Category: Oral Health

Super Fruit for Super Healthy Teeth

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It can be tempting to give your children pre-packaged snacks to satisfy their hunger and save a little time. But, a lot of packaged snacks contain a high amount of sugar or carbohydrates, which can lead to cavities. However, there are some super fruits will please your children – and make their teeth happy too. 

Apples

Apples are high-fiber fruits, which naturally clean teeth as they’re being eaten! Apples scrub your teeth, gums and tongue as they’re being eaten because of their fibrous texture – particularly the skin. This helps fight plaque buildup, and helps remove surface stains from teeth. Apples also fight bad breath by removing traces of bad plaque and residue from the back of the tongue.

We suggest adding apple slices into your child’s diet as a dessert substitute. Keep the skin on the apple slices, so that your child gets all of the oral health benefits. 

Kiwi

Kiwi is often mistaken for a citrus fruit, but it is actually considered a berry. Kiwis have fiber content, and are packed with calcium, which is a dental super mineral! Calcium neutralizes damaging acids and helps bolster your enamel’s defense. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and the first line of defense your teeth have against cavities.

Strawberries

Another fibrous berry, strawberries are great for teeth and gums.  Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, which helps your body produce collagen – a protein vital to maintaining your gums’ strength. A half cup of strawberries – between 4 and 6 berries – will give you about 70% of your daily requirement of vitamin C.

Limit Citrus Fruits

Food and drinks high in citric acid erode tooth enamel in a process called demineralization. In bad cases of demineralization, acid will work its way to the soft layer beneath the enamel called the dentin. These advanced cases lead to tooth sensitivity and pain. If you consume anything with high citric acid, rinse with water for 30 seconds afterwards to clean away some of the lingering acid.

Avoid Dried Fruit

Dried fruit contains much higher levels of sugar than their natural counterparts, and none of the water that helps make fruit so healthy. Let’s use prunes as an example. Prunes are just dried plums, except just one cup of prunes contains more than 400 calories and 45 grams of sugar. However, one plum contains just 75 calories and 16 grams of sugar. 

Additionally, dried fruit can stick around on teeth long after snacking has concluded, and cause prolonged acid attacks that can erode enamel and lead to cavities. The bottom line is that you should choose fresh fruit and not dried fruit. 

Visit our Office

If you’re concerned about your child’s diet affecting their oral health, or worried that they may have cavities, then visit our office. We will perform a comprehensive oral exam, and determine the best treatment plan for their specific case. We can also offer advice on dietary choices that improve oral health, and how you can help keep your kids away from cavities.

Our Top Tooth Tips for a Mouth Healthy School Year

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Did you knot that cavities are the leading reason for children missing time at school? Luckily, cavities are almost entirely preventable. As your child gets into the groove at school, it’s important that they stay healthy all year long to avoid missing valuable class time. Here are some helpful tips that will help keep their teeth clean and keep them in class.   

Establish a Consistent Brushing Routine


Avoiding cavities begins with proper, routine oral care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brushes their teeth twice per day, for two minutes each session. By brushing for the proper amount of time, you help ensure that they are cleaning all of the bad bacteria off of their teeth and preventing cavities. Be sure that your child brushes the entire surface of their teeth, including the backside– which is often neglected.  

It can be tough to convince your child to brush for the full two minutes, but there are some fun ways to help them achieve better brushing results. Go Online to find tooth brushing videos for children. Most of these videos are at least two minutes long, and help keep kids engaged and focused while they brush.  

Reduce Sugar Intake


Too much sugar can cause tooth decay, we all know that. But how does it work? When sugar is consumed, bad bacteria in the mouth feeds off of it and create acids that destroy tooth enamel. Try limiting the amount of sugar your child eats to keep their enamel strong and prevent cavities. Additionally, reduce the amount of starchy carbs that they consume (like bread and chips) to keep their teeth strong. When left in the mouth for too long, starchy carbs eventually turn into sugar and fuel bad bacteria.  

Look at beverages when reducing sugar your child’s sugar intake. Try to avoid serving them fruit juice, sports drinks and colas, which all contain a high amount of sugar.  

