Preventive Dental Care: Beyond the Basics

You know to brush and floss daily and visit the dentist regularly. Learn what else you can do to keep your teeth and gums looking their best.

Veneers vs Crowns - Whats the Difference?

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between crowns and veneers? Dr. Joseph Nemeth explains why you might need a veneer over a crown!

Kids & Flossing | Advice From a Pediatric Dentist

How do you floss a two-year-old’s teeth? When is the best time to floss your child’s teeth? Dr. Emily Hahn, a pediatric dentist with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, answers these questions on kids & flossing, plus more! In this video, you’ll find tips on flossing your kid’s teeth and advice on helping your child establish good oral hygiene habits.

6 Ways to Keep Your Smile Bright This Holiday Season

Smile-Friendly Stocking Stuffers
Your stocking forecast this year will almost certainly include a dusting of sugar. (The National Confectioners Association says 77% of people include candy in holiday gifts.) Giving candy? Consider chocolate. It washes off your teeth more easily than stickier sweets like candy canes. And when you’re stuffing those stockings full of chocolate Santas, don’t forget to include an ADA-Accepted toothbrush or toothpaste!

Carol While You Clean Your Teeth
One of the easiest ways to brush for a full two minutes twice a day is to listen to a song that’s two minutes long. This season, create a playlist of your family’s favorite holiday music for a holly, jolly brushing bonanza. (And you’ll definitely make Santa’s nice list if you add a song to floss to.)

Don’t Open Gifts with Your Teeth
Grandma may be an expert gift wrapper, but don’t use your teeth to try to undo the Fort Knox knots she’s tied with ribbon. Your teeth were made for eating, not to stand in as a pair of scissors. If you do, you could crack a tooth, injure your jaw or accidentally swallow something you shouldn’t. Stop and find something or someone to give you a hand instead.

Hosting Houseguests?
Nothing says “welcome” more than a personalized gift basket on your guest’s nightstand. Include fun items like cozy socks and their favorite snacks. You can also stock them up on travel-size toiletries they might have left behind -- including a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Whiten Your Teeth in 30 Seconds or Less
Dreaming of a white smile for your family photo? Wear a red or a pink lipstick with a blue undertone. Thanks to how the eye sees these colors, your teeth will instantly look whiter and brighter.

Stick to Your Routine
Between holiday parties, travel and other holiday happenings, it’s easy to slip out of your normal habits. Don’t wait until New Year’s to make your dental health a priority again. If you have a regular dental visit scheduled, keep the appointment. And don’t forget to brush twice a day for two minutes and clean between your teeth once a day.

Article Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/holiday-slideshow?utm_source=mouthhealthyorg&utm_medium=mhtopstories&utm_content=holiday-bright-smile

Toothbrush Song for Kids (Shiny & Bright Music Video)

Sing and brush along with four mystical friends who know the magical power of a smile.

What Is a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

A wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth. Learn what to expect, before during and after the surgery.

Kid-Tested, Dentist-Approved: 6 Teeth Cleaning Tips from Dentist Parents

As a parent, you may have more in common with your dentist than you think. Many moms and dads—even dentists—struggle to keep their children’s mouths and teeth clean. ADA dentist Dr. Gene Romo is a father of four – ages 13, 10, 8 and 2. “As you can imagine, there can be a wide range of behavior on who wants to brush and who doesn’t in our house,” he says. “I’m not just a dentist, I’m their dad, so making sure they’re establishing good habits early on is important to me.”

To keep your family’s smiles strong, try some of tricks of the trade from dentist moms and dads:

Establish a Fun Family Routine

In Dr. Romo’s house, there’s one rule everyone follows: “You have to brush before bed, and you can’t leave the house in the morning until you brush,” he says. “The most important thing is to make sure your family is brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day.”

Young kids love to imitate their parents, so take the opportunity to lead by example. “One thing I did with all my kids was play a game with them, kind of like monkey-see, monkey-do. We all have our toothbrushes, and they follow what I do,” he says. “When I open my mouth, they open their mouths. When I start brushing my front teeth, they start brushing their front teeth – and so on all the way until it’s time to rinse and spit. It’s just a fun way to teach them how to brush properly, and we get to spend a little time together, too.”

Making brushing a family affair also helps you keep an eye out for healthy habits. “Some kids want to do everything themselves, even toothpaste, so you can watch to make sure they’re not using more than they should – a rice-sized smear for kids 2 and under and a drop the size of a pea for kids 3 and up,” he says. “You can also do a quick final check for any leftover food when brush time is done.”

Try a New Angle

When her daughter was only 6 months old, ADA dentist Dr. Ruchi Sahota asked her husband to hold her while she brushed or brushed when her daughter was laying down. “You can see their teeth from front to back the best at that time,” she says.

If your child is old enough to stand and wants to brush in the bathroom, ADA dentist Dr. Richard Price suggests a different method. “Stand behind your child and have him or her look up at you,” he says. “This causes the mouth to hang open and allows you to help them brush more easily.”

Bigger Kids, Bigger Challenges

Checking up on your child’s daily dental hygiene habits doesn’t end as they get older. It’s more challenging when they get their driver’s license and head off to college, says ADA dentist Dr. Maria Lopez Howell. “The new drivers can drive through any fast food spot for the kinds of food and beverages that they can’t find in a health-minded home,” she says. “The new college student is up late either studying or socializing. They don’t have a nightly routine, so they may be more likely to fall asleep without brushing.”

While your children are still at home, check in on their brushing and talk to them about healthy eating, especially when it comes to sugary drinks or beverages that are acidic. After they leave the nest, encourage good dental habits through care packages with toothbrushes, toothpaste or interdental cleaners like floss with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. And when they’re home on break, make sure they get to the dentist for regular checkups! Or if school break is too hectic– you can find a dentist near campus to make sure they are able to keep up with their regular visits.

Play Detective…

As your children get older, they’re probably taking care of their teeth away from your watchful eye. Dr. Romo asks his older children if they’ve brushed, but if he thinks he needs to check up on them, he will check to see if their toothbrushes are wet. “There have been times that toothbrush was bone dry,” he says. “Then I’ll go back to them and say, ‘OK, it’s time to do it together.’”

If you think your child has caught on and is just running their toothbrush under water, go one step further. “I’ll say, ‘Let me smell your breath so I can smell the toothpaste,’” he says. “It all goes back to establishing that routine and holding your child accountable.”

…And Save the Evidence

It could be as simple as a piece of used floss. It sounds gross, but this tactic has actually helped Dr. Lopez Howell encourage teens to maintain good dental habits throughout high school and college.

To remind them about the importance of flossing, Dr. Lopez Howell will ask her teenage patients to floss their teeth and then have them smell the actual floss. If the floss smells bad, she reminds them that their mouth must smell the same way. “It’s an ‘ah-ha’ moment,” Dr. Lopez Howell explains. “They do not want to have bad breath, especially once they see how removing the smelly plaque might improve their social life!”

Above All, Don’t Give Up

If getting your child to just stand at the sink for two minutes feels like its own accomplishment (much less brush), you’re not alone. “It was so difficult to help my daughter to brush her teeth because she resisted big time,” says ADA dentist Dr. Alice Boghosian. Just remember to keep your cool and remain persistent.

“Eventually, brushing became a pleasure,” Dr. Boghosian says. She advises parents to set a good example by brushing with their children. “Once your child is brushing on their own, they will feel a sense of accomplishment – and you will too!”

Article Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/tips-for-parents?utm_source=mouthhealthyorg&utm_medium=mhtopstories&utm_content=parent-tips