Parents with young children need to set a good example for daily brushing and flossing. Since little ones can’t brush and floss on their own teeth perfectly, parents should be involved in brushing and flossing until a child reaches the ages of 8 years old.
Young children learn best by watching and following their parents’ actions. They will be more likely to continue good dental hygiene if it has been set as a good habit from early on. Start encouraging your young one to participate in brushing as soon as they are comfortable holding a toothbrush.
Trust us, it will make both you and your children’s dental health much more enjoyable!
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Halloween is a spooktacular holiday the entire family can enjoy. However, as the Boise dentists from Summit Dental know, it’s also one that can bring about unwanted goblins — better known as cavities. With the proper attention, you can avoid these pesky visitors and still let your children enjoy trick-or-treating.
According to the American Dental Association, the majority of all foods – about 90 percent – contain sugars or starches that enable bacteria in dental plaque to produce acids. This attack can lead to a loss of tooth mineral and cavities. A child who licks a piece of hard candy every few minutes or sips a sugary drink is more susceptible to tooth decay because long-lasting snacks create an acid attack on teeth the entire time they are in the mouth. One approach would be to allow your ghosts and goblins to indulge in Halloween candy at mealtime instead of as a snack. Another option with Halloween candy is to allow snacking immediately after trick-or-treating, then throw out the remainder.
Or better yet, join Boise dentists from Summit Dental in the Sugar Swap! Most importantly, teach and practice good oral hygiene with your children by making sure they brush and floss every day in addition to visiting the dentist regularly.
Happy Halloween!
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Have you ever noticed your co-worker consistently has bad breath? Well, there are different reasons why some people have a foul odor associated with their mouths, and here are some ways to help prevent it. It should also be known that some cases can be traced to genetic predisposition in addition to some of the causes listed below.
Bad Breath Causes
Before I get to the preventative tips, it’s important to understand where bad breath comes from. Bad breath, or Halitosis as it’s formally known, stems from a variety of common sources. The following are frequent causes of bad breath:
- Certain foods such as garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
- Poor general oral hygiene
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Fasting
- Nasal and sinus infections
- Throat infections
- Faulty dental restorations
- Periodontal disease
- Xerostomia(dry mouth)
- Other underlying health conditions
7 Tips for Preventing Bad Breath
Knowing the causes of bad breath can help you understand the measures you need to take to prevent it. In no particular order, here is a list of preventative measures you can take starting today to reduce the likelihood that you will have bad breath:
1) Brush & Rinse(with water) After Each Meal – Some of you may think I’m crazy for suggesting this. Sure, you may have to get creative if you don’t want to be seen brushing your teeth at work, but this is one of the best ways to ensure that food particles do not get stuck in the pockets surrounding your teeth.
2) Floss at Least Once Per Day – Flossing is equally as important as brushing. Just like recommendation number one above, flossing is intended to remove food particles from between the teeth. This will, in turn, create an unfavorable environment for bacteria growth. That’s exactly what we’re after.
3) Brush Your Tongue – The tongue carries approximately 50% of the total bacteria in your mouth. Where there’s bacteria, there’s odor. Whack this bacteria by brushing your tongue with toothpaste for at least 10 strokes. The middle 1/3 of your tongue is most prone to bacteria growth so pay special attention to that area. You may also want to try Dr. Weider’s Original Tung-Gel. This is specifically formulated for cleaning the tongue and removing bacteria.
4) Chew Sugarless Gum – Chewing sugarless gum can increase the flow of saliva and reduce the chances you’ll experience dry mouth-related bad breath. If gum isn’t your thing you can also try sugarless throat lozenges to create the same effect.
5) Drink Plenty of Water – This recommendation follows the same lines as the above suggestion. Drinking plenty of water reduces the occurrence of dry mouth by stimulating saliva production. Stick to water as alcohol and caffeinated drinks can lead to Xerostomia.
6) Swap out Your Toothbrush Every 3-4 Months An old toothbrush is a bacteria-riddled toothbrush. Gross, right? Bad breath or not this is a good tip to remember.
7) Quit Smoking – This is easier said than done, I’m sure. However, smoking causes nicotine and tar(among other nasty chemicals) to build up on the cheek walls, tongue, and teeth surfaces. It comes as no surprise that bad breath is nearly inevitable if you smoke. However, following the above tips can minimize your risk for developing bad breath.
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