Add More Water

Did you know that saliva is 99% water? Or that saliva is critical in the fight against cavities? This makes it imperative that your child drinks plenty of water so that they can keep their enamel strong, and stay cavity-free. By drinking enough water, your child can avoid dry mouth and ensure that their saliva is produced at an optimal rate. 

Floss Daily

Brushing twice per day is a great way to clean most of the surface area of teeth, but it doesn’t clean all of it. The AAPD recommends that everyone floss once per day, and to floss between every tooth. Flossing clears food debris from the cracks between teeth. Food debris can fuel bad bacteria that cause plaque buildup and cavities. Try to floss with your child at first, so that you can show them the ropes. Once you’re confident that they can do it on their own, implore them to floss nightly before bed.  

Add Dairy

Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are a great source of calcium, which plays an important role in strengthening teeth. In fact, the body stores 99% of its calcium in bones and teeth! Milk and dairy products reduce tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel – the first line of defense against cavities. Try giving your child the recommended amount of dairy products daily. We suggest milk, cheese and yogurt as excellent sources of calcium that kids love.  

Visit Our Office

Tooth decay is painful and can affect the overall health of developing mouths, which is why early treatment is the best way to handle cavities. Routine checkups every six months are the best way to stay on top of your child’s oral health.  

Schedule an appointment with our office today to check your children’s oral health, and to begin them down the path to a healthy smile.

Is Sugar Always Bad for Teeth? That Depends…

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Eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, but it can be difficult to find snacks or cook without sugar. However, there is an all-natural sweetener that can help clean teeth and still satisfy your sweet tooth. Here’s how sugar can lead to cavities, and why xylitol is a sugar substitute you should know about.

Sugar Fuels Cavities 

Sugar feeds the harmful bacteria on your teeth, and creates acid that erodes enamel. This causes plaque and ultimately cavities, which is why you should limit the number of sugary foods and drinks your child consumes.  

Before buying your children snacks, check the back of the package for the amount of sugar contained in the snack. Try to avoid sugary drinks like soda, fruit juice and sports drinks, all of which are notoriously high in sugar. It can be hard to find packaged snacks without a lot of sugar, so you may consider adding more fruits and vegetables to your family’s diet. This can help cut a lot of sugar out of your overall diet, and improve your oral health.  

Xylitol is a Sweetener, but Nothing Like Sugar

Xylitol is a lot like sugar, but it’s actually very different in some very important ways. In fact, Xylitol has the sweet benefits of traditional sugar, but it doesn’t have the negative effects on teeth like sugar.  

Microscopic Differences 

Sugar comes from the sugar cane plant, and is genetically different from xylitol. Xylitol naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables, and its genetic makeup is much healthier for teeth than traditional sugar. The proteins and carbohydrates in traditional sugar fuel cavities, while the genetic makeup of xylitol prevents this from occurring.  By preventing acidic attacks on teeth, xylitol can actually help strengthen enamel and prevent future tooth decay. 

Xylitol Stimulates Saliva Production

One way the mouth fights cavities is by producing saliva to wash away food debris, and restore its proper Ph balance. Xylitol naturally stimulates saliva that aids in overall oral health. Increased saliva can help prevent bad breath by eliminating dry mouth, and prevent prolonged exposure to acid and sugar caused by food debris. 

Try Xylitol

Xylitol comes in granules that resemble traditional sugar, and it is incredibly easy to substitute in place of sugar. You can buy xylitol “sugar” from health food stores and natural grocers, usually in the baking aisle. Try substituting xylitol for sugar in your recipes, and see if the taste is affected. By incorporating more xylitol – and reducing your sugar intake – you can gain vital oral health benefits. 

Have You Tried Xylitol Gum?

A good way to try xylitol is by getting gum sweetened with xylitol. Try chewing it 15 minutes after a meal to improve your saliva production, and naturally clean your teeth. Xylitol gum with help you rid your mouth of food debris, and combat bad breath. You can find xylitol gum in most pharmacies, health food stores, or online.

Visit Our Office

By maintaining a healthier diet, you can help your child prevent cavities and promote a healthier smile. You should also encourage them to brush twice per day for two minutes at a time, and floss once daily.

Additionally, it’s important to visit our office every six months so that we can keep an eye on the state of your child’s smile and determine a treatment plan that keeps them cavity-free. 

What Is Gingivitis?

