Most children refuse to brush their teeth on a regular basis. Trying to get a child at night to settle down is one thing let alone getting him or her to brush their pearly whites. Any parent will testify to the fact that you can not deal with children from the left brained perspective. Reasoning with a child using pure logic is a sure recipe for failure as any parent will tell you. To get a child to do what you want you have to appeal to their emotions. To get a child to take care of their teeth, you have to make the process fun.
In terms of dental health for children, it’s never too early to begin a daily program for taking care of that beautiful smile. With today’s western diet tooth decay is of paramount importance for any parent concerned with child dental health.
Bacteria found in plaque can result in Early Childhood Tooth Decay. Early Childhood Tooth Decay (ECTD) affects baby teeth, caused by food particles left in the mouth. Most processed food in today’s society contains refined sugars, contributing to the prevalence of tooth decay in children. The bacteria in plaque erodes the enamel on the teeth. Your child’s diet is the first step in eliminating the possibility of future tooth decay.
Here are 9 ways you can actionably take to make sure your kids maintain that bright smile they’ve always had.
Like everything in life the key to success is a daily routine. Performing a certain act for 30 days in a row usually results in the act becoming a habit. The foundation for establishing optimal dental hygiene is best accomplished early in life. Incorporating dental care before putting your child to bed at the same time every night can be included as a nightly regimen. The first five years of a child’s life lays the foundation for the rest of their lives. If a child learns early to brush their teeth after every major meal they will continue to do so into their adolescent and adult years.
There are many ways to make dental care fun for kids today. Children are visual creatures and this is one reason why showing children the plaque on their teeth using special tablets is so effective. After your child finishes brushing have them rinse with their mouth with fresh water. Place a plaque dissolving tablet on the tongue and let the mouth’s saliva dissolve for 30 to 60 seconds. After your child spits out the mixture any plaque on the teeth will be revealed as a bright colour. Many kids get a kick out of actually seeing the plaque visible on their teeth. Have your child brush a second time time to remove the plaque that remains in the mouth. Plaque disclosing tablets can be purchased at Oral B or online at amazon.com or any retailer that sells dental products.
Young children learn best through musical melodies and lyrics that rhyme. Teaching children the alphabet phonetically is the best way to teach children in a fun easy way. I call phonetic learning 3D learning, children learn best through action. Combining the nightly routine of teeth brushing along with your child’s favourite sing song will aid the parent in oral care. Numerous teeth brushing songs can be found on YouTube and the internet.
Children usually have sensitive gums and teeth it is for this reason I recommend an organic toothpaste. Jack n’ Jill is one such manufacture that specializes in organic toothpaste made with calendula. The Calendula Officinalis Extract has natural anti inflammatory properties that are great for oral health. Tom’s of Maine makes fluoride free toothpaste in a delicious strawberry flavour. I have personally used this toothpaste on a number of occasions and I can attest to its addictive flavour. Tom’s of Maine uses all natural ingredients in their products that is mild and gentle.
Young children often imitate older children or their parents instinctively. Why not brush your teeth with your child at night? You can purchase a little stool for your child in their favourite colour. Make it a nightly ritual before putting your child to bed is also a good way to bond with your mini-me.
Giving your child a reward for maintaining their oral health can be kept track using a calendar. For example, if your child diligently brushes their teeth seven days in a row without being told you can let them pick their favourite animated feature for movie night.
The market for sugar free candy or confectionery is slowly growing. More and more people who want to avoid dental decay have more options than ever before when it comes to fulfilling their sweettooth. Some sugarless candy manufacturers substitute sugar with agave. Large companies like Hershey’s, Twizzlers and Werther’s have seen the light and have jumped on the bandwagon. For those people who are raising children vegan they even have organic and vegan candy for sale. Check out the Natural Candy Store a 100 percent natural candy company that sells directly online.
Pineapples, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are sweet and they taste great. Fresh fruit is cleansing and the fruits I mentioned rank high on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale. Health conscious parents should be aware there is a high sugar content in some fruits. Oral health should still be maintained regardless if eating sugar free candy or fruit.
