Top 5 brushing apps for kids
Good habits now can help kids avoid problems in the future resulting from poor oral health, including gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Some kids don’t like to brush their teeth because they find it boring. Don’t worry, brushing apps can help! Here are five brushing apps to try first.
Disney Magic Timer
As kids brush their teeth, hidden Disney and Marvel characters appear onscreen (twenty-three characters in all). When kids brush longer, they can win prizes for a magic album, which keeps track of their progress on a calendar and gives kids badges for every milestone they reach.
Chomper Chums
This cute app uses three cuddly animal characters to help promote oral health. Colorful animations reward kids when they brush twice a day for two minutes each session.
How to keep your toothbrush clean
People try all sorts of ways to clean their toothbrushes. Some freeze it, boil it or invest in a pricey ultraviolet toothbrush sanitizer. But are these the best ways to disinfect your toothbrush?
Experts say no. Here’s what to do instead.
Use hot water
Forget soaking a toothbrush in mouthwash or denture cleaner or using UV light cleaners. Use some old-fashioned hot water. The reason you use hot water is that you have a natural flora of bacteria living in your mouth that’s necessary for a healthy environment. It’s not important to try to completely remove this bacteria from your toothbrush.
5 foods that support a healthy mouth
Your teeth and gums require proper nutrition to function at their best. This means getting enough of the right kinds of minerals, which serve as building blocks for your teeth and their protective enamel. By sticking to the right foods, you can ward off cavities and reduce your risk of gum disease.
Green Tea
Research suggests that green tea can boost periodontal health by preventing bone resorption, reducing inflammation and inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Raisins
Sticky foods that can get between your teeth are often best to avoid. However, raisins can be an exception. According to a study out of Chicago College of Dentistry, raisins contain powerful phytochemicals that appear to fight off the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
Back-to-school foods for a healthy smile
It’s that time of year again when summer comes to a close and kids are back in the classroom. Send them to school with a healthy smile with these tasty foods.
Fruit
Fruits are easy to pack and full of vitamins and fiber. Remember to choose real fruit instead of fruit leathers or fruit gummies, as these treats stick in the pits of the teeth and cause cavities.
Veggies
Most veggies are readily portable with very little prep needed. Their crunch helps clean teeth, so try some carrots or celery sticks with hummus to dip in.
Why You Shouldn't Ignore a Missing Tooth
From draining your confidence to potentially opening the door for disease, a missing tooth can have big impacts. Here are three reasons you shouldn’t ignore a missing tooth.
A Missing Tooth Can Lead to Gum Disease
Your mouth is a breeding ground for many different kinds of bacteria. When a tooth falls out, it leaves a wound in your gum tissue—leaving you susceptible to infection, or ever worse: gum disease. When you develop gum disease, your gum tissue starts to recede, which can lead to even more tooth loss. What’s more, gum disease is linked to a number of serious health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.
What causes teeth grinding?
Researchers estimate 12-31% of adults grind their teeth at night, most of whom are undiagnosed. The most common cause of teeth grinding while you’re awake is stress and anxiety. The most common cause of teeth grinding while sleeping is a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. Here’s a list of seven common causes of teeth grinding.
1. Sleep Apnea
Many experts agree that the most common underlying causes of nighttime teeth grinding are sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing. If you grind your teeth at night, it’s likely your brain signaling you to grind your teeth so you wake up just long enough to start breathing again. Sleep apnea may be caused by poor airway health—when your tongue is too big for your oral cavity, obstructing the upper airway and resulting in halted breathing during sleep.
Why Straight Teeth Matter
Straight teeth are nice and all, but do they really matter? The truth may surprise you.
The Social Benefits of Straight Teeth
One of the first things people notice about us is our smile, which makes it a powerful social tool. Studies found that nearly half of American adults believe a smile is the most memorable feature after they first meet someone. It was ranked ahead of the first thing a person says, their clothing and their smell.
