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Wellington/West Palm Beach
1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414
561-333-4568
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Posts for: March, 2018
Keep an eye on how often your child eats, as well as what they eat because your child's diet is important in preventing cavities. Remember every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, bacteria in our mouth use the sugar and starch to produce acids. These acids begin to eat away at the tooth's enamel. Our saliva can help fight off this acid attack, but if we eat frequently throughout the day -- especially foods and drinks containing sugar and starches -- the repeated acid attacks will win the tug of war, causing the tooth to lose minerals and eventually develop a cavity.
Here are some simple ways to help prevent cavities:
- Limit between-meal snacks.
- Save candy, cookies, soda, and other sugary drinks for special occasions.
- Limit fruit juice.
- Make sure your child doesn't eat or drink anything with sugar in it after bedtime tooth brushing.
Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing. But, do you understand the basics and what you can do to promote oral health? Do you think you know everything about proper brushing techniques?
Following some brushing tips your will be able to keep good oral health:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. And, when you brush, don't rush. Take time to do a thorough job.
- Use the proper equipment. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than does manual brushing. These devices are also helpful if you have any problem that make it difficult to brush effectively and could be more fun for kids.
- Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.
- Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Try to keep it separate from other toothbrushes in the same holder to prevent cross-contamination. Don't routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast.
- Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become irregular or frayed. Pediatric Dentist in Wellington would provide you and your kids the necessary information you might need.
Flossing is as important to little teeth as it is to adult teeth. When flossing is done correctly you can effectively fight off infection and tooth decay. But not just any floss will work and not just any effort will do the trick. Oh no! This is a very important part of your dental hygiene routine. We suggest a wax covered dental floss. There are dental floss picks that are good for on the run last minute care. However do not forgo the morning and nightly regiment with the “on the run” activity.
Flossing is as important to our little “mini ME’s” as it is for us. Take the time to show our little counter parts how to do it correctly. Show them how to unwind the floss to about 18 inches and wind it around a finger on each of your hands. Be sure to gently maneuver the floss between the teeth but do not force it, wiggle it until it slides in between. Then be sure to pull the floss around the tooth in a “C” shape and make at least 3 passes from gum to bottom of each tooth.
Pay attention here for any bleeding, this may indicate inflammation and possible tooth decay. Flossing in addition to brushing and mouth wash will help our little ones keep a healthy mouth.
Contact your local pediatric dentist near me to set up an appointment!
Losing baby teeth is a big step in a child’s life, especially if it’s their first tooth! The Tooth Fairy has been a part of childhood tradition for more than a century.
It’s always good and exciting for parents to create their own tradition and add a twist if they’d like. Here are some unique ideas
- Leave a note from the tooth fairy. Pull out that glitter pen and those stickers and write your child a short note from the tooth fairy! You can praise them for doing such a great job of brushing and flossing their teeth, or maybe play the Tooth Fairy cop card and tell them they need to be a little more careful about eating all that candy and brushing their teeth more frequently.
- Make extra-special tooth fairy money. Add a coat of clear, glitter nail polish or glitter hairspray to your child’s tooth fairy bills or coins as fairy dust. Who said Tinker Bell is only in Peter Pan’s stories?
- Leave a new toothbrush. If this is your child’s first lost tooth, it’s a great idea to have the Tooth Fairy leave a brand new toothbrush under the pillow instead of the money to help encourage good brushing habits.
If you need help with your child’s oral hygiene, please give us a call, your local pediatric dentist at 561-333-4568.
Studies suggest that 60 percent of kids and 45 percent of teenagers bite their nails. The most alarming consequence to this bad habit is that they can actually fracture the enamel on their teeth from excessive chewing on hard surfaces like finger nails. Habitual nail biters may notice that their teeth appearance become squared off or worn down. Many of these nail biters experience tiny chips across their front teeth. If they bite their nails regularly, they may also notice increased tooth sensitivity or even pain as the tooth enamel wears away. In extreme cases, the habit can even cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, a term that embodies a list of conditions that include pain in the muscles and ligaments we use to chew, or pain in the joint. Biting on your nails places excess stress on the joint.
Nail biting may be a hard habit to break, but with dedication and commitment reversing the affects or stopping them can be accomplished. Try some of these tips to help your child break this bad habit.
- Coat nails with a bitter-tasting polish specially formulated for people trying to quit nail-biting, or a clear or colored polish to discourage them from nibbling.
- Keep nails short, so there’s less surface area to bite.
- If they bite their nails because of stress, have them try yoga, meditation, deep breathing or exercise to calm them instead.
- Invest in regular manicures. Spending money on keeping nails well-groomed will make them think twice about biting them.
- Try aversion therapy: place a rubber band around their wrist and snap it whenever they feel the urge to nibble on their nails.
- Look up photos of what the bacteria under fingernails looks like. Just thinking about the dirt and germs on their nails might turn them off biting for good.
Contact your local pediatric dentist in West Palm Beach to schedule an appointment today!
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1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414