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Baby Teeth | Oral Hygiene

May 16, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

 

Brushing Baby Teeth

Even before baby teeth start to show; it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping their gums (Healthy Gums and Teeth Page) with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time or before bed time. At this point, the tooth paste is still not necessary. Simply place the gauze around the finger and gently rub that on the gum.

Bacteria (Bad Breath Fight | Following Tips To Reduce The Bad Breath Page) in the mouth usually can not cause cavity (Cavity Treatment and Prevention Page) or gum disease (Gum Disease | Gum Disease Treatment Page) before the baby teeth are erupted, but it can be hard to tell when the baby teeth are starting to come out, so you’ll want to start early. Getting a baby to get used to getting his/her teeth clean helps in the long term so they can learn to have it done themselves.

 

Maintaining Healthy Baby Teeth

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene Info.

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene

As your child’s baby teeth start to erupt beginning around 6 months old, look for a baby toothbrush with a small head.  Use a tiny amount of fluoride (Children Oral Health | When and How to Teach Them? Page) toothpaste. A dot the size of a grain of rice is usually adequate. Twice a day brush inside and outside of each tooth as well as chewing surfaces. Because you are using such a small amount of tooth paste for the baby teeth you do not need to have your child rinse out unless he/she likes to do that. As soon as you see the bristles of the tooth brush being worn out, change the brush to a new brush (Teeth Brushing Mastering Tips Page).  Since most baby teeth have enough gap between them to be able to clean, you do not have to worry about flossing, but it is recommended to practice that so your child gets used to the idea of flossing (Dental Flossing Mastering Instructions Page) at the time of brushing.

 

Baby Teeth | Fluoride

Baby teeth can also benefit from a little fluoride. The fluoride prevents development of cavity, strengthening teeth, and making them more resistance to acids and harmful bacteria. Please be aware that a little of fluoride is very helpful in development of healthy teeth (Healthy Gums | Healthy Teeth | A Lifetime Commitment Page), too much of it can cause a condition called fluorosis (Dental Fluorosis Wiki Page). It causes white spots to show up on the permanent teeth as they erupt.

Most municipal water supplies are fortified with adequate fluoride so it is a good idea to call the department of water in your area and ask how much fluoride they mix in the water. If the amount of fluoride content of less than 0.3 parts per million, ask your child’s doctor or dentist whether you should give your child a fluoride supplement.

For more questions about baby teeth | Oral Hygiene, or if you want to schedule your teeth whitening appointment please contact our office.

  • 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025
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contact@westladentalcare.com


Healthy Gums and Teeth

March 14, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. ,

Healthy Gums and Teeth

In order to have healthy gums and teeth, it requires a lifetime commitment. This article can help you avoid infection of the gum which is known as periodontal disease.

As everyone knows you need to brush your teeth everyday. The brushing should be done twice a day within the first  hour of having food or sweet acidic drinks. Flushing the food debris around the teeth by swishing a mouthful of mouthwash or water would help when it is added to regular brushing and flossing. It is also recommended to floss your teeth once a day between all the teeth not forgetting the back of last molars.

 

How to Maintain Your Healthy Gums

bl-dental-care, healthy gumsAlways make sure you maintain your regular dental check up at least every 6 months. Some may require more cleaning up to 3-4 times a year. Ask your dentist and he/she will let you know what frequency works best for you. If there is a diagnosis of gum disease, it is easier to treat the disease in early stages. Make sure your dentist fixes all the broken teeth and fills all the cavities. Small cavities are much easier and cheaper to fix. When you don’t fix a small cavity, it tends to become larger in size over time making it more difficult and expensive to fix. Cavities do not go away on their own. They have to be removed by your dentist and be filled with a filling material such as composite which is tooth color and can not be seen by most people.

People who smoke or use smokeless tobacco have much greater chance of getting oral cancer. Stopping tobacco use would help in reducing bad breath as well as keeping teeth stain free. But most importantly it could save your life. Your dentist will evaluate for oral cancer screaming every time you go for check up.

 

Signs of Un- Healthy Gums:

There are few signs that warn us about dental problems. For example, if after brushing you still have bad breath it could be a sign of periodontal disease or presence of cavity. If your gums are puffy or bleed on their own, or at the time of brushing, it is an indication of gum disease.  If the teeth are getting longer, it is a sign of bone loss. If these signs are ignored, teeth may get loose, and eventually teeth loss may result.  Many of these problems can be minimized if proper dental treatment and oral hygiene can be maintained.

 

Healthy gums and teeth are essential for happy healthy life. Teeth and gums do not take care of themselves; it takes a team work between you and your dentist to maintain proper health.


Teeth Brushing Mastering Tips

February 11, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

Teeth Brushing Tips

Teeth brushing is such a daily habit, few people think twice about it. You’ve been doing your your teeth brushing your whole life, but are you getting the most from your efforts? The following technique will help you get the most thorough clean. But as with any habit, you can get sloppy, and that can lead to cavities and gum disease.

How to Master Your Teeth Brushing:

Begin your teeth brushing by placing the head of the brush beside your teeth, with the bristles at a 45 degree angle against the gum line (where the teeth and gums meet). Think of the brush as a both a toothbrush and a gum brush. With the bristles contacting both tooth and gum, move the brush back and forth several times across each tooth individually.

Teeth Brushing Image 2Use a short stroke and a gentle scrubbing motion, as if the goal were to massage the gum. Don’t’ try to force the bristles under the gum line; that will happen naturally, especially with a brush that has soft, flexible bristles.

While doing your teeth brushing, start with the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. Then use the same short back-and-forth strokes on the inside surfaces. Try to concentrate harder on the inside surfaces; studies show they’re more often neglected. For the upper and lower front teeth, brush the inside surfaces by using the brush vertically and making several gentle up-and –down strokes over the teeth and gums.

Finish up by lightly scrubbing the chewing surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. While doing your teeth brushing, you should also brush your tongue for a fresher breath. If you have any questions regarding this or any other aspect of your dental care, please feel free to call upon any member of our dental team. We are dedicated to providing you with the finest in dental care. Please let us know how we can help.

 

What Tooth Brush to Use:

Hard bristles were once recommended but are now thought to be too abrasive to the teeth and gums. We now suggest a soft, rounded-end nylon bristle brush. Be sure to discard brushes when the bristles are bend or frayed or approximately every three to four months.


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