Want to ensure your child’s bright smile for a lifetime? Dive into our comprehensive guide on pediatric dental care. From the significance of starting early, introducing the right toothbrushing techniques, to understanding the connection between oral health and overall well-being, we’ve got it all covered. Give your child the gift of a radiant smile and robust health. Learn more in our Parent’s Guide to Dental Care for Kids!
You can help your child have outstanding oral health the entire school year by following these four dental tips!
One of the best ways your child can maintain great oral health is with a healthy diet. At home and at school, encourage them to drink water and milk, and to limit their consumption of fruit juice, soda, and sports drinks. Moreover, we all know that school cafeterias may not always have the healthiest options between chicken nuggets, pizza, nachos, grilled cheese, and cookies. To provide your child with a diet low in starches and sugars, pack them healthy foods like salad, sandwiches with whole-wheat bread, carrots and celery with hummus, cheese and whole-grain crackers, nuts, yogurt, and fresh fruit. If they like buying food from the cafeteria, review healthy choices with them and discuss what options they should be avoiding.
If your child plays contact sports, they should be wearing a mouthguard. A mouthguard will help protect your child’s teeth so they can play sports without worrying about chipping or losing a tooth. Mouthguards can also be a huge money saver for you because buying a mouthguard is a lot more cost-effective than paying a big emergency dental bill if something happens to your child’s teeth.
Teach and encourage your child to have good oral health practices now so they will be more likely to continue them throughout their life. Get them into a routine of brushing their teeth with a fluoridated toothpaste after they wake up and brushing their teeth again before bedtime. Additionally, make sure they floss their teeth at least once a day with either traditional string floss or a water flosser made for kids. If you have younger children who need a little more motivation to get into the routine, let them pick out a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character on it, or play their favorite song for two minutes while they brush.
Before your schedules get hectic with holiday parties, gift shopping, soccer practices, etc., bring your child in to Today’s Dental for their routine checkup and cleaning. These should happen every six months and are vital to helping your child achieve a healthy and happy smile. By bringing your child for preventive care, you are ensuring that in the long run your child won’t miss school due to serious dental health issues. Clean, healthy teeth can also help give your child the confidence to make friends and do well in school.
It can be tough just to get your child to go to bed, much less brush their teeth. But it’s critical that children keep up with their daily dental hygiene just the same as adults. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you are having trouble in this area, here are 5 easy ways to get your child excited about brushing their teeth.
Make sure that the bristles on the toothbrush are soft enough for your child. Bristles that are too hard could be irritating their gums, causing them to avoid brushing. Also, let your child pick out a toothbrush with a fun design or their favorite movie character. They will be more likely to want to use it. For kids who are incredibly reluctant brushers, or who have difficulty maneuvering a manual toothbrush, consider investing in an electric toothbrush. There are many kid-friendly electric brushes that light up and even change color!
After a long day of parenting, helping with homework, grocery shopping, folding laundry, walking the dog, and making dinner, it can be easy for us to let our kids skip out on a brushing every once in a while. However, this a terrible habit that does your child a disservice! Stick to a firm routine with your children so daily dental hygiene becomes second nature to them and to you.
Kids absolutely love being rewarded for their excellent behavior. Consider rewarding your children for brushing their teeth! A fun and easy way you can do this is by getting a calendar and stickers. Every day that they brush their teeth, let your child place their sticker on the calendar day. Once the month is completely filled up, reward them with a new toy, an allowance, a special outing, etc. Just try to stay away from candy and sweet treats as a prize.
Children look up to us a lot more than you may think. They tend to mimic our every little move. So why not let them mimic our own tooth brushing routine? You could even make it a family affair! Have everyone join in on the fun by brushing their teeth together.
What kid isn’t begging to watch videos on your phone? Use this to your advantage! Create a playlist of YouTube videos that encourage your children to brush their teeth and eat healthy foods.
Gums are connective tissues that protect the roots of your teeth. Without them, your teeth are far more vulnerable to decay than you’d think. When it comes to having healthy, beautiful teeth, gum health is of the utmost importance. After all, one-third of your teeth are actually hidden below the gum line, where they are secure and protected. Like your teeth, your gums need special and proper care in order to be healthy. Here are just a few ways to take care of your gums.
The reason why flossing is so important is that it keeps your gums clean. Floss just below the gum line to dislodge any trapped food particles or areas of bacteria growth so that they don’t harden into tartar. Along with consistent brushing, daily flossing will help prevent gum disease.
Bacteria aren’t the only things that can cause gum recession! Many of us are prone to taking the stresses of the day out on our teeth and gums, but this can take a toll on our gum health, too. Brushing too hard can create cuts on your gums and even cause them to recede over time.
Smoking is very harmful for your health and will diminish your immune response to different bacteria and infections. This means that the bacteria under your gums are more powerful than normal if you’re a smoker. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, but always remember how much better off your oral and overall health will be if you do.
One of the reasons why biannual dental appointments are so important is that we can carefully keep track of your gum health, and make note of any changes before any type of infection or irregularity gets worse.
If you’re concerned about your gum health or are in need of a cleaning and examination to ensure your gums are in good shape, contact our expert team at Today’s Dental to schedule an appointment.
