Bright Ideas for a Brighter Kids Smile

As a parent, it can be challenging to convince your children that brushing their teeth can be fun. With your kids home from school since forever and until who knows when, now is a great time to get them motivated. Heck, you have nowhere else to be! Kidding, but…only sort of.

  1. Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Routine: Have your child brush their teeth morning and night with Firefly’s Ready Go Power Toothbrush to teach them the dentist-recommended time for proper cleaning of two minutes.
  2. Create a “shared vision” between parents and children. Create a shared vision with children by modeling your own brush time behavior and letting the child pick out his or her toothbrush color and toothpaste flavor. It’s also important to create a shared vision between parent and pediatric dentist during the initial dental visit to help reinforce good oral hygiene habits at home.
  3. Make it Fun: Let your child choose their favorite flavor or favorite character with Firefly’s Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste. It even comes with a mystery prize.

Firefly’s NEW! Ready Go Power Toothbrush ($6.98 at Walmart and Walmart.com)

The Ready Go Power Toothbrush combines Firefly’s famous Light Up feature with a soft rotating head that brought an innovation to kids’ oral care. The stop light timer counts down from green to yellow to red, helping children brush for the dentist recommended time for proper cleaning of teeth. This toothbrush has a soft rotating head that blasts away plaque, preventing gum disease and tooth decay. It has a massaging action which effectively cleans between teeth while stimulating gums.

NEW Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste ($3.48, Walmart and Walmart.com)

Carefully crafted for kids, this toothpaste is clinically proven to strengthen a child’s enamel while reducing bacteria and plaque buildup that cause cavities. There are no “nasties” (no artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, dyes, or SLS/sulfates) and the less mess airless pump leads to more controlled dosage and a cleaner bathroom. What’s even more fun? The new toothpaste includes a FREE mystery prize with every purchase.

Things You Should Never Hide From Your Dentist

Personal care often remains a neglected issue by many, especially when it comes to oral hygiene and dental health. If you simply search online for a dentist who works with kids, you will find out that many people hide important and relevant information relating to their medical history and daily routine. This practice eventually harms them in the long run. 

Talking about your routine and sharing important information with your dentist can help you to cater to your issues wisely. Here, we would like to suggest some of the things that you should never hide from your dentist and communicate it to them as this will benefit you in terms of your health and wellbeing.

  1. The Truth about Smoking: Smoking has always been the subject of debate, such as it exerts harmful effects on lungs. Medical research suggests smoking is associated with many of the adverse effects on your dental cavity. Apart from adverse pulmonary effects, it is one of the foremost reasons for problems, such as causing the oral cavity. If you are about to visit a dentist, you do not have to lie about your smoking habit as the dentist will immediately get to know about it. Smoking has been observed to stain your teeth. Excessive formation and accumulation of plaque and tartar can also be observed as a clear indication of it. At the end of the day, it is the core reason for bad breath and gum diseases that are responsible for salivary gland inflammation. 
  2. Excessive Soda Consumption: Even if you try to avoid the question about consuming soda, you will not be able to hide it because soda has been the root-cause in decomposing the enamel of the teeth. Even if you lie or hide it from your dentist, he will surely get to know once he starts the oral cavity examination and you will have no other option than to admit the habit. A combination of soda and sugar creates a relationship that is very tough for teeth enamel to resist. This leads your oral cavity to be sensitive and enhances tooth decay. So, hiding such information from your dentist may never be suitable.
  3. Flossing Frequency: People busy with their busy routine do not feel the need of maintaining their oral hygiene. Soon after consuming food, many of us rinse our mouth but do not consider flossing as an important practice. Flossing is a practice that is intended to remove the food and plaque particles that accumulate between the teeth but are not removed by rinsing the oral cavity. If you are not able to maintain a flossing routine, share this with the dentist. Dentists recommend flossing at least once a day to get rid of plaque and tartar that become the catalyst for many of gum diseases. Finding the right dentist and setting up a checkup routine is the key.
  4. Medical History: Medical history is something that people try to hide and are not fond of discussing it with their dentist. But, here’s where the issue arises. We would highly recommend and advise sharing your medical history with the dentist as he may suggest some preventive medicines that may affect or trigger your medical history and cause a relapse. Diabetes and autoimmune diseases are likely to cause infection with the use of medical and surgical instruments. So, before you visit the dentist, you need to think about sharing your entire medical history if you want a complete cure from your dental issues. A dentist can do wonders for you.
  5. Oral Hygiene and Fertility: Good oral hygiene is interrelated to your fertility. You will surely be amazed to know that oral hygiene has a direct association with fertility. When it comes to male fertility, issues like poor sperm motility and sperm morphology are the two main problems identified as related to poor oral hygiene. If you are not able to communicate about your physical relationship with your dentist, it may affect you in your personal life. Similarly, when we talk about women, preterm labor is the most important thing to look upon as it is related to poor oral hygiene. We would recommend that you discuss your pregnancy status with your dentist to keep your personal life stable and physically healthy. For instance, dental X-rays have been reported to cause problems to female fertility, so you must communicate the issue to your dentist.
  6. Bruxism: Bruxism is a para-functional oral activity in which an individual is likely to gnash and grind teeth. This is a disorder that can arise due to stress and in some patients, due to anxiety. If you have a disorder of bruxism, the foremost thing to do is to communicate it to your dentist. The reason why you need to communicate is that it may directly affect your dental treatments. In some cases, dental caps have been observed to dislocate due to unconscious bruxism. This not only creates a short term problem but can also reflect in long-term facial pain and teeth decomposition.
  7. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: Temporomandibular Joint, commonly known as TMJ is a connecting joint between the skull and the temporal bones. It is one of the most sensitive joints of the skull and can be harmed by a sharp instrument. This act is more viable to happen during the dental filling or root canal when the dental instruments are very close to the TMJ. Slight negligence from either of the patient or dentist can harm the said joint. Medical researchers suggest that continuous headache has also been found to be a cause of the disorder. So if you are a person with frequent headache problems, you need to communicate it to your dentist so he may rectify the issue.

