Happy Family Day, everyone! We hope the day is filled with laughter, love, beautiful smiles and all the things that make families so wonderful to be a part of! Did we mention beautiful smiles? There are few things in the world as dear to a parent as the smiles of their children, so here are some basics for helping kids and adults keep their smiles beautiful and healthy!
Regular Brushing & Flossing
The cornerstone of good dental health is regularly brushing and flossing teeth, and this applies to both kids and adults alike!
Get into a regular routine of brushing at least once in the morning and once in the evening.
After breakfast is ideal for the morning brushing because it gets rid of any food particles that can lead to plaque and cavities and gives you a clean fresh mouth for the day ahead! Right before bed is ideal for the evening because it helps keep your mouth as clean as possible through the night.
Proper Brushing Timing & Technique
You should aim to brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time. For young children, it might be good to get a timer to help them know when two minutes has passed.
It’s good to split your mouth into four regions and spend about 30 seconds thoroughly brushing each region. Some people choose the four corners of their mouth as their four regions: they’ll spend 30 seconds brushing each of the top-right, top-left, bottom-right and bottom-left. Others choose to use top-inner, top-outer, bottom-inner and bottom-outer as their regions.
No matter what your split, make sure that you spend a good amount of time brushing all the parts of your mouth.
There are apps that you can download onto your mobile device or tablet that can help young kids properly brush their teeth for the right amount of time. With cute characters doing silly things, these apps can also make teeth brushing fun!
Teeth aren’t the only thing you should be brushing in your mouth. Food particles and bacteria can build up on your gums, tongue, inside your cheeks, on the roof of your mouth and under your tongue, so make sure to clean these parts of your mouth, too!
After you brush you should floss at least once per day. Gently insert the floss between each pair of teeth and moving back and forth a few times to remove any food particles and plaque. It might be hard to get floss between teeth if your teeth are closer together or if you wear braces, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid flossing!
Using the Right Toothbrush
Using the right toothbrush is as important as brushing and flossing. Not causing the right toothbrush can be harmful to your teeth.
First, your toothbrush should be the right size. Obviously, kid’s mouths are smaller than adult mouths, so kids should use a toothbrush with a smaller head. Having the right sized toothbrush is important for getting into all those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and getting rid of leftover food particles and bacteria.
Next, stay away from toothbrushes with hard bristles. You might think that stiffer bristles would be better at cleaned away plaque and bacteria, but stiffer bristles can cause your gums to recede, exposing the root of the tooth. The root of the tooth is softer and more susceptible to plaque and cavities, so use a soft bristled brush for best results.
Finally, change your brush when the bristles start getting bent over. You should change your toothbrush every three months at least, but more frequently if you brush more and depending on how resilient the bristles on your brush are.
If you and your child follow these simple guidelines, you’ll avoid cavities and other dental health problems! Orion Dental is a family dentist with offices conveniently located in Milton and Scarborough. We offer a full range of dental services for the entire family, from pediatric dentistry for first visits to dentures and partials for more mature patients! Call our Milton dentist office at (905) 636 – 9770 or our Scarborough dentist office at (416) 291 – 0306 and book an appointment today!