No one wants to have bad teeth or poor dental health. But how much of our oral health is determined by genetics, and how much is determined by our own actions? Can we blame genetics for everything? Or is how we take care of our teeth all that matters? The truth is, it’s a mix of the two. There are some things that are predetermined for you before you’re born, but there are other things you can take charge of yourself. Let’s break it down:
Sometimes it can seem like the genetic lottery is stacked against you, but there are things you can do to take care of your teeth that will significantly improve your dental health. Here are just a few:
Oral hygiene really matters! The power is in your hands. If you have questions about how to improve your dental health, give one of our three locations a call today to speak with our friendly team.
Do you hate going to the dentist? You might suffer from dental anxiety, an increasingly common condition. To determine whether or not you have dental anxiety, see if any of the following statements are true:
It’s important to remember that you are not alone in this! With proper care, you can have a completely normal dental experience. It’s important to find a dentist who will make you feel safe, respected, and not embarrassed so you can manage your anxiety and have a pleasant experience. And of course, so you don’t put your health on the backburner.
One of the common ways people with dental anxiety cope with going to the dentist is with dental sedation. There are different types of dental sedation, and your dentist can work with you to find the one that best fits your needs. Here are the three most common types of dental sedation:
If you suffer from dental anxiety and think you could benefit from dental sedation, give one of our offices a call today to discuss it with our friendly staff. We’ll give you the support and attention you deserve!
You’ve seen those commercials about fancy electric toothbrushes rapidly removing plaque from teeth. But do they really work better than manual toothbrushes?
Electric toothbrushes are chargeable toothbrushes that essentially do the brushing for you. They’re similar to the tools your dental hygienist uses to polish your teeth. Electric toothbrushes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and functionalities, all of which are geared toward giving your mouth a better clean every time you brush. Some have timers that let you know how long you’re actually brushing for, while others let you choose the amount of pressure to apply on your gums so you don’t damage them. Dentists highly recommend that their patients go with an electric toothbrush because they’re easy to use and effective.
When it comes to brushing your teeth, it’s all about technique. Are you actually brushing your teeth using tiny circles to lift away the plaque for two minutes each time? Are you brushing too hard on your gums, causing bleeding and sensitivity? Using an electric toothbrush can help you make sure that you’re actually brushing the way your dentist instructs you to do with very little effort on your part.
Electric toothbrushes are especially great for children with braces because they are more likely to remove plaque from hard-to-reach places, as well as for elderly patients that have issues with dexterity.
The main downside to an electric toothbrush versus a manual one is cost. Electric toothbrushes can be very expensive, but they are a worthwhile investment if they can prevent you from needing expensive procedures to save your teeth in the future.
Electric toothbrushes are also clunkier to travel with since you have to bring your charger with you every time you’re on the go. If you travel frequently, it may be best to try a few different manual toothbrushes before you settle on the best one for you.
Thinking about switching to an electric toothbrush? Our team at Today’s Dental is happy to assess your oral health and give you our recommendation what brand and model to get.
We all know what happens when you don’t brush your teeth enough: plaque and other bacteria build up, wearing down tooth enamel and making way for cavities and gum disease. But is it possible to brush your teeth too much?
Brushing your teeth helps remove any food residue and plaque buildup on tooth enamel and also prevents bad breath. If you use a whitening toothpaste, you can also get a brighter smile by brushing your teeth regularly.
Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice per day for two minutes at a time, although some people prefer to brush their teeth for a third time in the afternoon as well, right after lunch. This is especially important if you tend to eat sugary or acidic foods, which can wear down tooth enamel faster.
Brushing your teeth more than three times a day or for longer than two minutes may sound like a surefire way to prevent cavities and gum disease, but consider how you brush in addition to how often you brush. Dragging the toothbrush in back and forth motions across your teeth and gums can scratch your gums, making them sensitive and painful to the touch.
Even if you have the proper brushing technique down, brushing more often doesn’t do much more for your oral health than just brushing two to three times a day. You can’t remove much more plaque if there isn’t any buildup on your teeth in the first place!
If you’re brushing your teeth more frequently than usual to remove plaque or food particles from hard-to-reach places, it may be best to opt for floss or a dental pick instead. If you’re overeager about brushing simply just to whiten your teeth, you should opt for home whitening kits or get professional whitening done at your dentist’s office. At Today’s Dental, we offer one-visit teeth whitening as well as at-home custom whitening trays with a strength that you can’t find at the drugstore.
Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth using quick, tiny circles, making sure not to press the toothbrush on your teeth too hard. This way your teeth get an effective clean without putting your gums in harm’s way.
Think you need more cleaning? Remember to schedule professional dental cleanings and exams at least twice a year. Our staff at Today’s Dental is here to help you with your smile.
Learn how to manage a chipped tooth and prevent further damage.
If you are an athlete, play recreational sports, or just enjoy flavored drinks, you probably consume sports drinks once in a while. However, if you are an avid guzzler of Gatorade, Powerade, and a host of other neon-colored electrolyte drinks on the market, you might not realize the effects that these beverages have on your oral health. Here are some of the surprising ways that sports drinks damage your teeth:
If you need to rehydrate after a workout, the best option is always plain water. Maybe you just can’t bear to give up that post-workout refuel that you’ve come to love so much, though. So how can you offset the effects of all that sugar, acid, and artificial coloring?
Today’s Dental offers full dental exams, cleanings, cosmetic whitening and veneers, and restorative procedures to keep your teeth looking and feeling their best. We have three offices conveniently located in Millard, Tranquility Park, and Elkhorn. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.