“500,000 kids in California alone missed at least one day of school this past year because of dental disease,” said Dr. Snow. It’s the number one reason for absenteeism.

Dr. Gilbert Snow, dentist and orthodontist of Snow Orthodontics in the Santa Clarita Valley finds this unacceptable.

Dr. Snow has become one of the top orthodontists in the Santa Clarita Valley and throughout the Southland, not only through his practice, but also with how he gives back to our community.

He said that he sees about 8,000 kids every year because he “screens them in our schools.”

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Children should not be missing school because they have tooth decay, which can cause great pain making it difficult to speak, eat, play, or learn. Dr. Snow educates others on tooth decay, so that more people can be informed on tooth decay and can take action to prevent the disease.

Tooth decay is transmissible by kissing and children often receive it when their mother’s kiss them.

“An ingredient called xylitol, a sugar substitute, will actually kill the decay germs,” said Dr. Snow.

Gum that has xylitol in it kills the decay germs. The brands that include xylitol are Trident and Orbit gum. Whole Foods carries a variety of gum with xylitol.

Fluoride can reduce decay by 60%. It is included in water, toothpaste, and dental visits. 

But people are warned that too much fluoride can cause brown teeth or brown spots especially in children when teeth are developing.

“In Texas there’s a town where everyone has brown teeth, but no one has cavities,” said Dr. Snow. 

Dr. Snow meets at our local schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he learned that 10% of the children had never seen a dentist and 20% had not visited the dentist within a year. 

He enjoys getting involved with our schools as he educates our students and sees how they react to the facts of poor dental health.

KHTS radio will be launching Dr. Snow’s dental tips throughout the Santa Clarita elementary school districts again for the fifth year. The presentation is geared towards 4^th graders. For all interested, Dr. Snow leads a brief 15-minute assembly providing a demonstration and speaking on oral hygiene, finishing with a free, brief dental exam.

Dr. Snow said that he “asks the children how many people they know without teeth.”

In a group of roughly 100 children, 30 or 40 raise their hands. Sadly, there are 50 million people in America without teeth due to tooth decay and gum disease.

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Reaching out to those who cannot afford dental services, he has developed a non-profit organization to treat all forms of dentistry for children.

Dr. Snow graduated from USC School of Dentistry and completed his postgraduate specialty degree at Loyola University. He continues to spread his knowledge throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Dr. Snow has multiple practices located in the Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Ridgecrest, Encino, Phelan, Tehachapi, and Champlin areas. Snow Orthodontics and Dr. Snow pride themselves on providing the best quality to their patients since 1971 and continue their commitment to teeth.

 Snow has been creating smiles since 1971. For more information, visit his website at http://www.drsnow.com or call the SCV office at (661) 799-0775.

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