How to win the brushing war with your children

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As parents, we will have battles to pick and choose from with our children. Shoes or no shoes. TV or no TV. 9:00 curfew or 11:00 curfew. Unfortunately we can't win all battles with our children but the one battle that we must win is caring for our children's teeth.

If getting your child to brush his or her teeth is a nightly struggle, here are some tips that may help make this a bonding experience instead of a "screaming in your head" experience.

1. Start them while they are young. Before they even have any teeth even. Seems weird when they don't have any teeth to clean but even babies gums can collect bacteria. Simply wipe their gums clean with a wash cloth, or purchase a baby finger tooth brush that you place on your finger and run across their gums.
2. Bring in the big guns - Disney, Pixar, or Nick Jr. Take your child to the store and let them pick out a tooth brush with a character that gets your child excited and really build up the hype. Lots of "Ooo-ing and Awh-ing!"
3. There are even kid electric tooth brushes out there that play music when your child is brushing with it. This could be a big help, especially if that song is your children's favorite song. 
4. Have your child watch a cartoon about brushing and taking care of their teeth. My little girl loves the show Bubble Guppies and I have found an episode on keeping your teeth clean. It's a fun way for your kids to learn. Sit down and watch it with them so you can talk about it with them.
5. If you don't really want your kids watching TV, there are plenty of books out there. Take your child to the library and find some. Have them pick out a couple they would like to read. 

Overall, just try to make it fun for them. The more fun it is for them, the less of a battle this will be between you and your children. 

Clean gums = healthy heart

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Since Valentines Day is coming up I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the heart. Some of you are probably wondering what does the heart have to do with oral hygiene? Well I will tell you! Most of us know that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Did you also know that periodontal disease, (gum disease) is a risk factor in having a heart attack?

Gum disease is caused when bacteria infect your gum tissue surrounding and supporting your teeth. If this is not taken care of, it can cause your gums to swell, bleed, and eventually your teeth will become loose and you may need to have them extracted. Now your gums are filled with tiny blood vessels and when they swell, they stretch out the walls of these blood vessels, making it easier for bacteria to enter into your blood stream and into your heart.

However, there is some good news. Gum disease can be treated if caught early!  Be familiar with some of these signs. If you have any of the following, you might have early stages of gum disease.

• Gums that bleed when your brush
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Bad breath that doesn't go away
• Loose or separating teeth
• Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
• A change in the way your teeth fit when you bite together

So lets all take a little more care of our hearts this February by keeping our gums clean and healthy!

Top ten whitening tips

No matter what fashions and accessories come and go this year, one thing that will always remain in fashion is a beautiful white smile. Here are are some top ten whitening tips to help you achieve that smile this year.

1. First of all the obvious, making regular cleaning appointments twice a year. Once you get into a good routine you will find you wont have to worry about whiter teeth as often.

2. Eat more fibrous foods such as apples, celery, carrots and broccoli. Fibrous foods in a way help to remove stains by exfoliating your teeth as you chew them.

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3. Stay away from tobacco, dark colored drinks, (colas, tea, coffee and wine) and smoking as these will greatly stain your teeth. If you do drink some of these colored drinks, make sure to rinse your mouth after drinking so they wont set and stain your teeth.

4. Invest in an electric tooth brush. These awesome devices are very effective in removing stains on the tooth surface. I prefer the brand Sonicare but any electric toothbrush will work.

5. Floss, floss, and floss! Ideally at night so your mouth remains clean while you sleep. There is a proper technique that we will go over later but flossing helps to prevent plaque buildup which if left there can discolor your teeth.

6. Drink plenty of water.

7. Brush your teeth at least twice a day to prevent the buildup of plaque.

8. Be aware that some mouthwashes contain alcohol and other chemicals that can stain your teeth.

9. Replace your toothbrush regularly. Every six months minimum. Every three months would be even better.

10. Choose a good toothpaste that either has baking soda in it or whitening properties.

Night guards

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Do night guards work? Who would benefit from them? Those are two very good questions. First lets talk about what they are  used for. Night guards are essentially used to protect ones teeth from damage due to grinding. In a lot of cases they are also used to help those with temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ for short. To find out if you are one of the individuals that would benefit from a night guard, ask yourself some of these questions.

• Has someone told you that you grind your teeth at night?
• Do you wake up with headaches?
• Do you find yourself clenching your teeth throughout the day?
• Have your teeth become worn down?
• Is your jaw clenched upon wakening?
• Are you commonly stressed?
• Does your jaw pop when you open and close?

If you answered yes to any of these, it's probably a good idea to check with your dentist to find the right night guard for you. There are several different types so it's best to find out what fits within your budget and what will do the best job. 

Dental what?

Do you remember the word "dental prophylaxis" that showed up a little bit ago? Well today we are going to get familiarized with the term. Most people like to refer this word as a "cleaning". However it means a lot more than just that. By definition, dental prophylaxis means the removal of plaque, material alba (a whitish deposit on the teeth), calculus, and stains by the hygienist as a preventative measure. Big emphasis on the preventative. Some of us think that "cleanings" are not as important and can be skipped. That however is not true. Take a car for example. You wouldn't buy a brand new car and then only change the oil every 25,000 miles. You would change it every 3,000 miles. Some people will skip preventative hygiene visits or only come in every 2-3 years. That's like never getting your oil changed. So please make sure to keep you "dental prophylaxis" a priority and come in every 6 months.

Cavity Free Club

Congratulations to our Cavity Free Club winner Eric! You have won four movie tickets! Keep up the good brushing and flossing and we will be contacting you shortly. 

New Year's Dental Resolutions

A New Year's resolution is a great time for us to make new goals for the year. Many of these goals are health related. But how many of you make oral health goals? Unfortunately these get overlooked. Since many Americans have some form or gum disease, (such as bleeding when brushing or flossing) this is one area of health that shouldn't be overlooked. Establishing oral health goals should start with a thorough dental exam, oral cancer screening, and a dental prophylaxis (cleaning). More on the proper name coming soon. This is a great time to get a refresher course on proper brushing and flossing techniques from the hygienist. As we go throughout the new year, here are some of the basics to help you and your family members out.

• Brush at least twice a day
• Floss once daily
• Drink plenty of water
• Limit your intake of sugars, sports drinks, and sodas
• See your dentist every six months

Up and running

Our blog is officially up and running! Take time to check it out. We will be posting different information on oral health care, prizes, fun facts, top 10's, and any other dental related information that you are interested in learning about. Feel free to send an e-mail to us regarding any dental topic you wish to know more about.

You can also request an appointment online with us with the "Book Now" button on the side of the blog. Simply choose whether you want to come in for a cleaning (hygienist), or if you have work that needs to be done (dentist). Next pick your employee, Dr. Wilson, or Stephanie, request the day and time you would like to come in and fill out the information. That's it!

We hope you enjoy this new addition!