Straight Teeth and Confidence
Kids with straightened teeth can gain a huge amount of self-esteem associated with doing better in school, forming strong bonds and friendships, resisting peer pressure and trying new things. The confidence that comes from loving your smile is also important for adults. Feeling good about yourself can greatly enhance your quality of life.
A Reduced Risk of Tooth Decay
Straight teeth are much easier to keep clean because you eliminate the extra nooks and crannies where plaque and food debris can hide. When plaque isn’t brushed away, the bacteria from the plaque interact with starches and carbohydrates in the food you eat and they release acids that erode your tooth enamel.
Should you use a manual or electric toothbrush?
Manual and electric toothbrushes are both great options—as long as you’re brushing at a 45-degree angle on your gums and use a soft bristled brush. However, there are pros and cons of both. We’ve compiled a list to help you make the best decision for your teeth.
Electric Toothbrush: Pros
- An electric toothbrush is easy to use. Not to mention, electric brushing is an exciting way to clean your teeth.
- According to a consumer report, electronic toothbrushes remove 21% more plaque than manual brushes.
- Plaque can build up in hard-to-reach places, such as in your braces. If you’re having a hard time keeping your braces clean, it might be time to make the switch to a brush that has a vibrating feature.
- Lots of electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer. If you find yourself racing through your dental hygiene routine, an electric toothbrush can help automatically slow things down for you.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
A “smile makeover” improves the appearance of your smile with cosmetic dentistry. If your teeth are stained, discolored, worn, chipped, broken, misaligned, misshapen, cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile—and your confidence.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening can be one of the simplest and least expensive ways to improve your smile. There are also whitening products available over the counter at retail stores for convenient at-home whitening.
Dental Veneers
Often called “Hollywood teeth,” dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored porcelain or resin that cover the front surface of the teeth.
Dental Bonding
Bonding can repair decayed, chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth. In dental bonding, a tooth-colored, putty-like resin, which is a durable plastic material, is applied to the tooth and hardened with an ultraviolet or laser light, bonding the material to the tooth. Your dentist then trims, shapes, and polishes it.
Should you brush or floss first?
Ah, the age-old question: Is it better to brush or floss first? (Or does it really matter?) Let’s get to the bottom of things.
In general, you should be in good shape if you do them all consistently, but there are benefits to doing them in a particular order. Here’s a brief look at the most widely recommended order:
1. Floss first
Using the analogy of sweeping a floor before you mop it, flossing gets rid of large particles of food stuck between your teeth, which allows the toothbrush bristles and fluoride in your toothpaste to reach tiny gaps and crevices that would be otherwise blocked. Additionally, if you brush first, you’re more likely to spend time on brushing but rush through flossing. Flossing first ensures you’ll give the task the time and attention it deserves.
Are You Overbrushing?
When trying to get our teeth as clean as possible, it can be easy to brush too hard or think a stiffer bristle is necessary. But how can you tell if you’re going too far? Here are four signs that you’re overbrushing.
Toothbrush Damage
If your toothbrush’s bristles look flattened, you’re likely overbrushing. Keep on the lookout for bristles that “splay,” which is a sign you’re pressing too hard or brushing too frequently. Remember to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 weeks. In that time, bristles will wear down in that time creating minute serrated edges which damage teeth’s surface.
Sensitive Teeth
Brushing too vigorously or too often wears away the tooth’s protective enamel coating, exposing sensitive nerves to cold and hot temperatures. If you have a history of sensitive teeth and have taken steps to remedy the situation, but the sensitivity returns every few weeks, you could be overbrushing.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums often happen when the thinnest layer of gum over the tooth is irritated and damaged, which can happen when you brush too often to let the gum heal itself. Pay close attention and see your dentist whenever you think your gums may be damaged.
Orthodontic Problems
While it is true that braces and dental implants need extra care to remain healthy, overbrushing can cause even more damage. Don’t run the risk of misaligning your braces, knocking dental bridges or wearing down cosmetic treatments as this will only mean more visits to your dentist and potentially complicate future treatments.
Schedule a Visit to the Dentist
Ready to get the healthy, happy smile you deserve? Schedule an appointment today.