4 Ways to Improve Your Oral Hygiene This Year

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Oral hygiene is incredibly important. Maintaining good oral hygiene throughout the year can help you avoid dental diseases and improve the appearance and health of your teeth. Your dentist in Bellbrook, OH can help you improve your oral hygiene. It’s also important to maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. In this article, we’ll discuss what you can do to improve your oral hygiene this year.

1. Brush Up On Your Toothbrushing

Hopefully you brush your teeth every day, but are you doing it right? Toothbrushing is a skill and using best practices when toothbrushing can help ensure that your teeth will be clean when you’re done.

  • Time yourself. Brush your teeth for two minutes at a time. Use a timer or an electric toothbrush that times you to ensure you’re brushing your teeth for long enough.
  • Use the right toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes can help eliminate plaque that leads to tartar buildup, but you don’t have to have an electric toothbrush to take good care of your teeth. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small enough head that you can brush your teeth easily.
  • Get a tutorial from the dentist. Ask your dentist whether you’re brushing your teeth correctly the next time you come in for a tooth cleaning.

2. Floss Once Daily

Don’t forget to floss your teeth daily to get rid of food between your teeth. Show your dentist how you floss to get pointers and tips for improving your technique.

3. Prepare for Your Next Dental Appointment

What questions do you wish you could ask your dentist? Write down what you’d like to know about taking care of your teeth. Bring your list to your next dental appointment to get the answers you’re looking for.

4. Make Dental Appointments On Time

See your dentist every six months to keep your teeth as clean as possible. When was the last time you saw you dentist? If it’s time for another dental cleaning in Bellbrook, OH, contact Bellbrook Family Dentistry to make your next dental appointment.

5 Ways to Set Up Your Child for Good Oral Health

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One of the things that children learn from their parents is the importance of maintaining good oral health. Taking your child regularly to the dentist in Bellbrook, OH, brushing their teeth, and limiting their intake of sugar are all things that you can do to set your child up for a lifetime of good oral health. Below, we’ve covered the things you can do to help your child enjoy good oral health during childhood and into adulthood.

1. Take Them To The Dentist From An Early Age

Taking your child to the dentist from an early age shows them you’re serious about helping them take care of their teeth. Many dentists recommend parents start taking their children for dental cleanings from age one.

Most children have at least one tooth when they’re one year old (and many have more than one). Even if your child doesn’t have any teeth when they’re this age, it’s still important to bring your child to the dentist to ensure their dental development is on track.

2. Brush Their Teeth – Even When They Don’t Have Many

Your child should maintain clean teeth even when they don’t have many teeth yet. Buy your child their first toothbrush as soon as they have a tooth that needs brushing. Buy a toothbrush that’s made for babies.

3. Limit Their Intake of Sugar

Sugar can cause painful cavities. Limiting your child’s sugar intake can help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums. Buy sugarless candies and snacks when you can, and steer your child toward snacks with limited sugar. Crunchy vegetables and cheese are a good example of a healthy snack that’s good for your child’s teeth.

4. Help Them Develop Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Help your child develop good oral hygiene habits. Some examples of things you can do include:

  • Show your child the proper way to brush and floss (when they’re ready to brush their teeth on their own)
  • Take your child to the dentist regularly
  • Have your child floss once daily

5. Take Them To a Good Family Dentist

Taking your child to a good family dentist for regular dental exams in Bellbrook, OH can help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums. Call Bellbrook Family Dentistry today to make your child’s dental appointment.

Having a Problem With Bad Breath? What That Could Mean

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Bad breath is usually amended when you brush your teeth. If your bad breath isn’t fixed with proper tooth brushing practices, then it may be time to see your dentist in Bellbrook, OH. Chronic bad breath, also called halitosis, can be a symptom of a dental problem. Here’s what you should know about bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath can be caused by a variety of problems.

  • Poor oral hygiene. If your oral hygiene routine is inconsistent or you don’t brush and floss properly, then your bad breath could result from poor brushing, flossing, and dental cleaning habits. Your dentist can show you the proper way to brush and floss if you would like a tutorial the next time you go to the dentist.
  • Bacteria. Bad breath that’s caused by a normal amount of bacteria will go away easily when you brush your teeth. However, if you have a cavity, infection, or inflammation with excessive bacteria, brushing may not fix the problem.
  • Food in the bloodstream. Some foods continue to hang out in the bloodstream and affect your breath long after you’ve eaten them. Garlic and onions are good examples of this. You may be able to tell if your bad breath is the result of your diet by paying attention to what you’re eating and noticing when your breath seems to be the worst.

