Children Flossing

                                                                        

Dental flossing is important for young children.  Flossing once a day may begin as soon as two teeth emerge that touch. "The use of floss sticks instead of string floss may be easier for both the child and parent/child care provider," suggests Dr. Anna Lee.

Step by Step to show proper flossing techniques:

·      Break off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.

·      Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. 

·      Hold the floss tightly between your two hands, with about an inch of floss between them.  Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion.

·      When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth.  Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.

·      Hold the floss against the tooth.  Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.

Repeat this technique on all of your teeth, including the teeth in back.

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.  

Toothbrushes for Children

Selecting children’s toothbrushes is similar to adults. 

·      toothbrushes with an ADA Seal of Approval

·      toothbrushes with soft bristles

·      toothbrush head size can easily fit in the mouth

·      get the child involved in the selection process and be excited about a new toothbrush

For more information on toothbrushes contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team. 

Powered Toothbrushes

                                          

Some people like powered toothbrushes because they have medical conditions like arthritis that makes it hard to use the hand. Others find that powered toothbrushes do a better job cleaning their misaligned teeth. 

Dr. Anna Lee states, "powered toothbrushes are easy and fun to use, which means a person using one may brush more often and longer as a result."  The scrubbing effect of powered toothbrushes may be superior to manual toothbrushes in reducing or removing surface teeth stains.  That is definitely a plus.

The cost of the powered toothbrushes is many times more than manual toothbrushes. There is also the cost of the replacement of the removable toothbrush head every 3 months.

Toothbrushes

Daily tooth brushing is important for good oral hygiene. Tooth brushing removes food and plaque after eating and drinking and keeps the teeth and gums healthy. Dr. Anna Lee says, "there are two types of toothbrushes:  manual and powered."  The ADA recommends toothbrushes that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

 

Manual Toothbrushes

It is important to select a toothbrush head size that easily fits in the mouth and allows easy access to all surfaces of the teeth.  If the toothbrush head is too big or too small, it will not be able to clean the teeth well. Toothbrushes have different types of nylon bristles: soft, medium and hard. Many patients express that the hard bristles do a better job cleaning the teeth.  That is not true.  A soft bristled toothbrush is the most comfortable and safest choice for the teeth and gums. Many people brush vigorously with a hard bristled toothbrush and it can damage the gums, root surface, and tooth enamel.

The recommendation is to replace a manual toothbrush every 3 months.

Toothpaste (dentifrice)

     

Toothpastes are gels, pastes or powders that help to remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums after eating or drinking. Dr. Anna Lee says, "they come in different flavors, such as bubble gum, fruity, wintergreen, spearmint and others." Some toothpaste contains ingredients that help to reduce tooth sensitivity, gingivitis, tartar, bad breath and remove surface stains. However, the most important ingredient in the toothpaste is fluoride.  Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel to prevent tooth decay.  All ADA-Accepted toothpastes contain fluoride.

The American Dental Association conducts extensive laboratory tests on toothpastes to determine the toothpaste’s fluoride content, how it is released and its effectiveness on tooth enamel to prevent tooth decay.