5 Ways Your Child"s Health Benefits by Going to the Dentist

 

Many adults and children alike have a fear of going to the dentist that can prevent them from going in for regular cleanings. Your dental insurance plan should allow your children to receive two cleanings per year, and it’s essential for you to make these appointments. You’ll build healthy habits in your child that will last a lifetime.

 

Building Healthy Oral Habits

The dentist or hygienist will help teach your child the proper way to care for his teeth. She’ll give him a new toothbrush and tooth paste, along with some floss. She’ll ask him to show how he does it and give some tips to make it better. As kids get older, they don’t always allow the parents to brush their teeth for them, so it’s nice to have an outside person stressing the importance.

 

Finding Problems Early

A visit to the dentist should include yearly x-rays and a checkup in addition to the cleaning. This can alert you to problems with the teeth, such as cavities. Catching and fixing these problems early can prevent them from turning into bigger problems.

 

Getting a Thorough Cleaning

No matter how good your child is about brushing his teeth, there are likely to be areas that he’s missing. The thorough cleaning that he’ll get at the dentist will scrape away plaque in hard-to-reach areas. This is an essential step in preventing cavities and gum disease.

 

Sealing the Teeth

Once the adult teeth come in, the dentist often offers the option of “sealing” the teeth. In this process, the dentist will place a hard enamel over the adult tooth that protects the tooth from getting cavities. The enamel doesn’t last forever and will have to be periodically replaced, but this process can be a big help to any child who has “bumpy” teeth, or teeth that have nooks where food particles can hide.

 

Routine Dental Visits

It is important to establish a routine with your kids. According to Smith Family Dental, part of this routine should include taking your child to the dentist for his or her twice-yearly checkup. This should help to remove some of the fear that’s associated with the dentist. When he grows up, he’ll hopefully be able to continue going to the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, and this will keep his teeth in good shape.

 

Going to the dentist isn’t always a fun thing to do, but it’s a good habit to have for dental health. Starting your child from an early age can make the process a lot easier.

 

Categories: dental care, dental health, dental visits, healthy kids, healthy teeth, oral hygiene, sealing teeth, tooth care

5 Things you Didn"t Know that Stain Your Teeth

 

It is common knowledge that sugary candy, coffee consumption, and the unhealthy habit of smoking all cause unpleasant staining on your teeth. These are not the only culprits behind staining, however, and some may be more shocking than others.

 

1. Pickles

The process of making pickles involves soaking the cucumber in very acidic vinegar. It is this process which makes the pickles sour, salty, and dangerous to your tooth enamel. According to ABC News, a 2004 study showed that pickles were the number one food most closely linked with tooth wear and that eating them more than once a day increases the chances of wearing down, and ultimately staining, your teeth by 85%.

 

2. Cough syrup

We know that sugar and acid will cause tooth decay and staining, but it may be a surprise that most cough syrups and cough drops have these exact ingredients. The sugars sucrose and fructose are commonly listed ingredients. Additionally, many include citric acids. According to Eastgate Dental Centre, if you take some cough syrup or suck on a cough drop right before falling asleep, it will remain on the teeth and cause even more damage.

 

3. Regular swimming

Those who swim very regularly in the pool are subject to the chlorine used to keep the water clean. The chlorine will, however, damage the enamel over time by stripping your teeth of its essential minerals. Even those who prefer the ocean need to be cautious as well. The salt water will dry out your mouth.

 

4. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is known to cause pain and headaches, but it may be a surprise that it also can leave your beautiful teeth more likely to stain. Though teeth are designed to chew and grind food, grinding and clenching your jaws at night over time can result in cracks in the enamel. These cracks make your teeth much more susceptible to decay, staining, and can even wear down pointed teeth.

 

 

5. Medications

The most surprising culprit of staining your teeth is your medications. Many common medicines, including some antibiotics, are proven to cause staining. Tetracycline medicine, for example, is not given to children under eight years old or pregnant women due to the child’s developing teeth.

 

Our perfect smile’s most dangerous enemies can also be the most surprising ones. It’s not easy to resist temptation from indulging in a sweet candy or hot cup of coffee, but preventing staining is made easier by knowing all the causes.

 

Categories: cough, cough syrup, Dental, dental care, dental health, healthy teeth, nbsp, pickles, staining, teeth, teeth grinding, teeth nbsp, white teeth

Why Your Oral Health Should Be at the Top of Your Priorities

In the hubbub of life, it is extremely easy to forget about your own health when there are so many different things to worry about. Even lower on the list of priorities for many people is their oral health. While life might be busy, taking proper car of your teeth only takes a few minutes every day, and this regular care can prevent a variety of different problems and issues. Here is a quick look at 5 reasons why you should probably bump up oral care on your list of priorities.

 

Reason One: Preventing Gum Disease

Proper brushing and flossing at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste not only keeps your teeth healthy and clean, it also helps to prevent a variety of different problems that can occur in your gums. The foods we eat tend to collect below the gumline in tiny pockets around each tooth. When these debris are not removed, they will begin to collect bacteria, which can then penetrate into the open spaces between your gums and teeth. This can lead to large amounts of pain, as well as swelling and bleeding. It is extremely important to visit a Colorado Springs Periodontist if your gums are red and swollen, since it might also be possible that you have cancer, which often has symptoms that are similar to gum disease.

 

Reason Two: Keeping Breath Fresh

When meeting other people, one of the first things we can notice is if they have bad breath. Foul breath can lead to a variety of different social issues, which can ultimately have an effect on your own mental health. While there are plenty of different ways to get fresh breath, such as by using mints and gum, these methods will usually only cover the odor instead of removing it. Bacteria is usually the main cause of bad breath, though, these foul smelling creatures can usually be removed with proper brushing and flossing especially if you take the time to clean your tongue. You can also use mouth wash, but this product can cause other oral issues, since it also kills the good bacteria in your mouth

 

Reason Three: Eating Nutritious Foods

If your teeth and gums are in poor condition, then you more than likely will have a difficult time eating a wide range of different foods. Everyone knows that vegetables and fruits are full of nutrients to keep your body healthy. However, individuals with bleeding gums and loose teeth will more than likely have issues eating these foods that can be hard and crunchy. This can lead to them having a poor diet, which has been linked in some way or another to just about every serious disease. Thus, poor oral care can ultimately lead to the suffering of your entire body as it struggles without the nutrients that it needs.

 

Reason Four: Avoiding Alzheimer’s Disease

Inflammation from gum disease and infected roots may lead to various types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. While the link between poor oral health and Alzheimer’s is relatively new, and there have only been a few studies on the subject, it is something that is worthy of concern. Who wouldn’t spend a couple minutes every day with their toothbrush and floss instead of suffering years upon years with a faulty memory, which will not only cause your pain and confusion, but they can cause your family an immense amount of pain and suffering.

 

Reason Five: Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention

The bacteria that develop on teeth and gum tissue can also invade the body by entering the throat. Eventually, these infectious pathogens have the potential to enter into vital organs and blood vessels. Poor oral cavity care can lead to individuals having clogged capillaries and arteries that lead to a higher incidence of strokes or heart attacks. While poor oral health might cause a minimal increase of risk for these serious conditions, it is still a risk, and one that is easy to completely remove.

Categories: Brushing, Gum Disease, healthy teeth