The key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene. Even adults can get cavities, as well as gum disease, that can lead to serious problems. Throughout your adult life, it’s important to continue to:
Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain oral health issues as an adult. Luckily, your dentist can help you meet most of these challenges quite successfully.
Thorough cleanings by a dentist or hygienist will remove most external staining caused by food and tobacco. Using a whitening toothpaste can also help remove these surface stains between dental visits. If stains have been present for years, you may need to have your teeth professionally whitened to remove these more stubborn external stains.
Internal stains can be bleached, bonded or capped (crowned). While each of these methods is safe and effective, your dentist will recommend which treatment is appropriate for you depending on the state of your teeth and the results that you wish to achieve.
In addition to greatly affecting your overall health, proper nutrition is necessary for healthy teeth and gums. Eating a well-balanced diet gives your gum tissues and teeth the important nutrients and minerals they need to stay strong and resist infections, which can contribute to gum disease. Also, firm, fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables tend to help clean the teeth and tissues. Soft, sticky foods tend to remain on the grooves and between teeth, producing more plaque.
Each time you consume foods and drinks that contain sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack your teeth for 20 minutes or more. To reduce damage to your tooth enamel, limit the number of between-meal snacks and drinks. And when you do snack, choose nutritious foods such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt or fruit.
When the first teeth begin to erupt in your child’s mouth, you might feel concerned about giving her the right dental care and ensuring that her teeth remain white, clean and cavity-free. Proper dental care for kids involves more than just brushing your child’s teeth every day. It involves knowing the right overall dental hygiene so that you can teach your child how to care for her teeth throughout her lifetime.
Begin by learning the right way to brush your child’s teeth. Babies and toddlers should use a very soft toothbrush and gel toothpaste designed for younger children. As children get older, you can encourage them to keep their teeth clean by giving them exciting products that make brushing fun. Show your child how to brush using small, circular motions along the gum line, and make sure to encourage proper dental hygiene by having her brush and floss after every meal.
Dental care for kids does not have to feel overwhelming. Try to involve your children as much as possible so that they feel excited and empowered about keeping their teeth and gums healthy. Consider taking your children to a pediatric dentist who understands how to make dental checkups less intimidating. Pediatric dental offices often have toys, games, and movies to help children relax and enjoy going to the dentist. Your pediatric dentist can go over proper dental hygiene for kids, and will help you find more resources for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.