Tips for Achieving Great Oral Care
Knowing the dental basics for great oral care is a great way to keep your mouth healthy. It will also affect your overall whole-body health! Not to mention that great oral care means fewer trips to the dentist for pain (which nobody likes).
Applying Dental Basics for Great Oral Care
Good oral hygiene practices begin with parents. Children get their first baby tooth between 6 and 12 months of age. However, some children are born with a first tooth already sprouted! Since we can’t expect a newborn to brush and floss, it falls on parents to perform this task. Getting your child accustomed to the feeling of brushing is the first step in a lifetime of good oral care practices.
Once a child reaches two, they are beginning to develop the dexterity to brush on their own, although they still require supervision. As a parent, you can ensure your child’s dental health beginning with regular visits to a dentist. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the first dental appointment should occur six months after you see the first tooth or their first birthday.
As your child grows, their brushing habits will be top-notch if they start young. It is important to help your child understand the benefits of good oral hygiene. Learning the basics early can mean a healthier life for your child.
It’s All in the Nitty-Gritty Details
We say nitty-gritty details, but what we mean is that there are a ton of ways to improve dental health. Although the most basic detail is good brushing and flossing, overall oral health goes beyond that. Other practices that will help ensure great oral care are:
- Use dental floss or a water flossing device regularly
- Brush with a good fluoride toothpaste recommended by the ADA
- Limit sugary and acidic foods
- Drink plenty of water
- Limit acidic and sugary drinks such as soda
- See your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups
Other tips revolve around a common-sense approach to dental care.
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Don’t wait until mouth pain is unbearable. Make an appointment to see your dentist at the first sign of discomfort that lasts more than a day or two. Contrary to popular belief, dentists do not like to see patients in pain. Their primary goal is to keep mouths healthy so their patients never experience mouth pain.
You will only grow one set of adult teeth, so please take care of them. That means, at a bare minimum, you should be brushing twice daily. Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports where damage may occur. Don’t use your teeth as a bottle opener.
Our last word on the dental basics for great oral care is to eat a healthy diet. This includes crunchy foods and veggies to strengthen your jaw. Keeping your teeth healthy and strong is a life-long commitment.
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