Things you might not know, but should.....

Xylitol

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar substitute used extensively in chewing gum. Frequent usage of xylitol gum can decrease risk of tooth decay by making your plaque "less harmful" and by making tooth surfaces harder to stick to.

Arginine

Frequent consumption of foods rich in the amino acid arginine (crab, turkey, spinach, fish, eggs, soy, and sesame seeds) can prevent tooth decay by favoring healthier types of mouth bacteria. By favoring healthier types, the populations of the decay causing bacteria may be reduced, thus reducing risk of tooth decay.

Posteruptive maturation

When teeth first come in, they are their most vulnerable to tooth decay, but by using fluoride toothpaste daily, and having good oral hygiene, you can strengthen the tooth enamel, and reduce lifetime risk of decay.

You are what you eat, and so is your plaque. It is now known that many healthy foods actually support healthy bacteria in our mouth and GI system. Similarly, unhealthy (junk) foods support strains of bacteria that are not good for our teeth or body.

Sealants

Protective coatings we can place on the chewing surface of back teeth. These surfaces have the highest lifetime risk of decay.

Mouth guards

If your child participates in contact sports, consider a mouthguard to protect teeth from injury. There are store bought (stock) guards as well as custom made mouth guards which we make.

Too much Fluoride!

It's easy for kids to get too much fluoride, a condition called fluorosis. The most common way is for kids to dispense their own toothpaste, use too much, and swallow most of it. Teach kids it's your job to dispense toothpaste until they're old enough to understand.

Did you know...

Tooth decay is the one of the most common childhood illnesses.

Young children lack the fine motor skills to brush all teeth well until they are about 8years old.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends assisting your child with brushing through age 8.