As a parent, you want your child to have the healthiest teeth possible. Here are some tips for you to consider as you strive to help your child achieve this oral health goal.
Teach oral hygiene
Helping your children take care of their teeth should start at a very early age, so that proper hygiene habits are learned and practiced throughout life. Begin brushing their gums with a soft toothbrush even before the first tooth erupts to prevent bacteria from building up. Once your child is old enough to brush, allow them to do it with supervision until about age eight. Also teach your child to floss properly as part of a daily dental care routine.
Choose the right toothpaste
Look for the key ingredient of fluoride in toothpaste, which helps fight bacteria and plaque. When your child is young, supervise the use of fluoride toothpaste so that none is swallowed.
Visit the dentist
Begin taking your child for dental visits around their first birthday, and continue with regular checkups twice a year. Early dental visits help your child become comfortable with the process, and allow the dentist to watch for oral health problems so that they can be treated as soon as possible.
Avoid bedtime bottles
Do not give your child bottles filled with milk, fruit juice, or soda at bedtime. The sugars in these drinks can harm teeth and cause decay, and prolonged exposure to them such as overnight makes it even more hazardous.
Consider sealants
Ask your dentist about applying sealants to your child’s teeth in order to help prevent decay and cavities. Usually applied by your dentist to the chewing surfaces of back teeth, sealants help keep food and bacteria out of areas where decay most often occurs. Sealants are a painless way to help protect your child’s teeth.
Pregnancy brings many kinds of excitement and joy to a mother’s life, but gum problems aren’t one of them. Pregnancy gingivitis not only causes gum trouble, it can also lead to higher risks for preterm labor and problems with the newborn baby. If you are pregnant and notice swelling or inflammation of your gums, you might have pregnancy gingivitis. It results from plaque buildup that irritates your gums, and can harbor bacteria that gets into your body. The bacteria can travel to your uterus and affect your pregnancy and unborn child. How can you avoid pregnancy gingivitis?
Oral hygiene
Brush and floss your teeth properly. Try to brush after all meals and snacks, especially those high in sugars or starches. See your dentist for frequent cleanings, aiming for two to three times during your pregnancy. This will remove more plaque from your teeth that you can at home, serving to lower your risk for plaque buildup.
Education
Consult your dentist before, during, and after your pregnancy. You will learn how to best care for your mouth, and what to watch for in case a problem does arise.
Nutrition
Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy will not only benefit your overall health and that of the baby, but will also limit your sugar intake which promotes plaque formation.
Dental care
Try to have dental procedures performed before you become pregnant. Some emergency procedures are safe during pregnancy, but it is best to have treatment done before pregnancy.
Bacteria control
Avoid sharing food and utensils so that you don’t transfer bacteria from person to person. Your goal is to limit the amount of bacteria in your mouth as much as possible.
Xylitol gum
Chewing sugarless gum promotes saliva, which help equalize the acids in your mouth and fight plaque buildup. The ingredient xylitol has been shown to help prevent bacteria from being able to stick on your teeth, therefore fighting tooth decay.
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You may think the only reason that people get braces on their teeth is so their smile will look more attractive. It’s true that having straight, perfectly aligned teeth improves both your appearance and your self-esteem. However, the benefits of orthodontics such as those achieved through Invisalign are more than just straightening your teeth.
Patients commonly get braces to correct overcrowded teeth, incorrect bites, and gaps in their smile. These problems can lead to oral health issues such as increased tooth decay, jaw and joint pain, uneven wear of teeth, bone loss, and gum disease. If you want to avoid outcomes like these from problems that can be corrected by wearing braces, but you don’t want to go through the appearance and hassles of traditional braces, Invisalign may be right for you.
With Invisalign clear braces, you wear a series of almost invisible plastic trays that shift your teeth into better position. They require fewer changes to your lifestyle than traditional braces do. For example, they are removed while eating, performing dental hygiene tasks, and during special. You can also eat whatever you want without worrying food will get caught in the braces, and Invisalign aligners are comfortable because there are no wires that might poke your mouth.
Another thing that many patients enjoy about Invisalign is that the process is often quicker than other methods. Impressions and photos of your teeth will be taken on your first visit, and are sent to a lab to create a 3-D model of your teeth as well as a model of how they are expected to look at the end of treatment. Special software allows you to view the progress of your mouth throughout treatment. Your custom aligners, which are changed about every two weeks, will move your teeth into the desired position in as little as one to two years.
Invisalign is a great way to correct your teeth without impacting your lifestyle. In the process of achieving the smile you’ve always hoped for, you’re also avoiding many dental health problems.