What Should You Do If You Have Bad Breath?

If you have bad breath that can’t be fixed by visiting the dentist and don’t believe your problem is related to the food you’re eating, contact your dentist. You could have a condition like gum disease, a cavity, or an infection in your tooth. Your dentist can help you diagnose the problem and recommend treatment.

If you have a cavity, a filling will be required. If you have an infection in your tooth, you may need a root canal treatment.

Get Help for Your Bad Breath From Your Dentist

At Bellbrook Family Dentistry, we provide dental cleanings and exams in Bellbroook, OH. Get your bad breath checked out today: call to make an appointment.

Back-to-School Dental Tips for Your Child

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It’s back to school time! At this time of year, we see a lot of children coming in for dental checkups before school starts once again. As your dentist in Bellbrook, OH, we take our role in your child’s dental hygiene very seriously. This is a great time to publish a list of tips to help your child maintain healthy teeth this school year. Here’s what to know.

1. See the dentist before school begins.

Many dentists recommend that their pediatric patients see the dentist every six months, just like adult patients. If your child has a condition that the dentist wants to keep an eye on, they may even recommend that your child see the dentist more frequently. Once your child starts school, making time to see the dentist is harder. If possible, make a point to bring your child to the dentist every year before school begins.

2. Brush up on your child’s teeth brushing technique.

Until they reach about 7 or 8 years old, many children lack the coordination to brush their own teeth effectively. Even children old enough to brush their teeth often need help and pointers to ensure they’re doing the best job possible.

If your child is old enough to brush their own teeth, take some time to watch them doing it. Are they getting the front teeth and the back? Are they spending a full two minutes on it? Help them with this process.

If you’re brushing your teeth for your child, spend time evaluating whether you’re doing the best job you can. Time yourself each time you brush their teeth. Take care to get all their teeth.

3. Stock up on healthy treats for your child.

Your child will be eating a lot of food outside the house once school starts. Stock up on healthy snacks that are good for your child’s teeth. Hard-boiled eggs, roasted chickpeas, pita and hummus, veggie sticks, and nuts and seeds are all healthy snacks with low sugar content.

4. Get a mouthguard for sports if one is needed.

Does your child participate in contact sports? They may need a mouthguard. Talk to the dentist to find out if they recommend one for your child.

Have you made an appointment for your child’s dental cleaning in Bellbrook, OH? It’s that time of year. Call Bellbrook Family Dentistry to make an appointment if you haven’t yet.

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Why Does My Breath Smell and What Can I Do About It?

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Do you struggle with bad breath? There are solutions to your problem! By maintaining good oral hygiene at home and by seeing the dentist in Bellbrook, OH, you can control your bad breath. Here’s what you should know.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria can grow on your teeth and accumulate when you don’t brush frequently enough or when you don’t brush well enough.

Bad breath can also be caused by infections in the mouth, the food you eat, tobacco use, dry mouth and medications that you take. Most bad breath is alleviated by brushing teeth.

How Can You Fix Bad Breath?

If your breath continues to smell bad even after you’ve brushed your teeth, then there are several things you can try to fix your bad breath, including:

  • Improve your oral hygiene habits. It may be that you’re not brushing your teeth often or well enough, which is causing the bacteria in your mouth to grow out of control. Talk to your dentist about your oral hygiene habits to find out if they’re adequate.
  • See a dentist for an examination. You may have periodontal disease or an infection in your mouth. Either way, your dentist can diagnose your condition and make recommendations.
  • Make lifestyle changes. If tobacco use is causing your bad breath, then making a lifestyle change can help you improve your breath.
  • Stay hydrated. Dry mouth is one of the causes of bad breath, so hydrating and taking steps to improve your dry mouth can help with this. If your dry mouth is caused by medications, your dentist may be able to suggest ways that you can alleviate your dry mouth to help fix the problem.

First and foremost, it’s important to maintain good oral health. This is one of the best things you can do to get rid of bad breath. To maintain healthy teeth and gums, it’s important to see a dentist.

