The American Dental Association (ADA) has released a new recommendation for fluoride use in children younger than two years of age. While the existing recommendation of using a pea-sized amount after the age of two is still reinforced, it is now recommended to start with "only the tiniest amount of fluoride toothpaste" as soon as their teeth start erupting. The goal is that we use just enough to help prevent cavities in primary teeth, without the negative effects of swallowing too much fluoride. It has been shown that early childhood decay is an indicator towards adult decay levels.

How much is enough? By their article, it appears that just a partial smear across the toothbrush is enough. One other important thing to note, is that parents should be helping their children brush until they develop the dexterity to brush themselves. Encourage your child to spit after brushing early on so that they do not swallow too much toothpaste. When you initially start brushing with them, only use water and have them practice spitting that out first, then move onto toothpaste. 

For the full story, please click here.

*Image from ADA and NY Times

Here are 10 ways you can help your children stay mouth healthy during Halloween and year-round.

• Eat Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
• Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay. 
• Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
• Drink more water. Drinking optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, look for kinds that are fluoridated. 
• Maintain a healthy diet. Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. 
• Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
• Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria. 
• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth. 
• Clean between teeth daily with floss. Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Visit an ADA member dentist. Regular visits to your ADA-member dentist can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to "treat."

*From the ADA.org 

Teeth are already developing in the weeks of pregnancy so that they're ready to erupt within a few months of a baby being born. Babies will start teething at around 4-7 months old, so it is important to know how to take care of your child's teeth as they start to show up. Here are a few tips for what to do at what time.

• To clean your infant's teeth, a soft moist cloth and a little rubbing are all you need to do during those first few months after teething to keep the primary teeth clean. As the baby gets a little older and more teeth come in behind the first few, start brushing with a small brush and water. This is sufficient for those 2 years old and younger.
• Take your kids to see the dentist no later than their first birthday. Your dentist will be able to check for cavities and gum problems before they develop into serious problems.
• Start flossing your child's teeth as soon as you see 2 teeth touching each other. Flossers are really handy!
• After 2 years of age, it is time to introduce fluoride toothpaste to your child. Start by using a small amount (no more than the size of a pea) and scrub your child's teeth. Teach them to spit out as much as possible to minimize swallowing it. Continue this until they're about 6 years old. They may start showing that they can brush by themselves, but make sure to brush with them and help them be thorough! 

For more information about your child's oral health, visit http://www.2min2x.org/

September is finally here and the kids are back in school. Have you or your kids started any orthodontic work (braces)? Here are a few tips from the ADA (American Dental Association) on what foods to avoid, and what foods are ortho-friendly.

Foods to avoid:

• ice
• nuts
• popcorn
• hard candy
• gum
• chewy candy like caramel or gummi bears
• whole hard fruit like apples and pears and hard, raw veggies like carrots
• corn on the cob
• hard pretzels
• peanut brittle
• pizza crust
• hard rolls or bagels
• ribs

If you are really craving some of these foods, then it is suggested that you cut them into small bite-sized pieces so that they are easy to chew and do not require you biting into something big.

Foods that are safe:

• scrambled eggs
• oatmeal
• soup with soft vegetables or pureed or cream soups
• soft cheeses, including cottage cheese
• smoothies and milkshakes
• pudding and custard
• meatloaf 
• mashed potatoes
• sorbet and frozen yogurt 
• tortillas (soften by microwaving or steaming)
• yogurt 
• soft-cooked, shredded chicken and meat
• protein shakes
• tofu
• ripe fruits, such as peaches and nectarines, cut into bite-size pieces
• couscous, quinoa, bulgur, soft-cooked rice 
• pasta and noodles 
• polenta
• baked apples
• peanut butter
• chicken or tuna salad
• refried beans
• avocado 
• applesauce
• macaroni and cheese
• pancakes
• soft bread
• saltines and matzoh
• mashed bananas
• cooked veggies
• hummus
• canned or cooked fruit

If you have any other questions about how to handle braces, check out the ADA's website: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition/food-tips/

The video comes from the website, www.2min2x.org which is a site to help promote good oral hygiene habits. Stressing the importance of brushing at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time. If you need some tips or advice on how to get your kids to brush, check out their website for more information.

If you have any questions regarding this treatment, give us a call! (425)-746-5907

We hope everyone had a great new years holiday. It's a new year and a time for new beginnings!

The ADA recently released a new tool on their website called "Symptom Checker". I checked it out and it seems like a pretty helpful tool in educating patients about what their various symptoms might be caused by. Now it cannot replace an actual diagnosis from a dentist, but it can give patients an idea of what may be going on. It is still highly encouraged to seek professional help to make sure you're receiving proper treatment.

Check it out here:
ADA Symptom Checker

Wanna get spooked for Halloween? Check out this diagram on sugar consumption in the US. 

http://www.richmondinstitute.com/u-s-consumption-of-sugar-a-not-so-sweet-reality?goback=%2Egde_132521_member_179312642

Remember: Cavities develop because of bacteria processing food/carbohydrates/sugars, which produces acid that eats away at your teeth! Minimize your sugar intake or make sure you clean your teeth after eating to help minimize the amount and time sugar is on your teeth.

Have you ever thought about getting teeth whitening for yourself? Do you have some stains that just won't go away with home whitening products? Do your teeth have gray or brown shadows that make your smile look dark? Stubborn stains from the food and drinks we ingest everyday do a number on our teeth in the long run and the color shows. Brighten up your smile like this patient did with our Zoom! Whitening.