 Oral Hygiene is a primary focus at Childrens Dental Health Associates, P.C. because it is very important for children to establish good dental care habits at an early age.
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and is considered to be the best means of prevention of dental cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental disorders. It also helps to prevent bad breath (halitosis). Healthy teeth will have fewer cavities and, when kept clean, will have minimal or no plaque deposits and the gums will be pink and firm.
Oral hygiene requires both personal and professional care and it begins in infancy. A great supplement to good oral hygiene, in the prevention of cavities, is the application of dental sealants which we offer at all of our 5 dental office locations.
Did you know...
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that dental caries are the most common chronic childhood disease?
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that oral disease is 5 times more common than asthma?
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that oral disease is seven times more common that hay fever?
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that 51 million school hours are lost to dental illness?
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that oral disease can lead to problems in eating, speaking, and learning.
 Tips For Good Oral Hygiene in your infant:
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Even before teeth begin to erupt, thoroughly clean your infant's gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant washcloth or gauze pad to stimulate the gum tissue and remove food.
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When the baby's teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. A small amount of fluoridated toothpaste will help to inhibit decay.
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Discourage thumb and pacifier sucking as soon as possible. Most children stop by age two but prolonged sucking can create bite problems, crooked teeth, or even constriction of the maxilla, the upper jaw.
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At age two or three, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques. But remember, you will need to follow up with brushing and gentle flossing until age seven or eight, when the child has the dexterity to do it alone.
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Schedule your child's first oral hygiene appointment, when they reach their 1st birthday, at Childrens Dental Health Associates, P.C. Choose any one of our 5 dental office locations. One of our professional oral hygienists, will check for cavities in the primary teeth and watch for developmental problems. We're sure that your child's first experience, at our Childrens Dental Health Associates, P.C. office, will be very positive experience for you and your child. Our professional office staff and pediatric dental team have created a very calm and relaxing environment to welcome you and your child. To make this visit more related to a child's everyday world, we have implemented a special theme for each of our 5 dental office locations.
 Adolescent Oral Hygiene
Good nutrition and oral hygiene care, practiced at home, are particularly important during the teen years. Proper diet, brushing, and flossing play an important role in maintaining a healthy smile and preserving teeth during these challenging years.
Cavities and periodontal disease can be a threat to teens as well as adults. Recent survey results show that bleeding gums were most prevalent among adolescents and three-fourths of 13 to 17 year-olds had gums that bled.
Tips for Adolescents and Good Oral Hygiene:
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Be sure to brush thoroughly after meals whenever possible, and floss daily. Busy schedules and activities can encourage snacking. That is why choosing a proper diet will help you to maintain and preserve your teeth.
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If you wear orthodontic braces, pay special attention to keeping spaces between the teeth and arch wires clean by using floss threaders. Orthodontic toothbrushes are specially designed to make cleaning teeth and braces easier.
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If you participate in contact sports, you may want to check with your coach about a “Tooth Preservation Kit” or ask our Childrens Dental Health Associates' oral hygienist about having a mouth guard fitted during your oral care visit. Mouth guards assist in providing protection against dental injuries.
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Professional care at Childrens Dental Health Associates, P.C
Regular tooth cleaning, by our pediatric dentists or dental hygienists at Children's Dental Health Associates, P.C., removes plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach. Professional dental cleaning includes tooth scaling, tooth polishing, and debridement (removal of plaque and calculus) if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.
More frequent cleaning and examination may be necessary during the treatment of various dental disorders. Routine examination of the teeth is recommended at least every year which may include yearly, select dental X-rays. However, we recommend teeth cleanings, by our pediatirc dentists or dental hygienists, every six months. |
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