Ways to Protect Teeth & Overall Health
Take these seven steps to achieve greater safety and fend off some of the most common childhood mishaps!
- Prevent decay with fluoride. If your family drinks only bottled or filtered water, you may be getting less fluoride than the recommended amount; ask about fluoridation treatments!
- Mouthguards for athletes. It’s important to always wear a mouthguard whenever there’s potential for trauma, but a poorly fitting mouthguard can also lead to teeth and jaw problems. The best are custom-made by your dentist for protection and comfort.
- Use sunscreen. Sunlight can be beneficial for creating Vitamin D, but experts warn there is no safe level of tanning since the sun is also the cause of most melanomas. Sunscreen reduces this risk and should be used whenever you plan to be in the sun for extended periods.
- Vaccinate. Infant immunizations have reduced many once-common diseases to virtual extinction. Protect your family against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.
- Avoid head injuries. The best helmet is comfortable, adjustable, and looks so cool it’ll be worn everywhere.
- Early orthodontic exams. Buck teeth, crowded teeth, and overbites are best treated before the adult teeth come in. Often times, treatment is shorter and less intensive when started early!
- Buckle ’em up. Children are safest in the back center seat, in seats designed for their size.
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
