What to Expect at Your Child’s First Dental Visit

Meeting & Greeting the dentist, the hygienist & staff:

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment.  It gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist, the hygienist and the staff.   You should expect the dentist or hygienist to do the following:

·   review your child’s medical history

·      respond to your questions and concerns

·      talk about your child’s overall oral health, including: development, teething, bite, oral habits, prevention of tooth decay, and other oral health issues

For more information on the first dental visit for your child, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team today.

When should it be the child’s first dental visit?

                            

Parents often ask, “When should I take my baby for a dental visit?”   The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that your child visit the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts. 

According to the AAPD, it is very important to keep primary/baby teeth in place until they are lost naturally.  The primary/baby teeth are important for these following reasons:

•      helping children chew properly to maintain good nutrition

•      involvement in speech development

•      helping save space for permanent teeth

•      promoting a healthy smile that help children feel good about the way they look

By providing your children with essential dental care from the beginning it can help your children develop healthy dental habits. For more information on dental visits, contact Dr. Lee and her team today.

Oral Hygiene Habits That Can Save Your Smile!

This time of year is full of happy trips, time with family and long vacations. But traveling can take its toll on your smile. You may have the best of intentions but find when you are on the road, you forget to brush, eat unhealthy food that sticks to your teeth and enjoy beverages that are high in sugar. But these tips can help you keep your smile healthy, during road trips and for a lifetime.

Maintain oral care routine

·      brush 2x per day, floss daily, use mouthwash

·      if unable to brush, rinse the mouth with water to help get rid of food from the mouth

·      take brushing breaks; take a moment to brush the teeth when stopping for bathroom breaks

·      if unable to keep up with brushing 2x/day, make sure to do a good job brushing and flossing at the end of the day

Foods to Avoid on the Road

·      eating sugary foods, sodas/sweet fruit juice

·      chewing ice, hard candy (avoid dental emergency)

Dr. Lee recommends people to schedule an appointment for a dental checkup and a cleaning before the trip.  The best way to start out the vacation is with a clean and healthy mouth.  Call Dr. Anna Lee for a dental checkup at 626-335-5114 or email at drannalee1@gmail.com

Foods/Drinks Stain Teeth:

The foods you consume are the critical pieces to enhance the overall health of your smile.  What you eat is directly correlated to whether or not your smile is impacted positively or negatively. These suggested foods can stain your teeth and impact the overall look. Dr. Anna Lee recommends, “Minimize or brush directly after eating in order to lesson the chance these items have to stain your teeth.”

·      tea

·      coffee

·      wine-red

·      sauces-tomato, soy, curry

·      diet soda, sports drinks

·      blueberry, blackberry, cherry, pomegranate

For more information on other food that benefits your smile, contact Dr. Lee & her team today.

A List of Snacks

Snacking can cause an increase in weight, cause dental decay and increase the negative impact of too many calories consumed. But if you are going to consume smaller meals, eating a healthy snack in between can be a fantastic way to ward off consuming too many calories and a large meal at the end of the day. Dr. Lee recommends, “Stick to these six rules when snacking in order to keep your sugar levels under control.”

 

Good Snacks promote good health:

·      Milk-high calcium content promotes healthy teeth and bones

·      Cheese-high calcium content promotes healthy teeth, probiotic benefits

·      Tap Water-contains fluoride, a mineral that protects against tooth decay

·      Fresh fruits-high in water contents & fibers: apples, oranges, pears, melons, strawberries and others

·      Raw vegetables-high in water contents & fibers: broccoli, celery, carrots, spinach, cucumbers and others

·      Yogurt-high calcium content strengthens teeth; has healthy, protective bacteria

For more information on healthy food choices, contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today!

Oral Care for Children & Adults

Your smile is the way you communicate with your friends you are enjoying their company. It is how you tell your boyfriend you want to spend more time with him, and how you communicate to your children they have made you proud. Having a healthy smile can help increase feelings of happiness, hope, as well as open up career options. Here are five tips on how you and your children can improve your overall oral care.

•      Brush the teeth twice a day and preferably within 30-60 minutes after every meal and snack

•      Use fluoride-containing toothpaste

•      Floss daily

•      Use mouth rinse daily

•      Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.

For more information on how to improve your oral health, contact Dr. Anna & her team.

The Importance Of Floss

Flossing between teeth removes food trapped between teeth and removes interproximal plaque. Flossing is important because it cleans the hard-to-reach tooth surfaces and prevents gum disease and tooth decay.  

Dental floss is made from nylon filaments or plastic monofilaments. They can be waxed or unwaxed and they are equally effective.  The ADA recommends brushing teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. They also recommend using the dental floss brands that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

A popular question: Should I brush or floss first?

"Either way is acceptable," states Dr. Anna Lee.

Dentists recommend that patients floss first then brush, because the fluoride from the toothpaste has a better chance of reaching between teeth.