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Archive for September 2016

Comments Off on Caring for Someone Else’s Dental Hygiene
mom brushing teeth with child

Caring for Someone Else’s Dental Hygiene

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Caring for someone else’s dental hygiene can be quite challenging. It’s intrusive, and many people may feel comfortable if you try to do this for them. Particularly, if they have learning difficulties are other special needs. Even young children may resist against someone cleaning their teeth for them. That’s why it’s best to get young children cleaning their teeth as early as possible.

If you are caring for someone else’s oral hygiene, it’s useful to get some tips that will make it easier.

Offer Reassurance

You should be aware that oral hygiene and the process of having their teeth cleaned will be frightening for some people. If you are cleaning their teeth, make sure that you offer them reassurance. One way to do this is by showing them what you’re going to do with your teeth first. Talk them through the steps and make sure they know exactly what’s going to happen before you start. Show them that it’s not scary. This can be especially helpful if you’re cleaning the teeth of someone with learning difficulties. They will want to know that the process is safe.

You might also want to let them feel the toothbrush or floss before you use it on them. This can again, help them see that there’s nothing to be scared of. They will then trust you to use the toothbrush, cleaning their teeth.

Use A Distraction Or Something To Calm Them Down

It can be quite uncomfortable for someone to have their teeth cleaned. You need to find a way to distract them from this discomfort and unpleasant feeling with something that is familiar. If it’s a young child, this could be a favorite toy that you can let them hold. For older patients, you may want to think about putting on music or putting the TV on in the background. Anything that distracts their senses will help them to forget that you’re cleaning their teeth. It’s useful when working with anyone who has sensory issues like someone with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Create A Routine

For people with learning disorders, it’s best to have a routine. Particularly, if you are always going to be the one responsible for cleaning their teeth. You need to give them a structure that they can follow and trust. For instance, they should know that you’ll start by brushing their teeth on a particular side. You can then move on to flossing and finally the mouthwash. You should keep the same routine each time, rather than creating an unnecessary change. This will make the process easier for them to deal with.

Keep An Open Dialogue

Finally, even while you are brushing and cleaning their teeth, you should be keeping an open dialogue. Make sure they know what’s going on and what you’re doing at any point. You can also talk to them about different things or simply offer words of approval. Positive conditioning will help them accept the process more and allow for it to be part of their routine.

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Comments Off on Everyday Oral Health Tips
daily oral health tips

Everyday Oral Health Tips

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Are you keeping your mouth healthy and clean? Most people neglect at least a few areas of the mouth that need to be kept clean. That might be the spaces between the teeth, the gum line or the tongue. This leads to the development of problems that can be painful, embarrassing or uncomfortable.

Luckily, with these simple tips, you’ll be able to keep your mouth healthy and avoid any of the common issues.

Brush Regularly And Thoroughly

You should be brushing your teeth twice a day and spent two minutes each time at least. Some people go overboard and brush after every meal. This isn’t necessary unless you have a brace in which case, it might be. That’s only because food tends to get trapped and stuck in the brackets. For the rest of us, twice a day is enough with thirty seconds spent in each corner of the mouth. When you’re brushing, let the toothbrush move naturally. Make sure you are brushing close to the gumline as this is where plaque builds. Remember, you should keep your brush at a forty-five degrees angle and not spit until the end. Keeping the liquid washing around your mouth for longer will lead to a better clean.

Don’t Forget To Floss

You should floss after every meal and possibly each time that you eat. Wrap the floss around two of your fingers and move it between your teeth in a backward, forwards, motion. Be sure to clean until you don’t feel any resistance, but don’t pull too hard. This could damage your gum line. The first time you floss might result in bleeding, and while frightening, this is perfectly reasonable. It means it’s doing the job.

Use Mouthwash

You should be using mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Look for a mouthwash that contains fluoride as this is the best chemical for cleaning your teeth. You need to hold the mouthwash in for no longer than a minute and make sure that you don’t swallow. In large quantities, fluoride can be dangerous and have long lasting effects. You can use mouthwash daily as long as you are spitting it out each time.

Clean Your Tongue

Make sure that you’re cleaning as much of the tongue as you can. You can use floss, the toothbrush or the back of the brush to do this. Some toothbrushes do have a special rubber surface on the back, specifically for cleaning the tongue. Don’t neglect to clean your tongue as a dirty tongue can result in the development of bad breath.

Keep A Healthy Diet

Finally, you should think about your diet. What you eat can affect your oral health, particularly, if you consistently eat meals high in sugar. Even regularly cleaning your teeth won’t prevent the development of damage such as tooth decay. Try to avoid drinking large amounts of fizzy drinks each day. If you do have a sweet tooth, limit yourself to one and make sure you use a straw. This will help most of the sugar go past the teeth and straight down the throat.

