They say kids are the best students. Your kids will look up to you and follow in your footsteps until adulthood. Good dental habits go a long way in preventing serious issues in the future, such as tooth decay, misaligned teeth, broken teeth, and many more. As soon as your child pops out the first tooth, it’s essential to instill the following dental habits for lifelong healthy teeth.

Brush and floss daily

Like adults, kids should brush and floss teeth twice a day to keep the cavities at bay. Teach your children the right brushing and flossing techniques. You could make it fun by playing songs as they brush to ensure they take their time to brush and floss their teeth, preferably two minutes. Make it a habit to help them brush and floss daily during the morning and evening after meals. As your child grows, they will learn to incorporate these two activities into their schedules, even in your absence.

Take them to the dentist regularly

Your children should see a dentist at least twice per year for dental check-ups. These check-ups don’t necessarily mean that your kids’ teeth have an impending problem. However, the check-ups are part of the preventative practices that keep dental issues at bay. Experts recommend taking your child to see a dentist for the first time anywhere between six months and a year old, right after the first tooth erupts. Choose a good pediatric dentist for your child to make these dental visits smoother.

Teeth aren’t tools

Kids are notorious for shoving almost anything into their mouths. Discourage your kids from chewing and crushing hard objects such as hard candies and ice using their teeth. Some of these items may force teeth out of alignment and even cause cracks. While your child may be used to having pacifiers or teething rings lingering in the mouth, break the habit as your child grows to avoid causing long-term damages.

Eating healthy

Good diet and nutrition are not only good for your body but also for your teeth. Healthy food keeps the bacteria at bay and protects the integrity of your teeth. Encourage your kids to eat fruits, vegetables, and proteins that add value to the teeth. Discourage constant intake of sodas and candies that have high sugar content. Instead, incorporate milk and water into their meals. Remind them to brush and floss their teeth after meals to prevent bacteria build-up.

Caring isn’t sharing

Teach your child that a toothbrush is personal and shouldn’t be shared. Cavities, bacteria, and other dental diseases can be contagious. It’s important to ensure that your child understands that they can’t share a toothbrush with anyone. The sooner you instill these good dental habits and lessons, the easier it gets to prevent certain problems in your home.

One last lesson entails teaching your kids that dental care is fun. It’s not a chore. If you’ve been looking for a dentist to help you take care of your family’s dental health, call us at Mountain View Dental. Schedule an appointment with the experts, and we will show you the way.

Regular flossing is a recommended way of keeping your teeth clean and hygienic besides brushing. Not only does flossing eradicate chunks of food lodged between teeth, but it also prevents plaque and bacteria build up in hard-to-reach places where your toothbrush can’t access.

According to a survey carried out by the American Dental Association (ADA), only sixteen percent of a surveyed group reported flossing at least once a day while the rest only do so when necessary. Nonetheless, if the majority who floss practice improper technique, they are susceptible to damaging their gums when too much force is applied while flossing. Therefore, to prevent this, we take you through several steps on how to floss correctly.

Flossing Under the Following Circumstances

While flossing is a generally hygienic method of cleaning your teeth, those undergoing the following symptoms mentioned below should take extreme caution when flossing with these tips to prevent harming themselves.

Sensitive Gums – Applying too much pressure to sensitive gums will only cause them to bleed. Choose a soft floss with smooth sides to wrap between teeth comfortably without cutting your gum.
Braces or Dentures – Opt for a specialized floss recommended by your orthodontist to enable you to floss correctly.
Menopause, Childbirth, or Menstrual Cycle – During these times, a woman’s body tends to excrete estrogen and progesterone hormones, which increase sensitivity and inflammation of gums. Use soft floss to avoid puncturing the already swelled gum tissues.

Steps to Flossing Properly

Choose Your Suitable Floss Type

When it comes to learning how to floss correctly, it’s crucial to select floss that best suits you. There are various floss types, each serving their purpose. Soft floss is suitable for people with sensitive gums, while tough threads don’t snag.

Pulling the Floss

When dispensing, it’s essential to pull out a length amount sufficient for your index fingers and thumb to wrap around on each edge. Ideally, 18 inches is a suitable length that provides enough space to maneuver.

Lining the Thread

Begin to gently slide the thread between your teeth in a zigzag pattern to glide through. Take caution as you doing this to prevent using too much force that can cause trauma to the gum.

Floss in Angles

Angle the thread to press against the side of the tooth you are cleaning. This will scrape off any lingering food particles and plaque that you didn’t scoop off during the first attempt.

Brush Soon After

It’s a good practice to brush your teeth after flossing. This thoroughly flushes out any loosened chunks of food completely off your teeth. Furthermore, it helps clean your teeth and stimulates your gums, keeping them relaxed.

In Summary

Your smile is an essential aspect of your appearance. By flossing regularly, you help boost your dental hygiene as well as the quality of your smile. For further dental care assistance, feel free to contact our Mountain View Dental office here at Pleasant View, Utah. Schedule an appointment with our professional staff today.

The foods you eat impact your overall health, including your teeth. Eating the wrong foods can affect your ability to eat, especially if you regularly consume damaging foods. Certain foods cause plaque, which is the lingering bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease.

Cavities are most common among children and young adults, however, nobody’s safe from them. Therefore, you must practice proper oral hygiene in addition to avoiding unhealthy foods. Here are five of the worst foods for teeth.

1. Bread

Although bread is one of the most popular foods on the market, it is likely to cause tooth decay. As you chew, your saliva converts bread’s starch into sugar, which sticks on and between teeth and causes cavities. When eating bread, opt for the less-refined options like wheat.

2. Liquor

Liquor is bad for your teeth mainly because it causes dry mouth. Saliva keeps your mouth lubricated and neutralizes acid levels in your mouth. With less saliva, your teeth are more susceptible to erosion. Less saliva also makes it easier for particles to stick to your teeth. After you drink alcohol, drink water to aid saliva production and remineralize your teeth.

3. Ice

Many believe chewing ice is okay because it’s made of water. That would be true if it weren’t solid. Over time, chewing ice wears down your enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to damage. If you’re tempted to chew ice, drink chilled beverages with little to no ice.

4. Candy

Although it’s one of the best treats, candy wreaks havoc on your teeth. It’s especially dangerous eating sour candy. In addition to acid from the high sugar content, the sour flavoring contains additional acids. The chewy texture also makes it easier for sugar to stick to your teeth, especially if you’re unable to immediately brush or rinse your mouth.

5. Citrus Fruits

Unless you experience allergic reactions, you likely consume a good amount of citrus fruits. Whether you eat them or drink them as juice, citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits have a high vitamin C content. On the other hand, they’re highly acidic and have lots of natural sugar, making them harmful to your teeth in large quantities.

Even if you add citrus fruits to water, you’ll still be adding acid to your mouth, which causes erosion. Citrus also burns if you have a cut or sore in your mouth. In addition to consuming citrus fruits in moderation, you should also drink or rinse with water or brush immediately after to minimize damage.

To be healthy, you need to avoid the worst foods for teeth as often as possible. Not only should you practice proper oral healthcare, but it’s also important to eliminate these foods or enjoy them in moderation.

If you’re looking for a quality, comfortable dental office, contact Mountain View Dental. Their Pleasant View office specializes in numerous procedures, so don’t hesitate to contact them and make an appointment.

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