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It’s hard to miss with advertisements and visits to the dentist that tartar is something you want to avoid for good oral health. But do you know what this substance is, how to keep from getting it, and what to do if tartar does develop?
What’s so bad about tartar?
Even if you brush and floss regularly, it’s impossible to get rid of all of the bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria and food residue combine to form plaque on your teeth. If left to thrive, plaque attacks your teeth and gums. It causes decay, gum inflammation, and will harden into tartar if not removed before it has the chance.
What does it do to my teeth and gums?
Tartar buildup makes it more difficult to brush and floss well, and tartar along your gums may lead to gum disease. Mild gum disease, or gingivitis, is often caused by plaque and tartar on your teeth. It can usually be reversed with careful dental hygiene. If left untreated, it will progress into periodontitis. This more serious gum disease can damage the bones and tissue that support your teeth, increasing your risk of tooth loss. It may also cause infections that contribute to heart disease and other health problems.
How can I control tartar?
Here are some ways to prevent tartar formation:
• Brush at least twice daily long enough to thoroughly clean every tooth and all of your gums. Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective for plaque removal.
• Use tartar-control fluoride toothpaste. It is formulated to help prevent tartar formation, and the fluoride can repair damage to your teeth that may have already begun.
• Floss every day to reach the areas that brushing cannot.
• Eat a healthy diet low in sugars and starches, and limit snacks between meals. Drink plenty of water to help rinse away plaque and bacteria.
• Don’t smoke because tobacco use has been shown to increase tartar buildup.
How do I get rid of it?
A professional cleaning is the only way to successfully remove tartar. See your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings.
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Most people who have worn braces must wear a retainer after the braces are removed, and sometimes retainers are used to close gaps in teeth, help with speech issues, or solve medical problems. These custom-made pieces of plastic and metal fit into the top of your mouth and teeth. No two retainers are identical, because they fit only the one patient’s mouth they are made to fit.
Why do I need to wear one?
The most common purpose of retainers is to help your teeth stay in their new positions after braces. The retainer minimizes the natural shifting of your teeth. Sometimes braces aren’t necessary and retainers can do the job alone, such as moving only one tooth or closing a small space. In addition to shifting teeth, retainers can help problems like tongue thrusting, TMJ (temporomandibular disorder), and teeth grinding.
What does wearing a retainer feel like?
Your orthodontist will customize your retainer to fit only you. It may feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to it in a short time. Certain teeth might feel slight pressure and be sore a few days, but this is normal and will go away. See your orthodontist if you experience lingering pain or rubbing against your gums. You may need to adjust to speaking with your retainer in your mouth, and it’s normal to have an increased saliva flow at first.
How do I take care of it?
The most important thing is not to lose your retainer. It is one of the most commonly lost or misplaced items people own! Try to keep it in the same place when you’re not wearing it. Also, ask your orthodontist about soaking your retainer when not wearing it to protect the plastic from drying and cracking. Don’t put it near anything too hot because it can warp, and avoid bending the wires. Since your retainer is in your mouth along with bacteria and plaque, ask your orthodontist for tips on how to best clean it every day.
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With summer months winding down and Fall around the corner, that means many sports are in full swing. That also means more opportunities for people wearing braces to damage their orthodontics, teeth, and mouths. Wearing braces should not stop you from participating in the activities you enjoy, but there are some precautions you should take to protect the investment in your smile.
Depending on the sport you play, it’s most likely smart to wear a mouth guard so your braces don’t cut your mouth. It also helps protect your teeth, jaw, and braces from damage. Mouth guards may not be necessary for light contact sports, but heavy contact sports definitely warrant them. Examples of these include football, basketball, soccer, and hockey. Individual sports are dangerous to your mouth too, like gymnastics and skateboarding.
Mouth guards are made of durable plastic and fit comfortably over your braces. They protect your teeth and soft tissues inside your mouth, and greatly reduce the severity of a dental injury. A properly fitted mouth guard provides a barrier between your braces and your cheek and lips, as well as a barrier between the external source and your teeth. If you’re uncertain what type of mouth guard is best for you, consult your dental care provider for advice.
If you do suffer a dental or facial injury while playing sports, examine your mouth and appliances right away. See your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible if your teeth are loose or the appliances are damaged. Also, make sure you’re aware of the office policies on emergency services just in case you need help outside of normal business hours.
Don’t think you’re off the hook for dental injuries if you wear braces as an adult. Many trauma injuries occur in weekend athletes. Whatever your age or sport, remember to protect your smile by wearing the correct protective equipment for your mouth.
