Dental Trivia is fun and pretty eye opening

Dental Trivia is fun and pretty eye opening

    Kick the Habit:

 

      Keeping your teeth longer is another reason to quit smoking.  According to the American Dental Association, 42% of daily smokers age 65 or older were completely toothless, compared with 29% of occasional smoker, 26% of former smokers and only 20% of never - smokers in the same age group.

 Eat the Whole Thing: 

You will get fewer cavities if you eat a bag of candy in one sitting and then rinse your mouth with water than if you eat the candy a piece at a time all day.   

Step Away from the Chips:

Sugar is not the only enemy of the teeth. Americans eat too much, too often, and the habit of “day snacking” is causing more dental disease than sugary foods alone.  Every time you put a carbohydrate in your mouth (cracker, apple, grapes, candy etc.) it remains in solution for 20 minutes bathing your teeth. SO if you eat or graze all day long do the math - you could be bathing your teeth in sugary acid for hours.

Your Child's First Visit to the Dentist

It is generally recommended that an infant be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in.

What Happens at the First Dental Visit?

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. Some dentists may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.
During the exam, your dentist will check all of your child's existing teeth for decay, examine your child's bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw, and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist or hygienist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride. He or she will also educate parents about oral health care basics for children and discuss dental developmental issues and answer any questions.
Topics your dentist may discuss with you might include:

1. Good oral hygiene practices for your child's teeth and gums and cavity prevention
2. Fluoride needs
3. Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking)
4. Developmental milestones
5. Teething
6. Proper nutrition
7. Schedule of dental checkups. Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child's comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth, and promptly treat any developing problems.

You will be asked to complete medical and health information forms concerning the child during the first visit. Come prepared with the necessary information.

Article is from WebMD