Northside Dental Group is pleased to provide a full range of dental care services to our patients from Clinton MS and the surrounding communities.
We provide children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, preventive and restorative dentistry services.
Showing posts with label at-home oral hygiene care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label at-home oral hygiene care. Show all posts
Keeping your teeth clean, smooth and beautiful... Proper oral hygiene is your key to a healthy, beautiful smile. Here are our and the American Dental Association's recommendations for at home care:
Brush 2-3 times every day with a flouride toothpaste (it doesn't matter which brand)
Floss once a day
Eat a healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, etc)
Limit consumption of sugary foodsand beverages. Soda drinks can destroy teeth faster than almost anything else
Eliminate or at least limit use of alchol, chewing tabacco, and cigarettes
We also recommend using an electric high-speed toothbrush in conjuction with a waterpik for your daily at-home oral care. And don't forget six-month professional cleanings and checkups. The American Dnetal Association recommends checkups every six months for those ages four and older. Professional cleanings by qualified hygienists will remove bacteria and plaque, which can cause serious dental problems if not kept in check. If you have not been seen recently call our office for an appointment!
Parents are a child's first teacher in life and play a significant role in maintaining his or her overall health. Providing oral health education to mothers and families is essential to teaching children healthy habits and preventing early childhood tooth decay, according to an article published in the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). With all of the challenges that new parents face, they may not think much about the link between their child's oral health and overall health. In fact, an understanding of oral hygiene can help parents to prevent tooth decayóthe single most common chronic childhood disease in Americaóand to create a lifetime of healthy habits for their child. "Ideally, the oral health education for any family will begin with prenatal education and the establishment of a dental home by the time the child is 12 to 18 months of age," says Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, author of the study. "Many people don't realize that the oral health of the mother affects both the infant's future oral health and the child's overall health. In fact, some studies show that periodontal disease has been linked to preterm labor. That's why pregnant women should be evaluated for cavities, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, loose teeth and diet." After the child is born, families should become familiar with their child's dental and oral health milestones, which will be determined by discussion with the family dentist or a pediatric dentist. Children should have their first dental visit at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. A dentist will be able to discuss when parents can expect to see a child's first tooth and the best technique for brushing his or her new teeth. Diet is another factor that affects a child's oral health. Frequent and long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugars commonly results in tooth decay. In addition to eliminating sugary drinks altogether from a child's diet, parents can adopt other habits to prevent tooth decay due to beverage consumption. "Parents should avoid giving their children milk, formula, juice or soda at naptime or nighttime," says Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "The sugars will linger on their teeth and gums for a prolonged period of time, promoting decay." Parents are responsible for their child's oral hygiene practices and are advised to meet with a general dentist to determine the best way to establish and maintain their child's oral health. A general dentist also can provide families with oral health literature that is designed to educate both the parent and child. This education has multiple benefits; as Dr. Brickhouse notes, "Healthy teeth in early childhood can provide a positive self-image and improve the child's quality of life." To read the entire article please visit KnowYourTeeth.com