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Gingivitis is a type of periodontal disease, which is sometimes called gum disease. Nearly half of all Americans have some sort of periodontal disease, and gingivitis is the most common. Luckily, a dentist can treat and completely reverse the effects of gingivitis if it is detected early.

Gingivitis – Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Gingivitis is caused by excessive plaque build up. If plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, which causes gums to become red and puffy, and easily bleed. There is normally little or no discomfort associated with gingivitis, however, bleeding while brushing is quite common.

Periodontitis – If gingivitis is left untreated, it can worsen into periodontitis, which is typically characterized by gum inflammation and recession. Periodontitis typically progresses slowly, but rapid periods of progression can occur. Periodontitis can be further broken down into various forms and degrees of seriousness. Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients that are otherwise healthy, and progresses very rapidly – and sometimes without symptoms. 

Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontitis, and is prevalent in adults. It progresses more slowly, and is characterized by gum inflammation and bleeding. 

Symptoms of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is characterized by swollen, red gums that bleed easily. Gingivitis can worsen into more serious forms of periodontal disease, which is usually marked by heavy accumulations of dental plaque and calculus. Periodontal disease and periodontitis often causes puffy, bright red gums and heavy gum recession. 

Causes

Gingivitis is mostly caused by poor oral hygiene. Other common causes are diabetes, use of certain medications, tobacco use, a poor diet, and genetic predisposition. However, most periodontal disease begins as simple gingivitis, which can be easily treated and prevented.

Preventing Gingivitis 

Like cavities, gingivitis can be prevented by maintaining a healthy oral routine that includes brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time and flossing once per day.

Detect Periodontal Disease Early

As with most ailments, periodontal disease is best dealt with in its early stages making early diagnosis vital for successful treatment. Visit our office if your child is complaining or oral sensitivity, or displaying any of the symptoms above. We will evaluate their oral health, and provide you with a treatment plan that will help earn a smile that is free of gingivitis. 

 

Is Your Family Getting Enough Calcium?

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Calcium plays a key role in promoting oral health, and maintaining healthy bones. Here’s everything you need to know about why calcium is important to a healthy diet.  

What is Calcium? 

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and supports healthy bodies in many ways. Calcium is required for a healthy heart, helps with muscle function, and aides in nerve transmission. Although most of the body’s calcium is stored in teeth and bones (around 99%), it plays a large role in aiding vital bodily functions outside of teeth and bones.  

Calcium and Teeth 

Calcium aides in the formation of young teeth, and plays a key role in creating a healthy jaw that can support both new and adult teeth. In fact, teeth and bones are mostly made out of calcium. Both are constantly remodeling through the resorption and deposit of calcium, which means that they rely upon calcium intake to power the process that maintains healthy bones.  

Calcium is also a dental super mineral, because it neutralizes damaging acids and is a great enamel protector. Enamel is the first line of defense for teeth, so it’s important to keep it strong. Dairy products neutralize damaging acids that eat away teeth and are rich in casein, an enamel protecting substance.  

Sources of Calcium 

Luckily, many foods that children love have an abundant amount of calcium. For instance, cheese, yogurt, milk – even vanilla ice cream – all contain a significant amount of calcium. Most of the best sources of calcium are dairy products, but leafy green vegetables like kale, broccoli and bok choy are also healthy sources of calcium. You can also get calcium from dietary supplements and multivitamins.  

We suggest packing your child’s lunch with a small serving of cheese, or yogurt so that they can get closer to their recommended daily requirement of calcium. Or, you can also give them a small box of milk, which is packed with calcium.  

Daily Calcium Requirements for Children 

Children need calcium to develop strong teeth and bones, while adults need calcium to maintain healthy teeth and bones. Your child’s calcium intake will vary as they get older. Provided below is the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) recommended dietary allowances for children: 

0–6 months: 200 mg 

7–12 months:260 mg 

1–3 years: 700 mg  

4–8 years: 1,000 mg 

9–13 years: 1,300 mg   

14–18 years: 1,300 mg 

For reference, 8 oz of plain low-fat yogurt contains 415 mg of calcium, 8 oz of milk contains 284 mg of calcium, and 1 cup of cooked kale contains 94 mg of calcium. Check the NIH site for more information about the amount of calcium in popular foods.  

