Friday, June 6, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Preventing Tooth Decay in Children
Take the following steps to prevent tooth decay:
- Take good care of your own oral health.
- Take good care of your baby's teeth.
- Birth to 12 months. Keep your baby's mouth clean by gently wiping the gums with a clean baby washcloth. After the first tooth appears, ask your child’s doctor if your baby is getting enough fluoride. Use a just a smear of fluoride toothpaste (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice).
- 12 to 24 months. Brush your child's teeth at least 2 times a day. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste on the brush (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice). The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed. Since the fluoride found in toothpaste is clearly meant to be swished but not swallowed, make sure to help or watch the child while brushing. When she is old enough, tell her to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
- Never put your child to bed with a bottle or food. Not only does this expose your child's teeth to sugars, it can also put your child at risk for ear infections and choking.
- Give your child a bottle only during meals. Do not use a bottle or sippy cup as a pacifier or let your child walk around with or drink from them for long periods.
- Check to see if your water is fluoridated. If your tap water comes from a well, your child's doctor or dentist may want to have a water sample tested for natural fluoride content. If your tap water does not have enough fluoride, your child's doctor or dentist will prescribe an appropriate fluoride supplement if your child is at increased risk for tooth decay.
- Teach your child to drink from a regular cup as soon as possible, preferably by 12 to 15 months of age. Drinking from a cup is less likely to cause the liquid to collect around the teeth. Also, a cup cannot be taken to bed.
- If your child must have a bottle or sippy cup for long periods, fill it with water only. During car rides, offer only water if your child is thirsty.
- Don't let your child eat sweet or sticky foods, like candy, gummies, cookies, or fruit roll-ups. There is sugar in foods like crackers and chips too. These foods are especially bad if your child snacks on them a lot. They should only be eaten at mealtime. Teach your child to use his or her tongue to clean food immediately off the teeth.
- Serve juice only during meals and limit it to 4 to 6 ounces per day. Also, juice is not recommended for babies younger than 6 months.
- Make an appointment to have your child see the dentist before age 1 if you have any concerns, see any problems, or need more information.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/Preventing-Tooth-Decay-in-Children.aspx
3 Things I Have Learned While Wearing Braces
Flossing
I never use to floss at all. I thought it was a waste of
time and to me, my time is precious. Now that I have my braces on, I
floss every single day. I cannot believe the amount of gunk that gets
stuck in between your teeth that does not come out with regular
brushing. When the dentist who filled my cavities talked to me about why
I needed to floss, I began to see the importance of it.
Flossing keeps that yucky stuff from turning into plaque, which is what causes tooth decay in the first place.
I keep floss sticks in my purse so anytime I am out
somewhere, if I need to floss I can. If you were like me before hand,
don’t skip flossing. It is super important for the health of your teeth,
and for your braces.
Eating the Right Foods
One thing I
have come to realize is that sugary foods are not good for me physically
or internally. The sugar not only makes you gain weight and is
disgusting to your body, but it also breaks down on your teeth as well.
Since getting my braces on I have cut out almost all of what I eat that
is sugary. I don’t think I will ever go back to eating those types of
foods either — for the health of my body, and for the health of my
teeth.
Going to the dentist regularly
All my life I
have been scared of the dentist. Now that I have faced that fear, I
make it a point to go to the dentist on a regular basis. Once my braces
come off, I am going to continue that trend. I want to really care for
my teeth so that I can have a beautiful smile the rest of my life.
Taking care of your teeth is essential. One of the best
things you can do for yourself is to take care of you — and you can
start that by taking care of your smile. A smile can light up the world,
but if you are not happy with your smile, then you will probably be
like me and hide it from the world. Don’t do that.
Do something about it. If you need orthodontic treatment,
check into it. Braces are SO much more affordable now than they were 10
or 20 years ago. Braces are not just for kids and teens anymore. More
and more adults are getting them on NOW because they are ready for that
boost of confidence to return. A beautiful smile can do that for you.
A small amount of time with Damon System braces is
absolutely worth it for a lifetime of white pearly beautiful teeth that
everyone will fall in love with!
http://www.5minutesformom.com/74672/3-things-i-have-learned-while-wearing-braces/
Top 10 Oral Health Tips For Children
There's no need to wait until your baby actually has teeth to lay the foundations for good oral or general health. In fact, good nutrition and oral hygiene can start right away. It is up to you to develop the routines that will help protect your child from tooth decay and other oral health problems. So let's get started!
