Ask the Experts: Dental Hygiene During the Holidays

For this month’s Ask the Experts, we teamed up with two local dental hygienists to answer a few questions we had about how to keep up with your oral hygiene during the upcoming holiday season. Kendra Kiefer, and Tina Nelson are both Registered Dental Hygienists at Indian River Family Dentistry. Indian River Family Dentistry has been committed to providing the highest quality dental care since 1976. Check out their website here.

1) How can I motivate my kids to brush their teeth?

K: Making it a part of their routine at a young age is huge. We want parents helping kids with proper brushing as they don’t have the dexterity to do it just yet. I usually tell kids to make brushing the very first thing you do the minute you wake up so before they know it it’s part of their routine. Not allowing TV or electronics until this is done (along with any other chores) would be my recommendation.

Kendra inspects a child’s teeth at a routine cleaning.

T: Motivate your kids to brush their teeth by making it fun! Sing a song for two minutes or using a timer to make sure they are brushing for the proper amount of time. Try buying a cute toothbrush that they like in their favorite color!

How soon do I start brushing my child's teeth once they start teething?

K: Immediately after their first tooth erupts and we want you using a fluoride toothpaste to protect these teeth - the amount of a grain of rice.

T: Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as their first tooth comes through! Most people aren’t aware that they need to start bringing their child to the dentist as soon as their first teeth appear. Getting your child familiar with the dental setting will help them be excited about the dentist, instead of anxious and fearful.

With all the delicious Holiday treats, are their specific foods that are worse than others for your teeth that I should try to avoid?

K: Anything that stays in the mouth for a long time is something to avoid. Sucking on something, like say a sucker or sipping on any sort of sugary drink causes the mouth to remain acidic, which is when cavities can occur. Rinse with water after anything sticky or sugar

T: Foods to try and avoid are sticky or hard sweet treats. If you do choose to indulge in these, then make sure you are brushing and flossing afterwards.

What are some signs that it might be time to see a dentist?

K: First off, we want to get your babies to the dentist now as soon as they have teeth. Our goal is to make this a comfortable place for kids and it gives us a chance to address any concerns parents may have or give some advice and education. Childhood decay is an epidemic right now so we are hoping to lessen this with a little education. As far as issues go, any pain/discomfort is a sign especially when it is to something hot, any lump or bump on your gums, and every 6 months for regular checkups so we can be sure there isn’t any decay. Cavities can appear in a number of ways which is also the reason we take Xrays yearly. Especially in baby teeth, cavities can progress quickly and for a bit without being clinically obvious! And yes, decay can spread so it is important to treat all cavities even though many people think “oh well, they are losing those teeth anyways.” That decay can harm their permanent teeth.

Is there a better way to brush your teeth than others?

K: Gently and onto the gumline. Soft bristle brushes are all that is needed. Twice a day for two minutes reaching all surfaces - cheek side, tongue side and biting surface. Don’t forget your tongue as millions of germs reside there!

T: The best way to brush your teeth is in small, circular motions close to your gums. This pattern of brushing will help to sweep the plaque away that commonly builds up there.

Is it bad to brush my teeth too much? If so, how many times should I brush my teeth and for how long?

K: You can definitely brush too much or more commonly too aggressively. This can irritate your gums and cause recession - exposing the root surfaces of teeth. You should brush your teeth twice daily, and for 2 minutes each time.

T: Too much of one thing is never a good thing. So yes, you can brush your teeth too much. You should brush your teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. Don’t forget to floss!

Is there anything else we should know about oral hygiene?

K: Your mouth is the window into the health of your entire body. A lot of people don’t realize that healthy gums directly correlates with better heart health, lowered A1C levels in diabetics, even lessens the probability of preterm birth in pregnant women!

T: It is important to get your teeth checked every 6 months to keep up with you oral hygiene care.

If you’re interested in getting your teeth cleaned, or if you want to know more about oral hygiene, don’t forget to check out Indian River Family Dentistry, located at 2692 S Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749.