Oral Hygiene
Regular checkups are an important part of maintaining your child's healthy smile!
Don't brush off regular checkups to the dentist! Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining good oral health. We encourage regular checkups at least every six months. Seeing the dentist twice a year is recommended because your dentist can:
- check for problems that you child might not see or feel
- find early signs of decay
- treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable
Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning, polishing, and an oral exam. During the oral exam, our dentist checks the health of your childs mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, she also checks old fillings because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack.
- Brushing Instructions
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Brushing: Step 1
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum.
Brushing: Step 2
Brush gently in a circular motion.
Brushing: Step 3
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
Brushing: Step 4
Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.
- Flossing Instructions
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Flossing: Step 1
Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and the other finger takes it up as the floss is used.
Flossing: Step 2
Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth.
Flossing: Step 3
Holding the floss tightly, gently saw the floss between your teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums.
Flossing: Step 4
Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.