Conclusion: People assume that maintaining dental hygiene is one of the most expensive personal care routines, which also gives you a lot of pain. Pain and payment are the two concerns that create a barrier between the dentist and people. In a certain way, the dentist acts as a detective to find out the root cause of the dental problem. Even though you try to hide a lot of things from the dentist, he gets to know many things that you intentionally or unintentionally try to hide. As discussed, hiding important information has some severe consequences, you must think twice before you hide.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a type of inflammation that occurs along the gum line. Also known as gum disease, this condition can be very dangerous and painful. If left untreated, it can result in tooth loss, and a growing amount of medical research is showing that the inflammation and infection of gum disease can lead to heart problems and diabetes. Periodontal disease might sound scary, but you will be happy to learn that it is entirely preventable. Follow these steps to keep your gum line as healthy as possible.

 

Make Sure You Brush Your Teeth the Right Way

Of course the most obvious step to preventing periodontal disease is simply brushing your teeth twice a day. However, this can actually be a little trickier than it sounds. You need to make sure you are brushing your teeth for two minutes, which is a little longer than it might seem, so it is a good idea to set a timer. Many dentists find that their patients are not paying enough attention to the gumline while they brush their teeth. You need to put your brush at a 45 degree angle where the brush is half on the teeth and half on the gums. Then you need to gently move it back and forth to clean the gumline. This is important because most of the bacteria that cause gum disease collect along the gumline.

 

Never Forget the Importance of Flossing

Though regular tooth brushing may be the most important way of preventing gum disease, it cannot thoroughly clean your entire mouth. Flossing is essential because it cleans the spaces in between your teeth that cannot be reached by a brush. It is best to floss first and then brush, so your toothbrush can remove the debris loosened by flossing. You only need to floss once a day to get the gum disease prevention benefits of flossing. Keep in mind that it is not normal for the gums to bleed heavily while flossing. If they do, this is a sign that you are already in the early stages of gum disease.

 

Use the Right Type of Toothbrush

While brushing your teeth, it is absolutely essential that you are using the correct type of toothbrush. A brush with stiff bristles can cause degredations and microscopic scratching along the gums that further advances disease. You need a very soft brush to clean the gums without causing your gum line to recede. It is important to use a toothbrush that has time to dry in between uses because a constantly damp toothbrush can harbor bacteria that worsen gum disease. If you are brushing your teeth more than twice a day, like many dentists recommend, you may need to buy two toothbrushes and alternate between them.

