Here’s something to sink your teeth into — each stage of life brings a new stage of oral care. The arrival of the first
tooth is a heralded milestone for a baby. Then, the loss of baby teeth is
celebrated by a visit from the Tooth Fairy; but as we get older, we work hard
to prevent the loss of teeth. Additionally, our pursuit of the perfect smile
often starts as a teenager with the wearing of braces and continues into
adulthood as we work to make our teeth whiter. And throughout it all, we spend
countless hours brushing, flossing, rinsing and visiting the dentist to prevent
cavities from marring our teeth.
Infants and Children
Get little ones started off right
Most babies’ first teeth appear between three months and one year after birth. As the teeth
push through the gum line, it’s quite common for babies to experience symptoms such as drooling, irritability,
restlessness, and inflamed gums.
A simple home remedy for teething pain is giving the baby something cold and
firm to chew on as the hard surface provides relief through pressure while the
coolness soothes tender gums.
It’s important, too, for parents to begin cleaning their baby’s teeth and gums every day at an early age. While fluoride is important for good
oral health, swallowing too much fluoride at a young age can also cause
fluorosis, which can lead to spotting on future permanent teeth. Until your
child is able to spit out toothpaste, parents should consider using a
fluoride-free alternative as a way to gently clean teeth and gums.
As children get old enough to brush by themselves, they should learn proper
techniques, such as holding the brush at an angle and using short, clean
strokes. To encourage kids to brush the dentist-recommended two minutes,
parents might try these tips:
—Encourage kids to hum a song while brushing — or even count to 100 slowly in their head.
—Bring along a “friend” to the bathroom sink, such as a loved stuffed animal or doll who will keep the
child company and make the experience more fun.
—Consider purchasing a children’s battery-operated powered toothbrush. Research shows that kids brush 38 percent
longer with a powered brush than a manual brush.
Adults
As you grow up — your oral carehabits need to grow up, too
It’s time to join the power toothbrush revolution and give your old manual
toothbrush the heave-ho. After all, power toothbrushes deliver a deeper,
superior clean than manual brushes, and the newer power brushes are priced
better than ever.
Upgrade from your manual brush and take the battery-operated powered toothbrush
for a spin. Available at an affordable price, this brush removes up to 70
percent more plaque in hard-to-reach places than a manual brush.
Of course, adults don’t just want their teeth to be clean and healthy — they want them to also look great and as white as possible!
Dentists use dental grade baking soda to whiten and clean their patients’ teeth because they know that dental grade baking soda gently polishes enamel
for whiter teeth, loosens plaque for easier and more complete cleaning, and
neutralizes acids from foods and food debris for fresher breath. An effective
at-home option for getting white, brighter teeth is using a toothpaste with
baking soda, which will provide that “fresh from the dentist” clean feeling.
Older Adults
Your oral care needs have changed ... so should your oral care routine
As we age, it becomes even more important to care for our teeth to ensure that
they stick around as long as we do! But it can be a challenge for older adults
as they encounter new obstacles.
For example, their good habit of regularly brushing their teeth may be altered
due to arthritis or other maladies that make it difficult to grip a toothbrush
or squeeze a tube of toothpaste.
Older adults are also at risk for oral care issues because they often don’t get to the dentist as often as they should. For example, some patients lack
good transportation options to get to dental appointments. For others,
insurance to cover such visits may not be as good as it was when a person was
employed full-time. In addition, years of aggressive brushing and acidic foods
can lead to enamel erosion and discoloration.
Courtesy of Family Features
