July 5, 2010

TOOTHPASTE FOR YOUR CHILD

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 2:28 pm

When Should A Child Start Using Toothpaste?

Parents know that taking care of small a full-time job-and along withe diaper changes, bath time, and medical checkups, parents also need to take care of their children’s teeth.

Birth To 18 Months: No Toothpaste Required!!!

Start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as the teeth begin to come in-but you don’t need toothpaste at first. For babies younger the 18 months, the best way to clean your child’s teeth is with a wet cloth or guaze – without toothpaste. Gently rub your child’s teeth and gums with a cloth over your fingertip-this, along with nursing and/or drinking water, is all the oral hygiene that your child needs at the infant stage. Once your child has more of a “full set” of teeth, your can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush your child’s teeth with water.

When To Start Toothpaste? 18 Months

In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old – and when you do start using toothpaste, make sure it is a safe “children’s toothpaste” made especially for young ones. Young children have different dental needs than grown-ups – and children’s toothpaste is made for this purpose.

What To Look For In A Children’s Toothpaste:

SAFE TO SWALLOW: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste – so make sure that your children’s toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.

USE ONLY A PEA-SIZED AMOUNT: Don’t use too much toothpaste – just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn’s need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don’t want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.

CONSIDER LOW-FLUORIDE CHILDREN’S TOOTHPASTE: Fluoride is an important element of keeping teeth healthy and strong, but too much fluoride can be harmful for young children. Several varieties of children’s toothpaste have lower amounts of fluoride or are fluoride-free.

FUN FLAVORS: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children – especially at the toddler stage – are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children’s toothpaste and see which one is your child’s favorite.

WHEN CAN MY CHILD USE AN ADULT TOOTHPASTE? When your child is able to spit out most of the toothpaste after brushing they are ready for a toothpaste with fluoride. This usually happens around age 4-6. Please remember to have them use only a “pea-size” amount

REMEMBER: Brushing your child’s teeth is part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day – before bedtime and in the morning – to clean your child’s teeth with a specially-formulated children’s toothpaste, you will be helping to create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles!!!!!!

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WHAT’S THAT SMELL!!!!!!!!

Filed under: Bad Breath, Cavity Prevention, Dental Health, Dry Mouth, Gum Disease, Halitosis, Oral Health, Periodontal Disease, Xerostomia — admin @ 2:24 pm

A common question we get in our dental office is – “What causes bad breath?”

Many times the complaint is not from the offender but from a long suffering spouse or family member. There are many causes of bad breath (which we call “halitosis”) – some serious and some not. And while many people have decided to just hold their and live with it, the good news is diagnosing and treating bad breath is something that can easily be done.

Here is a list, in no particular order, of the reasons people may be slowly backing up during conversations:

Foods Containing Pungent Oils

Yes – garlic and onions are very healthy, but they also contain oils which may cause an unhealthy reaction to those around you. These odors come from the lungs, last up to 72 hours and can be tough to cover up. Mints, gum, and rinses are your best bet – or make sure everyone around you has had the same yummy food as well!

Routine Illnesses

Colds, sore throats, coughs and sinus infections all cause yucky smelling mucus (or snot, depending on your age), to get trapped in our mouths, throats and noses, which causes foul breath until the illness is taken care of. Of course, if you have one of these highly contagious problems you shouldn’t be that close to someone anyway! If a sinus infection, sore throat , cough or cold doesn’t clear up in a few days to a week, you should probably see your physician to make sure things aren’t of a serious nature.

Dry Mouth

A dry mouth lets dead cells accumulate on your gums, tongue and cheeks. And while morning breath is a perfectly normal phenomenon due to lowered salivary activity at night – it shouldn’t last all day. Those who snore, mouth – breath, take certain medications, or even have lasted into middle age are prone to a dry mouth.

Smoking

Smoking dries out your mouth (see above) and also, tobacco just plain stinks. If lung cancer and heart disease aren’t reason enough to give up smoking, maybe a constant foul mouth will help you make that life-saving decision.

Chronic Diseases or Conditions

Many serious diseases such as lung infections, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer, GERD, anorexia, bulimia and others can cause very specific types of halitosis. The good news is that these are on the rare side, but if anything along these lines is suspected, a referral to the appropriate practitioner is in order.

Poor Dental Hygiene and Gum Disease

Ahhh…this is our favorite! Not because we like people to have poor dental hygiene and gum disease, but because these are very common causes of bad breath and we can usually treat them quite easily. But please don’t wait to long! Gum disease, which usually starts with poor brushing and flossing habits as well as a lack of routine dental visits, can do much more than make your mouth stinky.

In just a shot period of time, gum disease can advance and eat away at the gums and bone which hold your teeth in place. The result? Loose, unstable teeth which will eventually be lost if not treated.

Catching gum disease early is great as treatment is typically conservative. Wait too long and it gets much more difficult and extensive.

Bad breath is not normal! Seeing your dentist and dental hygienist on a routine basis is your best bet for making sure your teeth and gums stay healthy, your smile stays bright, and your breath doesn’t cause others to run in the opposite direction.

