brushing kids teeth

Tooth-Harming Habits To Ditch

We can’t stress enough of how important it is to have hardy and strong chompers. There could be some habits you go-about on a daily basis that can harm your teeth more than help them. That being said, we want to bring about some of the most common habits that make your teeth run for the hills!

  1. Ice chewers- beware!: Although ice is frozen water and contains no sugar, it can potentially crack your teeth over time due to the pressure from biting down on the hard surfaces of the ice.
  2. Teeth grinding: Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw frequently can cause your teeth to wear down. If you happen to have this problem, a mouth guard can help prevent anymore friction from occurring.
  3. The sugary stuff: Common tasty pleasures that are full of sugar such as cough drops and soda can cause cavities or tooth decay from sugar building up over time that can make its way to some of your bacteria-free teeth.
  4. Coffee lovers: Lets face it, some of us need that caffeine kick in the morning to get through the day. But since our helper of the day contains acidic properties that can stain teeth, it is best to have this guy in moderation or look up whitening options to combat any yellow shades that may come about onto your precious pearly whites.
  5. Snacking: The more you snack, the less saliva you produce which can cause more food to be stuck on your teeth for the day. If you decide to snack, snack healthy and try avoiding any foods that are sugary or starchy.

 

If you happen to currently have any of these habits- don’t stress. Its not mandatory to eliminate all of these forever. However, it is crucial to provide the best care for your teeth that you possibly can. By gradually getting rid of any of these habits, you can be on your way to a set of teeth to die for!

Help With Sensitive Teeth

One of the most common dental complaints involves sensitive teeth.  Whether it’s biting into a cold ice cream cone or drinking a hot beverage, the pain that can come from hypersensitivity can be more than an inconvenience.

Several things can cause sensitive teeth:

  • Cracked or fractured teeth
  • Missing or worn fillings
  • Gum disease
  • Cavities

Each of these needs to be treated by a dentist.  Ignoring tooth sensitivity or expecting it to get better on its own can cause problems to compound and bring on even more pain.  By far, the most common cause of tooth sensitivity is exposed dentin, the soft tissue just below the hard enamel that protects your teeth.  Dentin can be exposed by one of the causes listed above, or simply because it has worn away as a result of abrasion.

Use a mouthwash with fluoride.

Mild gum disease, which again causes an exposure of the dentin, can often be treated by the regular use of a fluoride rinse.  This will help to strengthen the enamel on your teeth and reduce the bacteria that is attacking your teeth and gums.

Stop using medium or hard toothbrushes.

Your toothbrush should be one with soft bristles as most of us already use too much force when brushing.  This can further wear away enamel and cause greater sensitivity.

Start brushing and flossing regularly.

If you aren’t brushing twice a day, as well as flossing, you should start.  The buildup of plaque on your teeth creates an acid that makes already sensitive teeth even more sensitive.

10 Tricks to Improve Your Kids Brushing Habits!

Many parents of young children wrestle with the nightly challenge of getting their kids ready for bed and settled down to sleep. And one very important part of that battle includes convincing kids to brush their teeth the right way.

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Dental hygiene should be a priority for families, since training kids to take care of their health develops good habits later in life. Protecting your kids’ teeth against cavities early on will also save you money and trouble in the future.

But if you’re stumped as to how to get your kids to learn how to brush their teeth, check out these easy tricks to try before bedtime (and the next morning, too!)…

How to Get Your Kids to Brush

1. Use toddler or training toothpaste  that’s okay to swallow. Toddlers may not understand how to spit out their toothpaste at first, so use a non-fluoride toothpaste that’s safe to swallow.

2. Use toothpaste in fun colors and flavoring. Make the teeth brushing routine more exciting by letting your children use toothpaste that comes in a decorated tube, is a fun color or sparkles, and maybe even tastes like gum or candy.

3. Use a small amount of toothpaste so their mouths don’t get filled up with froth. Your kids’ mouths are smaller than yours, so they won’t need as much toothpaste as you do, either.

4. Keep kids on a regular schedule. Make it easier for your kids to remember to brush their teeth every morning and before bed by setting a regular routine, such as brushing teeth after eating and before washing their faces or changing clothes.

5. Try flossers  when teaching kids how to floss. Use the little hand-held floss sticks until kids understand how to floss properly.

6. Take your kids to the dentist at an early age. Around the age of three, take your child to the dentist to teach them about dental hygiene and to make sure they don’t have any oral health problems.

7. Try an electric toothbrush  for older kids: Older kids who get bored brushing their teeth may find an electric tooth brush cool and exciting to use, especially if you use the brushes that light up or play music. If your kids are responsible enough, consider trying one out.

8. Read picture books about brushing with younger kids.

9. Monitor their brushing habits. Don’t just tell your kids to go to the bathroom and brush their teeth: they could be standing in the bathroom playing with the toothpaste to avoid doing it!

10. Encourage them to look at their teeth in the mirror. Get very young children used to the idea of caring for their teeth and touching their teeth by teaching them to look at the inside of their mouths in the mirror