Try to add at least one dairy product to each of your child’s meals to provide them with adequate amount of calcium. If your family does not consume dairy, try introducing some of these other calcium-rich foods: almond milk, canned fish, kale, soy yogurt or soy beans. If you’re buying packaged food as a calcium source, check the packaging to ensure that there is an adequate amount. 

Is Your Child’s Diet Mouth-Healthy? 
A mouth-healthy diet is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. If you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then bring them into our office. We will evaluate their smiles and offer a variety of treatment options that fit their case. We can also give you tips on eating for better oral health, and point out food that can lead to tooth decay.

Are Sweets Always Bad for Teeth?

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Sugar feeds the harmful bacteria on your teeth, and creates acid that erodes enamel. This causes plaque and ultimately cavities, which is why you should limit the number of sugary foods and drinks your family consumes. But, are all sweets terrible for teeth? Not necessarily.  

Real Dark Chocolate is Mouth Healthy

Milk chocolate contains a combination of milk and sugar additives that can contribute to tooth decay, while dark chocolate does contain those ingredients. Additionally, dark chocolate contains polyphenols, which are natural chemicals that limit the buildup of bad oral bacteria. Polyphenols also help prevent bacteria from turning sugar into acid, thereby limiting acid attacks and keeping enamel healthy. 

If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, go to the store and find some all-natural dark chocolate. Be sure that it is at least 70% cocoa to get the most nutrition.  

Fruit Isn’t Bad – Just Limit Citrus

Fruit satisfies a sweet tooth in much healthier ways than refined sugar. In fact, some fruit cleans your teeth as you eat them. Because of their high fiber content, fruits like apples, strawberries and pomegranate scrub your teeth as they are chewed. This helps fight plaque buildup, as well as remove other food debris that could harm the tooth surface.  

Fruit can be great for improving health, but it can sometimes damage teeth. Citric fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemon and tangerines have a high amount of acid in them, which can lead to tooth enamel erosion. Therefore, if you have citric fruit, be sure to rinse your mouth out with water afterward to remove any acid buildup.  

Xylitol is a Mouth-Healthy Alternative

Xylitol is found in fruits and vegetables and its genetic makeup is much healthier for teeth than traditional sugar. The proteins and carbohydrates in traditional sugar fuel cavities, while the genetic makeup of xylitol prevent this from occurring. Xylitol naturally stimulates saliva that aids in overall oral health. Increased saliva can help prevent bad breath by eliminating dry mouth, and prevent prolonged exposure to acid and sugar caused by food debris.  

Does Your Child Have a Healthy Diet?

Our office helps parents teach their children about earning a healthy smile, and keeping it long after they leave our office. A mouth-healthy diet is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. If you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then bring them into our office. We will evaluate their smiles and offer a variety of treatment options that fit their case. We can also give you tips on eating for better oral health, and point out food that can lead to tooth decay. 

 

Help Your Child’s Smile with Mouth-Healthy Lunch Ideas!

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It’s easy to monitor your child’s oral health when they are at home, but not so much when they are outside of your parental guidance.  When they are at school lunch, your child is exposed to an array of food options that aren’t very healthy for their teeth. To help parents, we’ve chosen some of our favorite mouth-healthy foods that you can pack in your kid’s lunch!

Cheese

Cheese is high in calcium, which promotes strong teeth. But the benefits of cheese don’t end there. It also contains a protein called casein which strengthens tooth enamel and helps to prevent cavities. Try adding a couple of slices of cheese to your child’s lunch every day to give them more calcium and casein. Or, you can buy them string cheese since it is a fun snack that kids love to eat!

Carrots

Carrots are full of fiber and vitamin A. As you eat carrots, they stimulate saliva production which helps prevent the buildup of bad bacteria that can lead to cavities. Carrots are a great handheld snack that can be taken anywhere – which makes them easy to pack in a lunch! We suggest packing a small baggie of baby carrots for your child’s lunch as a mouth-healthy substitute for chips. You can make this snack even tastier (and more kid-friendly) by packing it with a bit of yogurt-based dip!