1) Start Proper Oral Hygiene Habits ASAP
Gently clean your infant's gums and newly erupting first teeth after each feeding with a water-soaked gauze pad to clean around the teeth and gums.
2) Brush With Care
When your baby's teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using no more than a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste.
3) Teach Your Children
When your child turns 2, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques with no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. You should follow up their efforts by gently brushing the teeth again. Modeling correct technique is important. When your child is about 6 years old, he/she should be developing the dexterity to do it alone. You can then introduce flossing.
4) Check Your Water
Determine if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated. If it is not, discuss supplement options with your dentist. Keep in mind that toothpastes and various foods may also contain fluoride.
5) Fight Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Don't let your child go to sleep with a pacifier or bottle filled with anything but water. When teeth are frequently exposed to sugar-containing fluids (including breast milk and formula) for long periods, the potential for decay increases dramatically.
6) Avoid Sugar
Understand that if your child ingests sugars, it will take the saliva a minimum of 30 minutes to neutralize the acidity that is created by decay-producing bacteria. A sugary snack every hour can mean your child's mouth is always acid, increasing the chances for tooth decay.
7) Make a Dental Appointment
Your child should see a dentist around the time of his/her first birthday and then regularly thereafter. It is important to establish a dental home. Your pediatric or general dentist will teach you how to prevent dental disease, check for cavities in the primary teeth and watch for developmental problems, and set a positive precedent for future visits.
8) Prevent Cavities
Ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride applications to protect your child's teeth. Sealants can prevent food from getting stuck in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces and topical fluoride will strengthen the enamel against decay.
9) Keep Your Cool
If you feel anxious about a visit to a dental professional, try not to convey these feelings to your child. This is very important for emotional well-being. Encourage your child to discuss any fears he/she might have about visiting a dentist, but don't put any new fears into his/her head. It is a good rule of thumb not to mention the words “hurt” or “pain” as it raises a possibility he/she might not have thought of.
10) Childproof Your Home
Research has shown that children under age 7 sustain over half of the dental injuries to their primary (baby) teeth playing in close proximity to home furniture.
- See more at: http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/top-10-oral-health-tips-for-children/#sthash.dp0Esrp4.dpuf
1) Start Proper Oral Hygiene Habits ASAP
Gently clean your infant's gums and newly erupting first teeth after each feeding with a water-soaked gauze pad to clean around the teeth and gums.
2) Brush With Care
When your baby's teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using no more than a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste.
3) Teach Your Children
When your child turns 2, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques with no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. You should follow up their efforts by gently brushing the teeth again. Modeling correct technique is important. When your child is about 6 years old, he/she should be developing the dexterity to do it alone. You can then introduce flossing.
4) Check Your Water
Determine if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated. If it is not, discuss supplement options with your dentist. Keep in mind that toothpastes and various foods may also contain fluoride.
5) Fight Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Don't let your child go to sleep with a pacifier or bottle filled with anything but water. When teeth are frequently exposed to sugar-containing fluids (including breast milk and formula) for long periods, the potential for decay increases dramatically.
6) Avoid Sugar
Understand that if your child ingests sugars, it will take the saliva a minimum of 30 minutes to neutralize the acidity that is created by decay-producing bacteria. A sugary snack every hour can mean your child's mouth is always acid, increasing the chances for tooth decay.
7) Make a Dental Appointment
Your child should see a dentist around the time of his/her first birthday and then regularly thereafter. It is important to establish a dental home. Your pediatric or general dentist will teach you how to prevent dental disease, check for cavities in the primary teeth and watch for developmental problems, and set a positive precedent for future visits.
8) Prevent Cavities
Ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride applications to protect your child's teeth. Sealants can prevent food from getting stuck in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces and topical fluoride will strengthen the enamel against decay.
9) Keep Your Cool
If you feel anxious about a visit to a dental professional, try not to convey these feelings to your child. This is very important for emotional well-being. Encourage your child to discuss any fears he/she might have about visiting a dentist, but don't put any new fears into his/her head. It is a good rule of thumb not to mention the words “hurt” or “pain” as it raises a possibility he/she might not have thought of.
10) Childproof Your Home
Research has shown that children under age 7 sustain over half of the dental injuries to their primary (baby) teeth playing in close proximity to home furniture.
- See more at: http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/top-10-oral-health-tips-for-children/#sthash.dp0Esrp4.dpuf
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