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Oh Baby! Caring for your baby’s teeth and gums.

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Dental health starts before there are any teeth to brush! Caring for your baby’s teeth early on develops good oral hygiene habits for the future.

Before your child has any teeth it is important to clean the gums after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth. You can also buy “thimble” style rubber gum stimulators to brush your baby’s gums.

Teething is difficult, but there are a few things you can do to help. Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger or a clean washcloth. Many babies find the applied pressure comforting. Keep their mouth cool with a cold washcloth, spoon, or chilled teething ring. If your child is already eating hard foods, offer them something to gnaw on like chilled cucumber or carrot. Keep close watch as they chew as any broken off pieces pose a choking hazard.

Baby teeth are important too. A common misconception in adults is that primary teeth do not need special care because they eventually fall out and are replaced by our permanent teeth. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help Baby chew and talk. If they’re not cared for properly they can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.

Put them to bed with water. The first sign of decay in your child’s teeth is discolouration and minor pitting. Putting your child to bed with milk or worse, juice, is notoriously bad for their teeth. This allows sugars to sit in their mouth and breed bad bacteria all night – water is the safest bedtime beverage.

For more tips on brushing and cleaning your child’s teeth see the Canadian Dental Association Website: http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/cleaning.asp

To book your child’s first dental check-up, contact us today by phone (604) 936-1263, or email https://austindentalgroups.com/contact/

How to encourage good oral hygiene in kids

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The more knowledge you can give your kids about dental hygiene, the more likely they are to continue good habits into adulthood – but that doesn’t mean teaching them needs to be boring! There are many great resources available and experiments you can do at home to spark interest in your child.

Show them the plaque that is forming on their teeth by making your own “plaque disclosing solution”. Mix 3-4 drops of red food dye in 3 tablespoons of water and have your child “swish” the solution around like a mouthwash for 10 seconds. Once they spit it out, look in a magnifying mirror and find all the red areas (indicating plaque). Have your child brush their teeth then repeat swishing the solution again to show how much plaque was removed by brushing.

Read to them; there are many great children’s books available about brushing, flossing, and “sugar bugs”.  Click the link to see the 10 Best Children’s Books on Brushing your Teeth as chosen by Babble: https://www.babble.com/crafts-activities/the-10-best-childrens-books-on-brushing-your-teeth/

Demonstrate how to brush your teeth properly – especially in toddlers when they are most interested in copying everything mom and dad do!

Let them try brushing your teeth! Not only is this a great bonding experience, it gives your child a close-up, tactile experience with teeth and gums. Don’t forget to brush again after!

Play Music when brushing. Not only does it make brushing more fun, it encourages kids to brush the full length of the song or the recommended 2 minutes.

Let them pick their own toothbrushes and fun flavoured toothpaste. Toothpaste doesn’t need to be mint flavoured to be effective! Why not let them pick a brush with their favourite character and some toothpaste that tastes like berries or bubblegum!

 

To book your family in for their next cleaning appointment, call today! (604) 936-1263

 

What to pack for lunch – the best snacks for your teeth

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Your oral health is important to your overall health and the first thing to decline when you eat a poor diet is your oral health. To ensure you’re choosing the best food for your teeth pick snacks that are rich in fiber, water, calcium, and protein. The top 7 foods as recommended by the American Dental Association are:

Cheese – Rich in calcium and protein, cheese also raises the pH in your mouth by increasing saliva production.

Yogurt – Like cheese, yogurt is high in protein and calcium. It also contains probiotics which are great for your gums as they block out the bad bacteria from forming

Leafy Greens – They’re full in vitamins, folic acid, and calcium which helps build your enamel!

Apples, Carrots, and Celery – High in fiber and water, they also help saliva production through the action required to chew them so thoroughly. Because they are so fibrous they also stimulate your gums in a similar way to brushing

Almonds – A great source of calcium and protein while being low in sugar

When it comes to beverages, the best choice is always water. Remember, a healthy smile is your first step towards better overall health.

Call or email today to book your next appointment!

We’re a Family Practice with Long-Term Staff!

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Even our receptionist, Dani, has been coming to our office for 27 years!

We’d love to see you and your family for your next dental appointments. Call today! (604) 936-1263

 

 

 

Am I doing my flossing right?

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Did you know there is a right and a wrong way to floss? Many patients receive oral hygiene instructions when they are young but do not receive tips or information about their technique later in life to “refresh” their knowledge.

How to FLOSS

  1. Pull 18 to 24 inches of dental floss from the floss dispenser.
  2. Wrap the ends of the floss around your index and middle fingers.
  3. Hold the floss tightly around each tooth in a C shape; move the floss back and forth in a push-pull motion and up and down against the side of each tooth.

We are happy to provide oral hygiene instruction, tips, or answer your questions at your regularly scheduled appointments. Schedule yours today! (604) 936-1263

Why do I need Fluoride?

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Anyone who has seen their Dentist for a regular cleaning and check up knows that a fluoride treatment will be offered at the end of the appointment, but why?

Fluoride reduces the ability of plaque bacteria to produce acid, and repairs tooth decay by building up the tooth in a process called remineralization. In fact, the occurrence of cavities has significantly dropped since the 1960’s after the American Dental Association approved the use of Crest’s first fluoridated toothpaste.

While it is important to use a fluoride toothpaste regularly, having a higher dose of concentrated fluoride treatment at your dental cleaning appointments is the most effective way to prevent decay.

If you have any questions about fluoride or you’re ready to schedule your next cleaning and check up, give us a call! Dr. Shahriary and his staff would be happy to help!

604-936-1263

Dental Sealants – What are they and why is my Dentist recommending them?

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Dental sealants are a great way to prevent decay from forming in the grooves of our teeth. Teeth are formed with grooves and pits in them that can trap food and the longer these food particles stay trapped in these areas the more likely they are to develop decay.

While most of us are aware of the traditional way of cleaning our teeth ie: brushing, flossing, and mouthwash; manual plaque removal does not always work when your teeth have deep fissures in their surfaces. When this happens your Dentist may recommend dental sealants to help with the deeper, uncleanable grooves. Dentists recommend dental sealants most often when children’s permanent premolars and molars are erupting into the mouth.

Sealants require no freezing and are a thin, transparent resin painted onto the biting surface of the tooth and light cured to harden. The resin fills in the narrow grooves, decreasing your risk of decay. Sealants generally last 5-8 years before needing to be reapplied.

Dr. Shahriary can tell you at your next visit if any of your teeth should be sealed and protected, because not all teeth need sealants.

Remember to maintain regular visits to the dentist for dental examinations and professional cleanings.

Call Today! (604) 936-1263