- Oral health is the most important to prevent chronic dental disease
- Do you know stress can bring Bruxism
- Brush twice a day for better oral hygiene
- Floss at night and keep your teeth healthy
- Control your blood sugar levels
- Keep to your healthy eating plan
- Red or swollen gums – see the dentist
- Have your mouth checked regularly
- All children should visit the dentist before age one, and children with special needs may require earlier and more frequent appointments.
- Invest in a new toothbrush at least every three months and after every illness to avoid lingering bacteria and germs.
- Eat plenty of healthy, tooth-friendly snacks such as fruit, vegetables, cheese and yogurt. Avoid starchy and sticky snacks that can cling to teeth and cause decay.
- Beginning at birth, clean infant gums with a damp cloth or soft toothbrush and warm water after each feeding and check your child’s gums/teeth daily.
- Avoid spreading harmful bacteria to babies by washing pacifiers in warm soapy water; never “clean” a pacifier or bottle nipple by placing it in your own mouth. And never share utensils with your children, as this introduces your bacteria into their oral environment.
- Children should use only playground equipment that is surrounded by a soft surface such as loose sand, wood mulch or specialized rubber mats to avoid dangerous dental trauma.
- Ask your dentist or pediatrician if fluoride toothpaste, varnish, mouth rinses and supplements are recommended for your child.
- If a permanent tooth is knocked loose due to dental trauma, push it back into the area or place it in milk and go immediately to a dental office.
- Orthodontic appliances and mouthguards should be cleaned daily using a denture-cleansing bath and rinsed thoroughly before being reinserted into the mouth.
- Check out products with xylitol as an alternative to sugar-laden sweets! Xylitol benefits include helping keep a neutral PH as well as preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth.
- And, of course, brush and floss your teeth twice a day and visit your dentist once every six months! For children ages 6 and up, use a fluoride rinse.