Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

dental care for children

Common Dental Questions, dental care questions and answers, dental health tips, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental technology, ask a dentist about dental care for children

Healthy Gums

Types of Toothpaste

There are so many different toothpastes on the market these days that it can be tough sometimes to make an informed decision on which ones to purchase for all the members of your family. Should you buy the kind of toothpastes that whiten your teeth? Should your toothpaste contain fluoride for cavity protection? What about the kind of toothpaste that helps keeps your breath fresh, or the kind that controls tartar, or the kind that combats sensitive gums? Do these actually work? And what if you’re a smoker? Should you use a special kind of toothpaste made just for those who use tobacco? The fact is that there are so many different brands, flavors, and kinds of toothpaste on the market today, but there are really only just a few different types of toothpaste, with most stemming as hybrids from those types. If you’ve always wondered what type of toothpaste is best for you, here’s more information that may help break down the differences.

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Health Benefits of Milk

Traditionally, milk is known for being good for teeth and bones. When you don’t have the time to pack lunch for the kids you don’t hesitate to remind them to buy milk. When did milk become the drink of choice for healthy teeth and bones? In fact, milk was so popular in America during the 50s and 60s that there was an occupation dedicated to delivering milk to homes. This healthy beverage continued momentum during the “Got Milk” ad campaign in the 90s and featured famous celebrities, including Britney Spears. Here you will find out why milk is still a recommended drink by dentists.

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How Young Is Too Young for a First Dental Visit?

Babies don’t need to see dentists, right? After all, they don’t even have teeth! Actually, babies do need dental checkups, and in many cases, the sooner the better. Okay, so you don’t have to grab baby and run to the dentist as soon as you get home from the hospital. However, it’s important to know that you also shouldn’t wait until your baby has her teeth before you schedule her first appointment. In fact, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), you can schedule your baby’s first dental visit as soon as you see that first little tooth surfacing. This event typically occurs before her first birthday. Here’s more information from dentists in South Orange that is especially helpful for new parents about baby’s first teeth, how to care for baby’s mouth, and when to whisk your little one off for her first dental checkup.

Dental Hygiene Tips for Teen Athletes

For those who love a good hockey game, you probably cheer on your very favorite NFL player who sports a toothless grin.  At the salaries that NFL stars command, you know their missing teeth aren’t a result of lack of money; they just figure, they’ll get whacked in the face again, so might as well leave that porcelain out of their mouth during a game.  Renowned hockey players like Gordie Howe, Bobby Clarke, Stan Mikita, and Bobby Hull all have toothless grins.

Your student athlete might be sporting a smile similar to these hockey greats, if he or she does not choose to wear some oral protection to save their smile.  It doesn’t even need to be a wayward hockey stick that takes some teeth, as approximately 13 to 39% of all dental injuries are related to sports.

The First Cavity

All parents dreams of perfect dental checkups for their children. Every time you send your child off to the dentist, you hope to hear that all-important phrase, “Look, Ma, no cavities!” Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and that means that your child may, at times, return from a visit to the dentist with news of one or more cavities. So what do you do when you hear those words… ‘I have a cavity’… for the first time? Is there anything you, as a parent, can do about this cavity, or anything you can do to prevent the next one? The good news about cavities is that they’re virtually always preventable. And, yes, there is a lot you, as a parent, can do to help your child’s next and subsequent dental checkups be cavity-free. Here are some tips from dentists about cavities, how to react to your child’s first cavity, and concrete steps that you, as a parent, can take to prevent further cavities.

Dental Care for New Immigrants

Coming to the ‘Land of Opportunity’ has been your dream for years, and you finally made it here. At last, you’re a free person in a free land. Of course, you may also be a stranger in a strange land. No matter how many times you’ve been to the United States before you made it to stay, you likely have a lot of questions that you may not have had before. One of the biggest (and perhaps most neglected) questions of all facing new immigrants to the U.S. is regarding dental care. Naturally, you already know how to physically care for your teeth, as you’ve been doing it your whole life. But what about all those questions you have over and above your own brushing and flossing? For instance, how do you, as someone who has just newly immigrated to America, go about caring for your teeth financially? What do you do if you get a cavity? What if you lose a tooth or you need to have a tooth pulled? What if you need dentures or implants? And, perhaps most important of all, how do you care for your children’s teeth? Following is some important information that may help you wade through your dental care options, including your rights and the rights of your children, now that you’re a new immigrant to the United States of America.

Sugar, the Tooth Killer

Consuming too much sugar can be damaging to your health, but many times we forget how damaging sugar can be to the teeth and mouth in general. About half of kids have tooth decay by the time they are 8 years old. This can lead to a higher risk of developing tooth decay as adults. Each time sugar is consumed, the bacteria on the surface of the teeth converts to acid. This acid basically attacks the teeth and gradually destroys the outer layer of enamel which protects the teeth. This can cause very fast decay of a tooth.

Common Questions about Baby Teeth

Babies sure are hard! If you’re a new parent, you probably have more questions than you have answers. And with every answer you find, it seems another 10 questions are right behind it! You’ve got questions about what the crying means, about 2 a.m. feedings, about cloth diapers versus store-bought … the list is endless. And near the top of the list is likely to be questions about your baby’s blossoming teeth. How do you clean your baby’s mouth? When do you start brushing? What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should you use? What do you do about pain when you’re baby’s teething? Following are common questions about baby teeth that new parents have and answers from dentists that will help your baby’s teething experience go a little more smoothly.

Types of Toothbrushes

If you’ve stood in the toothpaste aisle recently searching for a new toothbrush, you know that there are so many styles, brands, and bristle densities that it’s tough to choose just one. In fact, you may have even thrown up your hands in surrender and grabbed one just to get out of that dang toothpaste aisle! So just how many different kinds of toothbrushes are there? If you’re the person looking to purchase a new one, it may seem like there are thousands, but the truth is that there are just a few different types of toothbrushes from which all styles on the market have emerged. Following is information from family dentists about the various types of toothbrushes available and how to choose the one that’s best for you.