Dental Health
Innumerable
studies and research have concluded on the importance of
starting children early in their lives with good dental
hygiene and oral care. According to research, the most common
chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting
50 percent of first graders and 80 percent of 17-year olds.
Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child’s
health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.
The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school
each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million
days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms.
Because there is such a significant loss in their academic
performance, the Surgeon General has made children’s
oral health a priority.
Parents are responsible for ensuring their children practice
good dental hygiene. Parents must introduce proper oral
care early in a child's life—as early as infancy. The
American Dental Hygiene Association states that a good oral
hygiene routine for children includes:
- Thoroughly cleaning
your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked
infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes
food.
- Gently brushing
your baby’s erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled
toothbrush and using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated
toothpaste.
- Teaching your child
at age two or three about proper brushing techniques and
later teaching them brushing and gentle flossing until
seven or eight years old.
- Regular visits with
their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth
and for possible developmental problems.
- Encouraging your
child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health
visits, but not mentioning words like “pain”
or “hurt,” since they may instill the possibility
of pain in the child’s thought process.
- Determining if the
water supply that serves your home is fluoridated; if
not, discussing supplement options with your dentist or
hygienist.
- Asking your hygienist
or dentist about sealant applications to protect your
child’s teeth-chewing surfaces, and about bottle
tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed
to sugared liquids.
About
Teeth
Throughout
your life, you will have two sets of teeth: primary (baby) teeth and
secondary (permanent) teeth. At age 6-8 months, the primary teeth
appear; all 20 are in place by age 3.
Permanent teeth
will begin to grow around age 6, and except for wisdom teeth, are all
present between ages 12 and 14. The next teeth to grow in are the
12-year molars and finally the wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth typically
begin breaking through from age 17 and on. The total number of
permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth.
This is why wisdom teeth are usually removed.
Your front teeth are called incisors. The sharp "fang-like" teeth are
canines. The next side teeth are referred to as pre-molars or
bicuspids, and the back teeth are molars. Your permanent teeth are the
ones you keep for life, so it is vital that they are brushed and
flossed regularly and that periodic check-ups by a dentist are
followed.
Brushing
& Flossing
The best way to ensure a clean
and healthy smile is brushing and flossing. Food particles
can accumulate on teeth and in braces, and over time, turn
into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation
can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and even loss of teeth.
To avoid these problems while you are in orthodontic treatment,
take special care of your braces, teeth and gums to ensure
you will have the best possible result.
BRUSHING
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of
fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the
brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles
that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at
an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas
between teeth, between braces and the surface of each tooth.
It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your
teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth
and the outside, inside and chewing surface of your front
and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth
before you rinse.
Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth
four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles
in your teeth and braces:
- In the morning
after breakfast
- After lunch or
right after school
- After supper
- At bedtime
You will need
to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances.
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace
your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult for
your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire.
Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly
with water after you finish brushing. It is important
to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride
treatment throughout your orthodontic treatment and beyond
for optimal oral hygiene.
FLOSSING
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach,
use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque.
Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing
braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every
day.
Use the reusable floss threader provided by our office
to floss under your archwire daily. Pull a small length
of floss from the dispenser through the threader and slide
it up and down along the front of each tooth. You will
be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak
of the floss against your clean teeth. Use care around
your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it
or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between
your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth
and gums.
If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a
small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends
of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide
the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out
food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around
your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss
from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all
of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before
you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your
braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding
does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff
member at your next appointment.
Download Brushing Chart
