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Simple Ways to Have a Healthy Smile!

Oral Hygiene Habits

  1. Lift the child's lip and look for discoloration, like white chalky lines along the gum line
  2. Clean child's teeth and gums twice a day
  3. No bottles or sippy cups in bed, unless there is only water in them
  4. Do not let your child fall asleep while nursing or bottle-feeding
  5. No more bottle by age 1; introduce cup at 6 months
  6. Don't share germs!  Do not clean pacifier in your mouth - Do not eat food off the same spoon
  7. Love your children by giving them healthy snacks - choose water, fruit, cheese,milk
  8. Team brush until age 8, with adult help at least once a day.  Motivate using music or stickers, and apply very small amounts of toothpaste (pea-sized amounts)
  9. Floss - if the teeth touch, then you need to floss

Injury/Trauma Prevention

  1. Babies can have accidents while learning to walk - Use corner guards to cover sharp corners
  2. Use a car seat until apppropriate weight and age; seatbelts should be worn at all times.  Be sure to use helmets and mouthguards for contact sports
  3. Injuries to teeth or the mouth require the attention of a pediatric dentist
  4. Electrical cords can cause major damage if bitten
  5. Keep emergency numbers handy

Fluoride Adequacy

  1. Developing teeth benefit from a steady supply of fluoride which may be present in water, juices and other beverages
  2. Your pediatric dentist will write a fluoride prescription for your child if it is necessary
  3. Reverse osmosis filtration systems can remove 90% of fluoride in the water - charcoal filtration can remove only 10%

Pacifier Characteristics

  1. Use a pacifier with a shield that conforms to the infant's face and cheeks and provides lip support

Bad Habits

  1. These habits could cause problems for teeth:  thumb sucking, mouth breathing, fingernail biting, tongue thrusting
  2. Avoid eating foods that could damage teeth:  sticky foods, foods high in sugar and acid content

A Prevention Prescription

  1. A sonic/electric toothbrush
  2. Fluoride tooth paste
  3. Dental floss
  4. Non-alcohol mouth rinse
  5. Xylitol products

Know the Multiple Factors Which Increase the Risk of Caries:

  1. High titers of carcinogenic bacteria
  2. Poor oral hygiene
  3. Prolonged nursing (bottle or breast)
  4. Poor family dental health
  5. Development or acquired enamel defects
  6. Genetic abnormality of teeth
  7. Many multi surface restorations
  8. Chemo/radiation therapy
  9. Eating disorders
  10. Drug/alcohol abuse
  11. Irregular dental care
  12. Carcinogenic diet
  13. Active orthodontic treatment
  14. Presence of exposed root surface
  15. Defective restorations
  16. Physical or mental disability with inability or unavailability of performing proper oral health care