Proper Oral Hygiene (Homecare)
Oral health is directly related to overall health. If your mouth is not healthy, your risk of heart disease and respiratory disease increases and there is a direct correlation between diabetes and an unhealthy mouth.
Learning how to keep your mouth healthy will affect your whole body.
Cleaning Between Teeth
To prevent cavities and gum disease, it is important to clean teeth. This can be done with numerous tools. One of the easiest and most effective is water flossing. Interdental brushes and picks are also helpful to use. Consult your dental hygienist for additional advice.
Brushing
The Right Way
- Brushing should be done twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- It is important to brush before going to bed.
- Parents should brush for a child until he/she is 8-9 years old at least once a day.
Flossing
Properly
Waterpik
Tutorial
Brush & Floss
At the Same Time!
Infant/Toddler
Oral Health
- Never put a baby to bed with a bottle
- Only put milk or formula in baby bottles
- Stay away from ALL sodas and sports drinks
- Avoid fruit juices – eat fresh fruit instead
- Only use water in sippy cups unless with a meal when milk can be added
- Do not allow children to walk around with sippy cups
XYLITOL
Natural Option
Xylitol is a naturally occurring, low-calorie sugar substitute that has been shown to reduce bacteria that cause tooth decay, ear infections, and repiratory illnesses. It is a sugar alcohol that is derived mainly from birch and other hardwood trees. Xylitol chewing gum is available in most stores. “ice Breakers, Ice Cubes” is the only readily available chewing gum with xylitol as the number one ingredient. Several websites offer xylitol products. Keep away from your pets – Xylitol will kill dogs and cats!
Nutrition
Healthy Eating
Mouth + Sugar = ACID that eats on your tooth (turns to acid in 20 seconds and takes 20 minutes to neutralize again) If you take another “sip” or eat another piece, it starts again. It is better to eat sugar all at once and quit. Sipping drinks with sugar and/or eating mints or candy with sugar throughout the day, keeps acid on your teeth dissolving away enamel.Does Soda Pop Cause Cavities? Snack Smart.
Tobacco
Prevention/Cessation
Nutrition/Healthy Eating text (text plus three sub categories – soda pop, healthy snacks, and xylitol) What we eat and drink directly affects the total health of our body. Sugars, when not eaten in moderation, have strong detrimental effects on our oral health and overall health. When looking at tooth decay, the frequency of sugar is a VERY important factor.