Yogurt

Like cheese, yogurt is high in calcium and casein, but it also contains a high amount of healthy bacteria. The healthy bacteria in yogurt helps fight the bad bacteria that can stick to your teeth and lead to cavities. Look for yogurt that is non-fat, and has less sugar than some that contain fruit and other added flavors. We suggest packing it in your child’s lunch with a bag of fresh fruit and maybe a bit of granola, to make it more enjoyable.

Apples

Apples are high-fiber fruits, which naturally clean teeth as they’re being eaten! Apples scrub your teeth, gums and tongue as they’re being eaten because of their fibrous texture – particularly the skin. This helps fight plaque buildup, and helps remove surface stains from teeth. Apples also fight bad breath by removing traces of bad plaque and residue from the back of the tongue. We suggest adding apple slices into your child’s lunch as a dessert substitute. Keep the skin on the apple slices, so that your child gets all of the oral health benefits.

Encourage Your Child to Rinse after Lunch

If your child is able, ask that they swish clean water in their mouth for 30 seconds, and then spit into a sink immediately after lunch. This will help rinse away food debris that can lead to cavities and tooth decay.

Visit Our Office

Proper diet is key for a healthy mouth, so it’s important that you pay attention to your child’s nutrition. To help fight cavities, limit the amount of sugar they consume, and feed them more mouth-friendly options. Also, be sure that they brush their teeth twice per day and floss once per day, to remove any food debris that can cause tooth decay. Schedule an appointment with our office if you would like to know more about a mouth healthy diet, and other ways that you can help fight cavities at home.

 

10 Fun Facts About Animal Teeth!

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The animal kingdom is a fascinating place full of wonder and mystique! From caterpillars reforming their bodies within cocoons, to monkeys that dive for fish, animals are truly fantastic creatures. As interesting as animals are, their teeth are even more intriguing. Below are some of our favorite facts about animal teeth!

1 – Sharks lose A LOT of teeth. Sharks’ teeth are positioned in rows within their mouths, and as the rows move forward, new teeth push older ones out. They usually lose at least one tooth per week! At that rate, a human would be toothless in 32 weeks!

2 – Elephant tusks are actually a set of teeth that never stop growing! Some think that they are elongated canine teeth, but they’re actually extra long incisors.

3 – Giraffes and humans have the same amount of teeth – 32. However, giraffes have no upper front teeth, and most of their teeth are actually molars in the back of their mouths.

4 – Frogs have teeth, but toads do not. However, both amphibians swallow their food whole!

5 – Rabbits, squirrels and rodents have teeth that never stop growing, which is why they chew on tough foods like nuts, leaves and bark. It helps wear down their teeth and keep them from growing too long.

6 – Mosquitos actually have 47 teeth! They are so small that they cannot be seen without magnification.

7 – A lot of herbivorous animals like cows and sheep don’t have incisors. These animals use their lips to cut their food, and then process it normally.

8 – A horse’s teeth are massive and weigh more than its brain.

9 – Snails have over 25,000 microscopic teeth on their tongues!

10 – You can uncover a dolphin’s age by counting the rings in its teeth, much like you can determine the age of a tree!

Take Care of Your Teeth

Most animals take care of their teeth in some way or another, just like us! If your little critter is in need of a pediatric dentist, then visit our office. Our office is designed specifically to care for children, and address dental issues common in children. We will thoroughly evaluate your child’s smile and provide a treatment plan that improves their overall oral health. 

Three Common Types of Children’s Snacks that Cause Cavities

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As a parent, it can be hard to juggle your child’s schedule and the rest of life’s responsibilities. Sometimes, a quick way to save time is by giving your child pre-packaged snacks to eat while you are out and about. However, some of the most common types of children’s snacks are terrible for teeth, and can lead to cavities. Below, we point out which foods to stay away from to keep your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free.

Starchy Snacks

 

Starchy snacks like crackers, chips and cookies can damage teeth. Starchy foods can get stuck between teeth and stick around long after a meal concludes, and that’s the problem – starchy foods stuck on teeth provide bad bacteria with sugar, which powers the bacteria to multiply and attack enamel. Regular brushing and flossing usually takes care of sticky starches, but sometimes that’s not completely effective. If your child has a starchy snack, make sure they swish cool water in their mouth 30 minutes after they snack to get rid of any food debris that can lead to cavities.

