Brushing the teeth must become a habit. You brush your teeth as you wake up, after lunch, and before going to sleep. If you are doing this daily then you are practicing good dental hygiene. With the multitude of toothpastes in the grocery store, don’t you ever wonder which one is really worth buying? What are all those other toothpastes for and what is the right one for you?

Let us go through some of the toothpastes in the market and what they do to your teeth.

Tartar Control Toothpaste

Plaque is part of your quest for dental health. It is manageable with regular visits to the dentist and proper oral hygiene. Tartar control toothpaste will control the plaque in your teeth with the ingredients zinc citrate or triclosan. If your dentist assesses you to have a lot of plaques, a tartar control toothpaste may be recommended.

Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

The teeth may be made up of bones but it also has soft centers that can be sensitive to hot and cold. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth is the best type to use because of the ingredients in this toothpaste such as strontium chloride or potassium nitrate.  If you easily feel pain by hot or cold, this is the right toothpaste to use.

Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste helped a lot with issues in tooth decay and cavities. This type of toothpaste will help protect the teeth from the acid that is produced by the bacteria that feed on starch and sugar. If you are not sure on what toothpaste to get, this will be your basic choice for starters.

Whitening Toothpaste

If you smoke or drink tea or coffee, using a whitening toothpaste will help with the stains. However, not all the stains can be removed with this type of toothpaste. The bleach that should whiten the teeth is not added to toothpastes because of some issues with chemical stability.

Once you have chosen the toothpaste that is best for your kind of teeth, follow good oral hygiene to prevent plaque from building up. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing your teeth. As opposed to the commercials shown on television, you only have to place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush. Flossing at least once day can help remove small food particles that are stuck between the teeth that brushing cannot remove. Plaque and bacteria grows back even on clean teeth after four hours. That is why it is important to brush and floss regularly.

 

 

 

When Should I First Take My Child to See the Dentist?

The oral health of a child is an integral part of their overall health. It is important to introduce a child to the dentist during the early stages of his or her development because this forms a part of their oral care experience. By introducing your child to the dentist at the right time, he can grow accustomed and comfortable to any future dental clinic visits. Bringing your child to the dentist at a later stage of development can lead to incessant levels fear and anxiety.

When to Go to the Dentist

One of the most common questions asked by parents is the time when they should take their child for his first dental clinic visit.

It is highly recommended to bring your child to his first dentist experience within six months of the first baby tooth or when he turns one year old.

The upper incisors usually erupt between 6 to 10 months while the lower central incisors erupt between 8-12 months. The very first appointment with your child’s dentist is all about meeting and greeting the parents and the child. Information is collected for medical and dental information. Make sure that the first visit is casual and fun like a playdate. Encourage your child to play with dental related toys in the clinic while waiting for your the appointment. At SunnyView Dental, we refer to this first appointment as the “Happy Visit”.

While it is ideal to bring your child to the dentist during his first birthday, some families may be challenged financially and the first dentist appointment is not until 3 years old. During this age, a child may have already developed cavities and the experience may not be a pleasant one. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Starting Good Dental Habits

Show your child that you are brushing your teeth. Start early and make the whole experience fun. By doing this, you will encounter very little resistance because this has been something that they are already used to doing.

Choosing your Dentist

When you are choosing your child’s dentist, the tendency is to bring him to someone who has attended to the parent’s dental care. This is a good choice especially if the dentist has experience with kids. There is also the consideration of bringing your kid to a pediatric dentist because he will be more experienced with children. His clinic is more likely to have plenty of distractions to keep the child from getting bored or throwing tantrums while in the dental chair.