orthodontic work could be the solution.

Why Dr. Gross recommends a custom mouth guard for athletes.

It makes perfect sense when you stop to think about it, but the bulky, rubber mouth guards you buy at the sporting goods store are typically of a size that they restrict breathing - something you don’t want when you’re trying to compete at your highest level. Dr. Lewis Gross says that custom mouth guards are quite thin and allow for normal airflow while still providing the shock absorbency needed for sports collisions. On this episode, Dr. Gross shares a number of benefits to custom mouth guards and also describes the theories about how mouth guards may help to increase upper body strength as a leverage force. You can hear it on this episode of MoMotion.  

Dr. Gross about the benefits of mouth guards: There’s also theories of having a mouth guard in because it elevates your bite and increases your upper body strength, it acts as a leverage force. And particularly if your teeth are very collapsed, by opening your bite, it opens your airway…. Actually, they’ve done a lot of sleep studies and they find that a lot of children who are diagnosed with ADHD is because they’re not sleeping and they are not sleeping because they are not breathing well… but a lot of that is an actual orthodontic problem and when you open your bite up orthodontically… they breathe better so they sleep better and they actually perform better in school - and those borderline ADHD - it’s not because they have a chemical imbalance, it’s because they’re not sleeping at night. So parents, even with a diagnosis like that should look at alternatives.

Holistic dentistry is something every parent should consider.

A holistic dentist receives the same training of a typical dentist with the addition of training in less invasive, less dramatic treatments that are as natural as possible. Dr. Gross recommends that every parent considers a holistic dentist simply because there are current treatments such as mercury in fillings and animal bone being used for implants that have viable alternatives provided by holistic dentists. You can hear some of the options you need to know about as a parent in order to be informed when it comes to your child’s dental health, on this episode.

When it comes to your child’s health you should be a proactive consumer.

Dr. Gross understands the pressure and sense of dependence at play when medical professionals recommend treatment for your child. It’s easy to assume that since they are educated in their field, they know what they are doing and are recommending the best treatment. But he says that sadly, there are many cases where the treatment recommendations are motivated by financial issues rather than what is best for the patient. He describes many of the ways this happens and explains how you can protect yourself, on this episode.

Traditional braces are an outdated treatment for most kids. Here’s why.

You may have heard of Invisalign - a dental appliance that replaces typical braces. It’s the method Dr. Gross recommends for everyone who needs orthodontic work. He says that the complications and risks associated with normal braces are unnecessary and should never be a consideration for most parents. Invisalign appliances can treat the same conditions by less intrusive means and even double as a custom mouth guard for those who are involved in sports. Find out more on this episode of MoMotion.

Outline of this episode

• [4:09 ] Why holistic dentistry is important for parents to consider.
• [9:06 ] Dr. Gross’ best advice to parents for getting their children to brush and floss.
• [13:10 ] Why mouth guards are recommended - and why custom fit ones are best.
• [21:05 ] How Maureen first met Dr. Gross and what he had to say about her situation.
• [23:50 ] The real story about tooth sealants and why traditional braces are outdated.
• [33:20 ] How sleep apnea is often a dental related issue.

Contact Dr. Gross

• www.Holistic-Dentists.com
• reception(at)holistic-dentist(dot)com