Sugary Fruit Juice

 

Fruit juice may seem like a good alternative to sodas and other sugary beverages, but fruit juice often contains as much – if not more – sugar than some of the leading sodas. Fruit juice has been extracted from the fruit, and in the process, it loses a lot of its nutritional value. After the fiber has been taken out of juice, what’s left is essentially sugar and water. Limit the amount of sugary fruit juices your child consumes, or, dilute juice with some water to reduce the sugar concentration.

Fruit Packed in Syrup

 

Fruit is always good, right? Well, not necessarily. A lot of canned fruit is packed in syrup that contains unhealthy amounts of sugar. Excessive sugar can lead to cavities, and many more health issues if your child eats it too frequently.

When you are shopping for canned fruit, look for those that have no added sugar or those packed in 100% fruit juice. But the healthiest way to enjoy fruit is by eating fruit that hasn’t been altered in any way.

Dairy Products are Mouth Healthy Treats

 

Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are a great source of calcium, which plays an important role in strengthening teeth. In fact, your body stores 99% of its calcium in your bones and teeth! Milk and dairy products reduce tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel – the first line of defense against cavities.

You can help your child keep their tooth enamel strong by getting plenty of dairy products and calcium.  Try giving them all-natural string cheese, nonfat yogurt, or milk to increase their dairy intake and strengthen their teeth.

Fight Cavities by Brushing Twice Per Day

 

Avoiding cavities begins with proper, routine oral care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brush his or her teeth twice per day, for two minutes each session. Have your child follow this routine to build a healthy smile. It can be tough to convince your child to brush for the full two minutes, but there are some fun ways to help them achieve better brushing results. Go Online to find tooth brushing videos for children. Most of these videosare at least two minutes long, and help keep kids engaged and focused while they brush.

Visit our office for more teeth cleaning tips, and to help your family get a healthier smile. 

Is Your Child Flossing? Here’s Why it’s Important.

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Tooth brushing only cleans about 1/3 of total tooth surface area, making flossing an absolute necessity for your child to develop a healthy smile. If your child is not flossing, tartar and plaque can build up between their teeth and cause cavities and lead to gingivitis. Below are some of the risks associated with not flossing.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Food debris that’s stuck between teeth can provide a feeding ground for unhealthy bacteria to thrive. The bacteria buildup can emit sulfur compounds that smell awful and leave a bad taste in your child’s mouth. If your child has bad breath that smells similar to rotten eggs, then they may have excessive bacteria buildup due to a lack of regular flossing.

Bleeding Gums and Gum Disease

Not brushing and flossing regularly can cause swollen, sensitive gums that bleed when they are brushed. Bleeding gums are often an early indication of gingivitis, otherwise known as gum disease. Plaque between teeth that is not flossed away can infect the gum line and lead to gingivitis.
The bottom line is this: if your child has tender, swollen gums that bleed when they brush or floss, then it’s time to schedule an appointment and evaluate their oral health. Gum disease is very treatable and can be prevented by regular brushing and flossing.

Excessive Plaque and Cavities

If your child is not flossing, then plaque can build up between their teeth and lead to cavities. Plaque is colorless and difficult to see. When you eat, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars found in your food to create an acid that attacks your teeth. Repeated acidic attacks can wear down tooth enamel and lead to cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Some Helpful Flossing Tools

Floss is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Teeth come in all shapes and sizes, so cleaning between them presents different hurdles for different people. Below are a few tools that can help you clean between your teeth.

Ultra Floss

Ultra floss is a great flossing solution if your child has different sized spaces between their teeth. Ultra floss can stretch thin to clean between tightly bunched teeth, but is also wide enough to comfortably clean wider spaces.

Floss Threader

If your child has braces, then we suggest that they floss with a floss threader – a device designed to help those with braces floss.

Dental Tape

Dental tape is a great solution for kids with gaps in their teeth. Dental tape is wide, flat and designed to be gentle on exposed gums.

Your Child Should Floss Everyday

Brushing alone won’t keep your child’s mouth completely healthy. They should brush twice per day for two minutes at a time and floss once per day. You can help your child prevent a bevy of oral ailments by convincing them to floss every day. Schedule an appointment with our office today if your child has unnaturally bad breath or experiences bleeding gums when they brush their teeth. We will thoroughly evaluate their mouth and determine the best treatment plan for them based upon our findings.

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