What are the benefits of having good dental health? Keeping your natural teeth healthy for the rest of your life! Good oral health has so many benefits; you’re able to chew your food and enjoy good nutrition and avoid tooth pain and discomfort. New research suggests that gum disease can lead to other problems in the body, including the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Did you know that most tooth decay, and gum disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene? By taking a few minutes every day to brush and floss, you invest in a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Here are some simple ways to keep teeth strong and healthy from early childhood to old age; tooth loss is not predestined!

Teach Your Children How to Care for Their Natural Teeth

Be an example! Teach your children the importance of good oral hygiene by practicing good oral hygiene. As a nation, we have made great progress in preventing tooth decay, yet one out of four young children have cavities before they start school and half of all children between the ages of 12 and 15 have tooth decay.

Begin When They Are Babies

Infants can develop tooth decay if good oral health habits aren’t practiced. Sugars from the food they eat or a bottle of milk remain on a baby’s teeth for hours, eating away at the tooth enamel. To avoid oral health problems in your baby:

• Wipe the gums with gauze or warm washcloth after feedings.
• Avoid giving your baby sweet liquids (juice, Kool-Aid, etc.)
• The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you schedule your baby’s first dental visit at twelve months, or earlier if their teeth have erupted before that time.

Teaching Young Children about Dental Health

Toddlers can learn how to brush their teeth by the time they are two to three years old.

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Fluoride strengthens enamel, and is the single biggest advance in oral health to make decay less likely. Fluoride toothpaste should be used sparingly in young children; no more than a pea-sized dab on the toothbrush.
• By six years of age, children should be able to brush their own teeth, but keep an eye on their overall performance. Chances are that they will miss the hard-to-reach areas in the back of their mouth.
• Pick a consistent time for brushing and flossing before bed every night and after breakfast in the morning.
• Limit sweets; snack instead on fresh fruit and veggies.
• Some toddlers are more susceptible to cavities, and dental care during this crucial time is important. Be sure to schedule twice-yearly dental appointments.

Training Children and Teens on Good Oral Health Habits

As children get older, it’s harder to keep track of their daily brushing habits, however, they should continue to brush in the morning and at night before bedtime. According to the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), three-fourths of teens have bleeding gums, which may be an indication of gum disease. Teach children and teens about the following:

• Floss once a day
• Permanent molars come in around age 6. Sealants, (thin protective coatings) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth can prevent decay in the pits and fissures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sealants can significantly reduce decay.
• Provide healthy snacks, fruit, vegetables, cheese and nuts and limit sugar consumption so they don’t develop harmful snacking habits.
• Sweet drinks, such as juice and soft drinks are a primary cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Water and milk are actually good for building strong teeth now and in the future.

Adults and Preserving Natural Teeth

We tend to think that losing teeth is just part of growing older, but modern advances in dentistry have proven that there’s very little reason for anyone to lose your teeth. The key to keeping healthy teeth and gums throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene. Adults can get cavities and gum disease that can lead to serious problems. After age 35, adults lose more teeth to periodontal disease than to tooth decay, another reason why it’s so important to continue with your oral care routine of brushing and flossing. The good news is that is periodontitis is a preventable disease in many cases.

Dental care for adults is crucial. In addition to maintaining a good oral care routine at home, it’s important to schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings.

Throughout all phases of your life, it’s important to:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste to remove dental plaque, which is the main cause of tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gum line, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a dental hygienist during a professional cleaning.
• Limit sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks. The more often you snack between meals, the more chances you give bacteria to create the acids that attack your tooth enamel.
• Make an appointment with Dr. Shane S. Porter of Premier Dentistry of Eagle. He can closely monitor your oral health and check for signs of decay. Routine exams to remove plaque build-up that you can’t brush or floss away will also help to take care of problems before they increase in severity.

Call for a Consultation

We live in a wonderful time when modern dentistry has advanced in leaps and bounds for the past few decades. With all of the knowledge available, Dr. Porter will treat your whole family and keep you smiling and healthy for many years to come!

Premier Dentistry of Eagle is located at 467 South Rivershore Lane in Eagle, Idaho and is easily accessible to patients in the surrounding communities of Star, Middleton, Meridian, Garden City, and Boise.

Call today at (208) 546-0655. It’s never too late to start. Begin where you are at this point, and vow to improve your oral hygiene habits at home, and allow Dr. Porter to help you on your quest to enjoy healthy teeth for the rest of your life!