There are many reasons to keep your Family’s teeth and gums healthy. Beautiful smiles, being able to chew their food, avoiding toothaches and discomfort are just a few of the reasons. There are simples ways to keep your family’s oral health a top priority.
Start children early.
Despite the great improvement in cavity prevention, 25% of kids develop signs of tooth decay before they start school! The number only goes up from there. 50% of kids between the ages of 12-15 develop tooth decay. This is why it is very important to start your kids off young and teach them the importance of dental health.
Sealants.
Permanent teeth come in around the age of 6. Getting a thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth can percent delay in the pits and fissures. The stats say only 1 in 3 kids get their teeth sealed. Contact your dentist to find out if this might be right for you.
Fluoride use.
One of the biggest advances in oral health has been the use of fluoride, which strengthens enamel and making it less likely to decay. 75% of Americans drink water with fluoride in it. Depending on where you live you might not have fluoride in your water. If that is the case you should ask your dentist if a fluoride application is right for you.
Brush twice a day and floss
Tooth decay and Gum disease remain big problems for a lot of the US population. According to the ADHA, 75% of teenagers have gums that bleed. This is caused by the lack of proper dental hygiene.
Chew gum or use a mouth rinse after meals
In addition to brushing and flossing. Adding an antibacterial mouth rinse to your dental routine can help prevent dental issues. Chewing gum can also help prevent tooth decay. Chewing gum increases your saliva flow, which will help wash bacteria away and neutralizes the acid.
Protection in Sports
Certain sports can pose a risk to your family’s teeth. Luckily most school teams require their players to wear mouth protection in high-risk sports. But what a lot of parents overlook is the unsupervised actives such as skateboarding, and rollerblading. Dentists can make custom-fitted mouth guards. This way it will fit perfectly. One of the major reasons kids and adults fail to wear protective mouth guards is that they do not fit well and are uncomfortable.
Don’t use tobacco products
Tobacco can stain your teeth and also increases the risk of oral cancer and gum disease. Make sure to have that conversation with your kids.
Eat Healthily
A healthy diet can aide in good dental health. While it alone won’t prevent tooth decay, it can help. A diet of whole foods like grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables go a long way.
Avoid sugary foods
Bacteria in your mouth break down simple sugars, creating acids that will erode your tooth enamel. This will allow your teeth to decay. Fruit drinks also pose a risk for kids, since they are usually sipped on for long periods of time. Which will increase the acid levels over a long time without anything washing it away or neutralizes it?
Schedule regular checkups
Having dental exams every 6 months will help prevent a decline in your oral health. During regular exams, they can also spot early signs of oral cancer, tooth grinding, gum disease, and negative interaction with medications.
