How Parents Can Help Their Kids To Have Good Dental Health

How important is dental hygiene to your health?

Good oral hygiene is in fact essential for good health. It is unfortunate if you are an adult and have not figured out how to take care of the only teeth that you have. But dental care is even more important for our youth who have sugary diets and may not yet know the importance of taking care of their teeth.

If your teeth and gums are in poor shape, you can not chew your food properly. This can lead to digestive problems and other health conditions. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Tooth loss can interfere with eating because you can not chew your food well. This means that your food is more difficult to digest because the primary part of the digestive process, chewing, has been compromised.

Based on some recommendations by the American Dental Association, here are the tips that you can help you to keep your teeth:

Brush

You should brush your 2x a day for at least five minutes. Brushing 3x daily is better of course. (For technique, consult your dentist.) Use a fluoride toothpaste that is accepted by the ADA. You should replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles break down and become frayed. You should also replace your toothbrush after illnesses such as colds, flu, strep throat and stomach viruses. Children's toothbrushes usually need to be replaced more often because they wear out faster.

Floss

It is necessary to clean between your teeth daily using dental floss or an interdentally cleaner even if you brush regularly. Toothbrush bristles can't reach between teeth where bacteria can linger, causing decay and gum disease. Regular flossing can remove the food particles and plaque from between teeth and under the gum line where your tooth brush cannot reach.

Diet

A balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables can help you maintain good oral health. Limit junk foods and sugary foods, especially foods and drinks containing high fructose corn syrup. Dairy products and certain vegetables, such as broccoli, are good sources of calcium. Citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C which is good for promoting tissue building and overall general health.

Dentist

Your dentist can tell you if you should come in every six months or once a year. Sometimes your dentist may suggest another schedule. Whatever the case, your dentist can recommend what types of oral care products to use.

Plaque accumulates on the teeth within twenty minutes of eating!

A daily mouthwash is a great idea to add to your brushing and flossing as well. Tooth decay and gum disease is caused mainly by plaque. Plaque is a combination of bacteria and food. Its stickiness is what causes it to adhere to the teeth. If it is not removed thoroughly each day, the result will be tooth decay. Eventually, if the plaque remains on the teeth, it will harden into a very tough substance called tartar which must be scraped off the teeth using a special tool.

Plaque and tartar cause gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, cavities, holes and soft spots that damage the surface and, more particularly, the structure of the teeth, peritonitis, breakdown of ligaments and bone supporting the teeth which leads to tooth loss, bad breath, abscesses and many health problems including pre-term labor and heart disease.

People interested in good health are also starting to use daily glyconutrient supplements.Clinical studies have shown that the body's immune system can be boosted through glyconutrients supplements.