At LILLY FAMILY DENTISTRY, we are here for YOU!!! Please make sure you are getting the most up-to-date information on your dental health and other great stuff as well by becoming a FACEBOOK FAN and following us on TWITTER.

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If you have any questions about this or any other topic concerning you or someone you care about, please feel free to give us a call at 1-712-239-5125. We are here to help you!!

NO, I DON’T HAVE A TOOTHBRUSH, BUT I’VE GOT GOUDA!!!!

Filed under: Cavity Prevention, Cheese, Dental Health, Fluoride, Gum Disease, Oral Health — admin @ 2:18 pm

Picnics in the park, neighborhood barbeques, baseball games, and camping are all fun summertime activities. However, most of us are not going to bring a toothbrush and floss to many of these. What can you do to decrease your chances of getting cavities?

Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, pears, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce can help to mechanically clean food debris and bacteria from your teeth.

In addition, fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, and apples contain nutrients that decrease the stickiness of the bacteria that cause cavities. Green and black teas also contain minerals that can reduce the growth of bacteria on your teeth.

Last is my personal favorite…Cheese. While the mechanism is not completely understood, numerous studies have shown that eating cheese after eating a sugary snack greatly reduces the damage to your teeth. Cheese tends to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth which helps keep cavities at bay. Cheese can also help neutralize the acid that bacteria produce. Calcium, phosphorous, and proteins in cheese may also help remineralize damaged tooth enamel.

The best thing is that cheese just tastes so darn good. So at the next picnic have a glass of iced tea(no sugar added), a slice of cheese, and an apple….

And SMILE!!

CAVITIES ARE ON THE RISE DUE TO WHAT???

Filed under: Baby Formula, Bottled Water, Dental Health, Fluoride, Oral Health, Tooth Sensitivity — admin @ 2:14 pm

Something that most people consider to be healthy is actually causing an increase in dental cavities among children and many adults.

The culprit? Many believe it is bottled water. While most of us know the dangers of drinking sugar loaded soft drinks and their sneaky cousins, the “sports drink,” we often don’t remember that bottled water is replacing the fluoride fortified tap water that exists just about everywhere in North America. The Centers for Disease Control reports that bottled water has become so prevalent in the diets of Americans that many are not getting the proper amount of fluoride they need to keep their teeth healthy.

According to the International Bottled Water Association (sounds like a wild and crazy group) – bottled water consumption has recently doubled and the average American now drinks thirty gallons per year! Believing that it is healthier, many parents are not only having their kids drink bottled water, they are preparing baby formula with it too! Even bottled water that is basically tap water in a fancy container is micro-filtered, a process that can remove fluoride.

At Lilly Family Dentistry it is our goal to keep your smile beautiful and your teeth cavity-free. Drinking tap water instead of bottled water whenever possible will not only save you money and keep millions of plastic bottles out of landfills, it can help you keep your teeth healthy!

Should you have any questions about this or any other dental related topic, including the latest ways to give you a beautiful smile, please contact us at 712 239-5125. We look forward to seeing you soon!

June 20, 2010

Stop Being So Darn Sensitive!!

Filed under: Bruxism, Dental Health, Gum Disease, Oral Health, Periodontal Disease, Sensitive Toothpaste, Tooth Sensitivity — admin @ 12:33 am

We’ve all noticed it from time to time – have some ice cream followed by a good hot coffee and OUCH! – your tooth is telling you not to do that! But how do you know if your tooth sensitivity is a sign of (sorry for the pun) a deep rooted problem?

Let’s start with a little quiz. What is the hardest substance in the human body?

     a)  Fingernails

     b)  The thigh bone, also known as the femur

     c)  Your hard-headed uncle’s skull

     d)  Tooth enamel

If you guessed tooth enamel, you’re not only on your way to a winning appearance on Jeopardy, you’re also ready to understand tooth sensitivity.

The enamel that covers your teeth is an extremely hard substance and acts as a great protectant. Inside the enamel is something called dentin, which is a bit softer and actually has small hollow tubes leading right into the nerve chamber. Irritate that layer and your tooth will let you know! So if the enamel of your teeth is worn away, sensitivity can set in. The roots of your teeth are in a similar situation, and receding gums which cause the roots to be uncovered can cause sensitivity as well. So what can you do?

First of all, be gentle when you brush and always use a soft toothbrush. Lots of pressure and stiff bristles don’t clean your teeth any better and can actually wear away enamel and gums.

Some people find that acidic foods such a citrus fruits and tomatoes can cause sensitivity, so avoid those if you are in that category.

Also, there are over-the-counter products, such as sensitive toothpastes that can make a microscopic barrier to cover sensitive areas of the teeth. These can take some time to work , so try them for a few weeks to see if they are right for you.

Unfortunately, many of the causes of tooth sensitivity are also signs of much larger dental problems. Things such as cavities, defective fillings or crowns, receding gums due to gum disease, grinding,and many other conditions can cause sensitivity and all of these things need attention from a dental professional.

At Lilly Family Dentistry we want you to be comfortable and have healthy teeth and gums! If tooth sensitivity or any other dental issues are causing you concern, please give us a call at 712-560-9402 and we will be glad to see how we can help. We want to get you comfortable again!