 

Eat a Mouth Healthy Diet

Gum disease is so dangerous because the infection easily reaches your jawbone and causes the bones in the jaw to decay until they cannot properly hold onto the teeth. You can help to avoid this dangerous part of gum disease by making sure that your jawbone is as healthy as possible. To do this, eat a diet high in calcium and vitamin D. Calcium, which helps to build more bone cells, can be found in dairy, nuts, seeds, and leafy green vegetables. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium properly, and you can find it in eggs, fatty fish, and other animal proteins. Vitamin D is also helpful because it has anti-inflammatory effects. A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that subjects with high vitamin D levels were 20 percent less likely to have gingivitis. Another helpful nutrient for preventing periodontal disease is vitamin C which helps to reduce inflammation and keep your gums from bleeding while you floss.

 

Find a Proper Mouthwash

You can further ensure that your mouth is clear of the plaque and buildup that cause gum disease by swishing a mouthwash around your mouth after you brush your teeth. This helps to kill any bacteria that you miss, and it can dislodge bits of food that are still stuck in the mouth after brushing and flossing. Mouthwashes that contain either domiphen bromide or cetylpyridinium chloride are most likely to reduce dental plaque.

 

Realize the Dangers of Tobacco

One of the biggest risk factors for gum disease is using tobacco in any form. Smokers have twice as high a risk of periodontal disease as nonsmokers. Smoking tobacco is so dangerous because it impairs circulation throughout the body. Without the ability to get nutrient and oxygen rich blood cells, the gums struggle to fight off infections. Once your body’s weakened immune system is defeated, bacteria that cause gum disease can flourish in the mouth. Because people who use tobacco heal so much slower, normal treatments for periodontal disease may not be as effective. It can be hard for some people to stop smoking, but many people find that modern e-cigarettes are helpful because they can slowly reduce nicotine levels over time.

 

These methods can all help to prevent gum disease from happening in the first place, but it is still important to seek medical treatment if you are dealing with periodontal issues. If you want a happier and pain free smile, look no further than King of Prussia Periodontics and Dental Implants. Our talented team of doctors is led by Dr. Melissa Cruz, a leading expert in periodontal surgery and dental implant therapy. Call us today at 610-783-7800 or reach us at www.kopperio.com to learn more about how we can help you achieve your best possible smile.

Mouth Watchers Toothbrush

You hear the loud buzz of your alarm – time to rise and shine. Face washed? Check. Shaved? Check. What about your teeth? While the first thing you do when you get up might be brushing those pearly whites, it might be time to change up your tool. Make your mornings brighter with MouthWatchers®, the leading toothbrush for better health.

As we transition into a new season, shake up your routine with a bathroom essential that will brighten your smile and keep your mouth healthy. Learn why more people are starting their day with Mouth Watchers®:

  • Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria that builds up on bristles in 6 hours with EPA- approved silver bristle technology
  • Revolutionary Flossing Bristles™: long, soft bristles with 1 micrometer diameter tips reach areas missed by other toothbrushes
  • Gets deep into teeth grooves and pockets for a superior clean
  • Comfort grip handle
  • High quality construction
  • PBT bristle material outlasts traditional nylon used in competitive brushes
  • Travel size/foldable version

Toothbrushes come in Manual and Power, available in Adult, Youth and Travel sizes and range in price from $4.99 to $24.99 for the power pack.

Follow Mouth Watchers:

Facebook

Twitter

Listerine- Totally Taken Care Of

Disclosure- I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® Brand Totally Taken Care Of program. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

IMG_0004

Summer is a busy time of year- for a lot of us, it’s also the most fun.  Kids are out of school, adults are planning vacations, pools are open, and it’s finally barbeque season. There’s not a whole lot better then a good barbeque, now is there? Not in my book, anyway.  Plus, it’s a good excuse for a get together.

While everyone in your home may like to do different things in the summer (maybe a beach, pool, or waterpark tops your list, while your spouse just wants to lay out in a hammock), it’s good to remember that the health needs of each family member are different and need to be kept in mind during daily activities.  As a mom, I know I worry about this, including oral hygiene.  One way I keep my family healthy is with Listerine Total Care.

Listerine Total Care is a complete mouthwash that offers six helpful benefits-
[Read more…]