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Comments Off on Back to School and Back to the Dentist
back to school dental visit

Back to School and Back to the Dentist

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At this point, you’ve probably got everything you need to get your kids back into the swing of school life. You’ve picked up the books, the folders and all the kit that they need for sports. You might even have got them a checkup to make sure everything’s alright medically. But have you scheduled an appointment with the dentist? There’s a great reason for kids to get a dental appointment at the start of the school year.

Once they’re back in school, they have more freedom over what they eat. They can use their lunch money to buy candy, sweets and lots of sugary drinks. Maybe you control how much sugar they get at home, but it’s more of a challenge when they’re back at school. Getting a dental check-up can give you peace of mind that there aren’t already major underlying problems.

Avoid Cavities

According to the American Dental Association, fifty percent of kids between five and nine have one filling or cavity. That’s crazy, and you don’t want your child to add to this statistic. You can avoid that by getting a regular check up with the dentist. They’ll keep an eye on plaque levels that cause the cavities in the first place. With regular cleaning and instructions on how to brush you can make sure your kid has a healthy smile.

A Summer Of Sweets Might Have Taken Its Toll

Okay, we know we said the problems start when they head back to school. But what if they weren’t taking as much care of their teeth through the summer as you thought? They might have been going to slumber parties packed full of yummy, sugary sweets. Who’s to say they don’t down ten cans of soda each time they go to their friend’s house. You can’t be sure, can you? That’s why you need to get a checkup arranged with a dentist. They can sort out any issues that might have developed over the summer. If you’re lucky, they’ll fix the problem before a filling is required.

Don’t Let Them Lose Crucial Study Time

If you don’t get a dental check now, they might need one later in the year. This might result in you having to pull them out of class to get their teeth checked or a problem fixed. A recent report revealed fifty million school hours are wasted on dental appointments. At that point, you have to start wondering about what those checkups in school time do to your kid’s grade average.

They Need A Checkup Every Six Months

When was the last time your kid had a dentist appointment? Most parents put off taking their children to the dentist because they know it could be a nightmare. It’s not their favorite place in the world, so why bother with it at all. If you get a checkup with your kids every six months, you can stop serious issues like cavities developing. Stop your child’s smile from being filled with fillings by scheduling a regular trip to the dentist at the start of every school year.

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Comments Off on Top Daily Tips for Pristine Oral Health
Daily oral health tips

Top Daily Tips for Pristine Oral Health

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Everyone should aspire to have a healthy mouth. The trouble is, few people know what makes a good oral health routine. Well, worry no more, as all the advice you need is in this post.

Here are some daily tips to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy at all times:

Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day Minimum!

Most people think that twice a day is the maximum you should brush your teeth. However, the minimum you should do is brush your teeth in the morning and evening. To improve your oral health even further, it’s advised you brush after every meal too.

Buy Toothpaste With Fluoride

The toothpaste you use can also have a bearing on your oral health. When looking for it, ensure you buy some that include fluoride. This substance helps to prevent tooth decay and keeps your teeth in a better condition.

Use An Electric Toothbrush

Brushing with a regular toothbrush is nowhere near as effective as brushing with an electric one. The increased power means you can get rid of more plaque and bacteria. Plus, the toothbrush head is a rounded shape, meaning each tooth can be cleaned from a better angle. Also, speaking of toothbrush heads, make sure you change yours regularly. They’re only designed to last three months.

Floss Twice A Day

Flossing is an incredible way to keep your mouth as clean as possible. It works by cleaning areas that your toothbrush can’t reach. Mainly, it helps clean between your teeth and on the lining of your gums. Flossing can help prevent gum disease, and reduce the risks of tartar build up.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Sugar is a killer for your teeth and gums. Too much of it will lead to tooth decay, and you’ll need fillings and dentures. So, you should cut down on how much sugar you ingest each day. Stay clear of sweets and soft drinks, as they’re the things with the highest sugar count.

Use Mouthwash

Alongside brushing and flossing, mouthwash contributes to a cleaner mouth. You should use it every morning and night before you’ve brushed your teeth. It will help get rid of all the harmful bacteria in your mouth, reducing the risk of various oral diseases.

Chew Sugarfree Gum

If you want to keep your mouth healthy throughout the day, then chew sugarfree gum. It can prevent your mouth from getting too dry, which lowers the risk of tooth decay. Plus, it makes you salivate, which washes away bacteria in your mouth.

Don’t Rinse Your Mouth With Water After Brushing

A common mistake in most daily routines is to rinse your mouth after brushing. Don’t do this as it washes off all the fluoride! My advice is to floss first, then use mouthwash, and then brush your teeth.

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, then you need to stop. It stains your teeth and leads to poor oral health and many diseases. Cut smoking out of your routine for a healthier mouth.

If you pay attention to all of these tips, you’ll soon achieve pristine oral health!

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