In honor of February as National Children’s Dental Month, allow us to devote this blog post to covering how you should help your children take care of their teeth! For children as well as adults, ongoing dental hygiene and preventative maintenance guarantee a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. A preventive program is a joint cooperative effort between you and our team to preserve your natural teeth, gums, and bones of the oral area by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Oral Hygiene & Diet
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in our dental office by the efforts of Dr. Wong and the dental hygienists as they promote, restore, and maintain your oral health. Regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays are all part of an effective prevention program. Other great preventive treatments include sealants and fluoride. Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, and beautiful smile.
How to Take Care of Your Teeth
How to Brush
Brushing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process. Brushing removes plaque from:
- Chewing surfaces
- Cheek and tongue sides of teeth
- At the gumline, where periodontal disease often begins
Most people tend to brush too hard. So, we strongly advise the use of a soft or electric toothbrush. It is also a good idea to change your toothbrush about every three months.
For the back teeth, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle in relation to the gumline. Use short, circular strokes as you move the brush at the junction of the gums and teeth. Brush the chewing surfaces of these teeth by holding the brush parallel to the surface of the teeth and brushing back and forth. For the tongue side of the front teeth, hold the brush so that the bristles at the top of the brush contact the gums at a 45-degree angle. Again, use short, circular stokes to clean the teeth. For the cheek side, hold the brush from the side at a 45-degree angle and use short, circular strokes. You can also brush the surface of your tongue to remove the bacteria and debris that reside on the surface.
How to Floss
Flossing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gumline, where periodontal disease often begins.
If you find using floss awkward or difficult, ask us about dental floss holders or interdental cleaning devices that are available. Wind 18″ of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1″- 2″ length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
Keep a 1″ – 2″ length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth. Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. Do not snap floss between your teeth but contour floss around the side of the tooth. Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gumline. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.
From all of us at Blue Ocean Dentistry, Happy Children’s Dental Health Month! Book your child’s appointment today!
About Dr. Fred Wong of Blue Ocean Dentistry in Glendora, California
Dr. Fred Wong and the staff at Blue Ocean Dentistry use the latest available dental treatments, equipment, and materials – all of which make a marked difference in our patients’ experiences. We are committed to helping our patients achieve optimal dental health. We creatively combine dental science and artistry — which can literally redesign your smile. Since even a subtle change in your smile will help you to project self-confidence and high self-esteem, we love helping you feel good about yourself. We deliver the finest dental care at the most reasonable cost and accept most dental insurance plans as well as CareCredit. For more about the dental treatment plans we offer or to schedule an appointment, call today (626) 852-6999.