By buying a favorite character-branded toothbrush, (that as the ADA approval) have the potential to make brushing fun for children, which will in turn make them more likely to brush their teeth without any fuss.

One way to make sure your child brushes their teeth for at least two minutes is to get a timer.  They have many different shaped timers which is a fun way to get your child into one of the Foundation’s key messages of brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.

Many people use pacifiers with infants as a means to help bring comfort. However, the down side is that, pre-school age children could become attached to using pacifiers.

The constant actions and pressure on the gums can result in a badly formed bite. This tends to last for a longer time in some young children whenever the sucking action is continued onto a thumb or fingers. Having a badly formed bite can easily set up an entire mixture of pediatric dental health problems. Therefore it is important to ween your child from using a pacifiers by the time his or her teeth start to come in.

If you are a person that is dealing Chipped, stained, misshapen, and missing teeth seeing a cosmetic dentist may help you get back the smile you want.  Did you know that many cosmetic dental office offers free consultations. These consultations can normally run a $100 or more and are the first step in finding out the dental care treatment that would be best for you.

By means of health coaching, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have helped a large group of diabetics to markedly improve their oral health. The patients assume responsibility for their own bodies and boost their self-efficacy through motivational health coaching, taking a different approach to conventional health campaigns and one-way communication. The research findings have just been published in Clinical Oral Investigations.

After the calculus is removed, the crowns of your teeth (the parts that show) may be polished to remove plaque and surface stains. Typically, but not always, an abrasive substance is applied to the teeth with a small rotating rubber cup or brush. This helps to scrub away stains. The polishing substance will feel gritty in your mouth. You will be given chances to rinse.

Tom’s of Maine invites parents to take a second look at their child toothpaste and consider changing form a saccharin to strawberries.  Toms of Maine offers toothpaste that has no artificial dyes or sweeteners, a silly strawberry toothpaste that has real strawberry flavor derived from strawberry extracts and other natural flavors and is the first and only natural kids toothpaste to earn the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance for cavity prevention

The purpose of a professional dental cleaning is to remove the hard calculus (tartar) from above and just below the gum line. Brushing and flossing at home removes plaque. Only dental instruments can remove calculus. Some dental hygienists use ultrasonic instruments to blast away the larger chunks of tartar. They follow up with hand instruments to thoroughly clean the teeth. Other hygienists use only hand instruments.

Good dental and oral health care is first taught from home.  Having healthy teeth and gums are important not to have a great smile but to have long term retention of teeth. Young children may not have a good understanding of the importance of oral health care that is why it is so important to make brushing their teeth fun and not a chore. Try getting your children excited about brushing their teeth and help them to make it a lifetime habit.

A few simple ways to make bushing fun would be buying toothpastes they like.  Let your child pick their own toothbrush.  They are more likely to use one they picked on their own. Brush your teeth with them.  Showing that you enjoy taking care of your oral health will make them want to copy you.  As your child gets older do not forget to teach them how to correctly floss. Until then floss your child teeth at least once a day.

Your dentist will check for decay by looking at every tooth surface. The dentist will also poke your teeth with a tool called an explorer to detect cavities. Decayed tooth enamel is softer than healthy enamel. If you have fillings, permanent bridges, crowns or other restorations, your dentist will check to make certain that they remain whole and sound and that the teeth around them have no sign of decay.

One in three US children still lack dental insurance and proper dental dental care. While most people talk about receiving better health care dental care tends to be over looked. For the children that are on Medicaid dental care can be difficult to find. Children and adults alike have died from dental infections from lack of receiving proper dental care.  Stating that dental care without dental insurance is to high and dental insurance it too costly for them to afford. Even though most states have low cost dental insurance plans many people do not know where to look for them.

Your dentist may check how well your teeth fit together by examining your bite.  First, you will be asked to bite naturally. If the teeth do not seem to fit together properly, your dentist may have you bite down on special wax or paper. Your teeth make an impression in the wax that can help show how your teeth meet. The paper makes temporary marks on your teeth that show where your teeth come together.

Due to recent studies showing a rise in dental flourosis, Feds consider less fluoride in water. Although fluoride in drinking water is credited with dramatically cutting cavities and tooth decay too much fluoride in drinking water is causing Flurosis (white spots or streaking) This is one reason why the federal government has announced plans to lower the recommended limit for fluoride in water supplies. Which is the first change of its kind in nearly 50 years.

A periodontal dental examination involves checking the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. First, your dentist will look at the gums for signs of redness or puffiness. He or she may poke them gently to see how easily they bleed. These symptoms may indicate gum disease.

Your dentist may use a special probe to measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and your gums. Pockets deeper than 3 millimeters often indicate periodontal disease. If your dentist determines that you have periodontal disease, he or she may refer you to a periodontist. This is a specialist who treats diseases of the gums.

Mercury amalgam filling or other wise know as silver filling are made up of almost 50 percent mercury which can make some people sick.  Having mercury filling replaced with porcelain fillings makes for a healthier and stronger restoration option.

Many dentist are no longer using the old amalgam filling option but in the past these filling were commonly used. If you have questions about your silver or amalgam filling talk to your dentist and see if replacing with porcelain is a good option for you.

Due to baby boomer aging the number of older adults are increasing. Therefore more people are facing tooth loss more commonly among the elderly. One Survey taken estimates that 37 millions Americans will need dentures by 2020.  In an article taken from the Journal of Oral Implantology reports on an alternative treatment to dentures.

The “All-on-Four” therapy uses four implants to support a fixed prosthesis, and the patient’s new teeth can be put in place the day of surgery.   The All-on-Four treatment maximizes the use of available bone and allows immediate functionality. Four implants are placed two near the front and two near the back of the dental area. These support a fixed, full-arch prosthesis that is put in place the same day as the surgery. The success of this therapy is judged not only by its comfort and usability for the patient, but also by its longevity.

It is important to tell your dentist at the start of each dental visit if you think you have any new cavities, sensitive teeth, or if you feel any lumps inside of your mouth.

Do not wait to see if the dentist catches it or silently hope the dentist misses it. By telling your dentist your symptoms, you may help him or her make an early diagnosis.

A panel of multi-disciplinary experts convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs issued a report containing clinical recommendations that ugar-free chewing gum, lozenges and hard candy including xylitol or polyol combinations, and a prescription varnish with chlorhexidine and thymol could be beneficial in preventing cavities when used as adjuncts to a comprehensive cavity prevention program which includes the use of fluoride-containing products.

Make sure to tell your dentist if you have been diagnosed with any diseases or are taking any new medicines. It is important to tell your dentist about all medicines you take. This includes prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. Even diseases that seem to be unrelated to the mouth may require a different approach to dental treatments or prevention.