Orthodontic treatment and orthodontic surgery are options to help maintain the incredible smile your kids have enjoyed for their early years. Don’t let tooth misalignment and irregularity in the jaw area affect your
There you have it there are no excuses for children today getting cavities. Teaching kids to brush their teeth can be a fun activity instead of the chore it used to be.
Are you someone that likes visiting the dental office as little as possible? Are you afraid of needles? Are you a patient that doesn’t have much time due to busy schedules? Or maybe your insurance is ending at the end of the month and you don’t have the time to wait three weeks for a crown to come back from the laboratory. Or maybe you’re the type of person that likes the latest technology!
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are attached to the lower or upper teeth. Veneers can be made from porcelain or a medical grade technical ceramic. The main advantage of porcelain is there stain resistant. Porcelain veneers can last 10 years or longer and may take at least two dental visits to apply. The higher cost of porcelain veneers is well worth it considering the aesthetic perfection clients see when they look in the mirror.
The bonding process is one of the most important steps in the application of porcelain veneers. Finding an experienced Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is of paramount importance for anyone interested in cosmetic surgery. If the bonding process is not done properly the patient will experience discomfort after the procedure. A bad porcelain veneer job looks fake plain and simple. The idea behind spending money on quality is getting a cosmetic dentistry job that looks and feels natural.
The first thing people notice about a person is there smile. Imperfections like discoloured, worn down, broken or misaligned teeth detract from the aesthetics of a beautiful face. Aesthetics are highly regarded in our modern day society.
Beautiful teeth are important its the first thing people notice when a person smiles. We live in a shallow world, how you look can mean the difference between getting that coveted career position or getting a second date with the woman or man of your dreams. There is a plethora of entertainment industry people who have had help in achieving those perfect smiles you see in film and TV.
A 2012 digital manipulation study of tooth colour and spacing revealed some interesting facts. The results showed any deviation from the norm involving teeth had negative effects on an individual's attractiveness. Discoloured teeth that were not pearly white and that had abnormal spacing reduced a person’s rating of attractiveness. The study also revealed a female’s lack of oral beauty signaled a lower reproductive value. Peacocks have colorful feathers to attract a mate and humans are rated by the beauty of their smiles. Life’s not fair but we have the option of being able to upgrade our exterior appearance. Good teeth are indicative of good health and attractiveness. Remember first and foremost to visit your dental practitioner for regular cleanings and checkups.
Resulting from drinking the following: coffee, tea, coke and wine. Drinks with refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup contribute to staining of the enamel and tooth decay. People who have had root canals sometimes have discoloured teeth. Tetracycline hydrochloride (HCI) is an antibiotic used as an irrigant in root canal procedures that can stain teeth. The discoloration of Tetracycline is influenced by the duration of time the enamel was in contact with this antibiotic. Tetracycline has an affinity for the calcium ions that make up the teeth.
Grinding or clenching your teeth consciously or unconsciously wears down teeth. Long term grinding causes small cracks in the tooth that may not be readily apparent at first glance. Grinding of teeth can lead to headaches, jaw injury and muscle pain.
Unless your Lauren Hutton the beautiful iconic model porcelain veneers should be considered. Lauren Hutton’s gap toothed smile is her trademark quirk and the reason she still models today in her seventies. Most people who have a gap tooth are reserved when it comes to smiling for photo ops. The best way to fix the space in between your front teeth is to get porcelain veneers.
People that have sports related or other injuries are prime candidates for porcelain veneers.
The clinical name for misaligned teeth is Occlusion. The upper and lower teeth should always fit together to form a perfect bite. For the aesthetic Hollywood smile the upper teeth should fit slightly over the lower teeth. Impacted teeth, overcrowding, and missing teeth are all factors that contribute to misaligned teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry is more than just having the perfect set of teeth. Dental porcelain veneers make you feel great and that is why cosmetic dentistry shows no signs of slowing down. There is no need to feel alone even the most perfect people in the world have had cosmetic surgery. If you don't like what you see in the mirror why not make an appointment right now to get porcelain veneers?
Dr. Michael Layton (DDS) is the dentist for Peace Arch Dental, a dental office in the South Surrey/White Rock, B.C. area. He has been in the dental industry for the last decade and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington. He takes pride in providing positive and caring dental solutions (including porcelain veneers) for people in the South Surrey/White Rock area. You can follow him on Google+.
