Adults
Practicing good oral hygiene is the key to maintaining good overall health! In recent years, bacterial inflammation involved in gum disease has been linked to chronic health problems like stroke, coronary artery disease and premature, low birth-weight babies. Our doctors and hygienists take great care to identify and treat gum disease early to keep you and your mouth healthy.
There are a number of things you can do to help protect your smile and your overall health. Visiting your dentist regularly, at least twice a year, allows us to thoroughly clean your teeth and recognize any potential problems early (i.e. cavities, gingivitis, defective mercury fillings, infections, growths, cancers, etc.) before they become more serious. Dental exams give us insight on whether the patient is getting proper nutrition, maintaining a proper oral hygiene regimen and whether there are any growth or development problems.
Here are some helpful tips to ensure you are practicing good oral hygiene at home:
- Brush twice/day for 2 minutes each time. Use your toothpaste of choice.
- Floss once daily. We are happy to give you one on one instructions on how to floss.
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
- Avoid smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products
- Take Omega 3 Fatty Acids and a Standard Process multiple vitamin like Catalyn
- Rinse with Tooth and Gum Tonic
- Use hygiene aids as instructed by our hygienist, such as a water pic, Sonicare or rubber tip
- If cavity prone, add a supplement such as Biodent daily to keep teeth strong
- Avoid pop, flavored drinks, energy drinks, coffee and iced teas. Avoid alcohol in excess.
- Avoid processed and refined foods
By following the above steps, you can help prevent such common problems like cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, infected teeth, oral cancer, as well as more serious diseases that affect your overall health like heart disease and diabetes.
Children
Innumerable studies and research have concluded on the importance of starting children early in their lives with good dental hygiene and oral care. According to research, the most common chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50 percent of first-graders and 80 percent of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child’s health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement. Cavities are preventable!
The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms. Because there is such a significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has finally made children’s oral health a priority.
Parents are responsible for ensuring their children practice good dental hygiene. Parents must introduce proper oral care early in a child's life – as early as infancy. Thoroughly cleaning your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
- Gently brushing your baby’s erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and using a pea-sized amount of your choice of toothpaste.
- Teaching your child at age 2 or 3 about proper brushing techniques and later teaching them brushing and gentle flossing until 7 or 8 years old
- Supervise your child brushing until about age 8 or beyond
- Regular visits with their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems
- Avoid frequent snacking, juice and sugary drinks
- Avoid processed, sticky and refined foods
- Encourage frequent drinks of water
- Avoid 2nd hand smoke
- Encourage and provide healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables and cheese
- Do not share utensils, saliva or cups. Cavities are transmissable.
- Encouraging your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but not mentioning words like “pain” or “hurt,” since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child’s thought process. Keep all conversations about the dentist and dental office postive!
- Asking your hygienist or dentist if sealant applications are appropriate for your child to protect your child’s teeth-chewing surfaces and about bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids.