Get Your Family Cavity-Free This Year

Kids not smiling in the dental chair? Helping them avoid cavities will make a difference

The last thing you want to hear after a dental exam is that there’s a cavity to fill. Whether it’s your own tooth or one of your children’s, you want to avoid the potential discomfort, stress, and effort that’s involved in restorative treatment. So why not skip the cavity in the first place? With modern advances in preventive health care, it’s actually possible to see cavity-free teeth in the long term. You just need to take a closer look at your daily life and find moments that could benefit from little more tooth TLC!

Daily Steps Toward Awesome Oral Health

• Great oral health means daily actions – Every little step you take adds up to something. If you want that “something” to be a healthy smile, you need to make sure that you’re giving it daily cleaning, nutrients, and attention. Be sure to brush and floss regularly and correctly, and get your whole family in the tooth-healthy spirit. Put up an oral hygiene chart in the bathroom so that every family member (you included!) can check off their daily cleaning.
• It may be time to tweak the shopping list – Emphasize fresh fruit and vegetables in your kids’ snacks, and purchase cheese, milk, and unsweetened yogurt. Try to use lean proteins in meals and offer seeds and nuts as crunchy treats. If your kids get accustomed to the taste of healthy food while they’re young, they’ll grow up with a positive view of it.
• Never skip family exams – Be sure to schedule every six months. This way, we have a chance to spot cavities and gingivitis before they become serious problems requiring more complex treatment. If your kids are anxious about the office, schedule appointments as a family so that they have you by their side.
• Talk to your kids about how choices affect their teeth – Discuss how plaque is formed by sugars and starches, and why it leads to cavities and discomfort. If they understand the process, they’ll be more likely to embrace brushing, flossing, and healthy snacks.

Looking forward to a cavity-free 2016!

Dental Tips | Dalton Dentist | General Dentist Dalton