Do you need an appointment for a dental exam and cleaning in Bellbrook OH? If so, call your dentist at Bellbrook Family Dentistry. We’ll be happy to get an appointment scheduled for you.

How to Protect Your Little One’s Teeth this Holiday Season

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The holidays are a time of great fun – but they can also be hard on teeth! Kids can be especially vulnerable to dental problems around the holidays, because of the temptation to eat sweets and candy. You can protect your child’s teeth this holiday season. By making an appointment with the dentist in Bellbrook OH, and by taking the following precautions, you can ensure that your child has good oral hygiene once the holidays are over. Here’s what you need to know.

Keep up With Their Oral Hygiene Routine

Do you ever forget to have your child brush their teeth at night? Ever send them to bed without telling them to brush and floss? This is not the time of year to let that happen! While it’s never a good idea to let ordinary oral hygiene routines slide, it’s an even bigger problem at the holidays. Set an alarm on your phone to go off every night before bedtime, so that you and your child will remember tooth brushing every evening.

Limit their Intake of Sugar

Don’t give your child uncontrolled access to cookies, cakes and sugar around the holidays. When your child asks if they can have holiday cookies, tell them how many they may take. If your child is given chocolates or candies by a relative, tell your child what times of day are acceptable for eating these candies. Avoid giving your child candies in their stocking, since they’re probably getting candies in many other places at this time of year.

Have Them Drink Water

Encourage your child to drink water with snacks, after snacks, and after meals. Drinking water helps wash away the bacteria and bits of food left in your child’s mouth, and that can help keep your child’s mouth clean. Want to make drinking water more fun? Give them a cute sippy cup they love, or a special water bottle that’s all theirs.

Schedule a Dental Checkup

Schedule a dental check up in Bellbrook OH immediately following the holidays. During your child’s checkup, the dentist will get rid of any plaque that may have built up on your child’s teeth during the holidays. The dentist will also let you know if your child needs a filling or if they need to make changes to their oral hygiene routine.

Call today to make an appointment.

Your Little One Has a Hard Time Brushing Their Teeth? 4 Tips

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It’s so important for children to learn to brush their teeth well. Unfortunately, many small children don’t have the coordination to brush their teeth thoroughly and properly.

Many kids also struggle to brush their teeth for long enough – they just don’t have the patience! As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your little one learn to brush their teeth. Here’s what we suggest.

1. Sing a Song to Show How Long

It’s normal for small children who brush their own teeth to lose interest in brushing their teeth before their teeth are fully clean. Tooth brushing should last about two minutes.

To show your child how long they should be brushing their teeth, find a song your child enjoys that lasts two minutes. Play that song on your phone or stereo every time your child brushes their teeth. Tell them tooth brushing is finished when the song ends.

2. Ask Them to Practice In Front Of You

Ask your child to show you how they brush their teeth. When they practice tooth brushing in front of you, your child will automatically show you what needs to be improved about their process.

Take the time to correct any problems that you’re noticing with your child’s tooth brushing – whether they’re not getting in the back of their mouth, or they’re just not spending enough time in one spot.

3. Have the Dentist Show Your Child

Your child’s dentist can also show your child how to brush their teeth. Ask your child’s dentist in Bellbrook OH to show your child the best way to brush their teeth. Get instruction from your dentist every time you go.

4. Take a “Turn” Brushing Their Teeth

Your child may insist on brushing their own teeth, but until your child is about 7 or 8 years old, you should be brushing their teeth at least once per day. This is because many children lack the manual dexterity to brush their own teeth until they’re at least 7 or 8. So if your child wants to brush their own teeth, let them take a turn – then take a turn yourself.

Make An Appointment for A Checkup

Take your child for a dental checkup in Bellbrook OH to get more advice about toothbrushing. Call Bellbrook Family Dentistry today to make an appointment.

Eating Your Veggies? 3 Reasons Vegetables Are good for Your Teeth

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Your mom probably told you more than once to eat your veggies as a kid, but continuing to eat your vegetables throughout your life is important—even for your smile. Take a look at just a few of the reasons vegetables can be an excellent dietary addition for the support of a healthy smile.

Crunchy vegetables may actually help clean your teeth.

Take a bite of fresh, uncooked broccoli. Chew it up slowly and feel how the roughage rubs against all the interior parts of your mouth, including your teeth. Vegetables with a lot of fiber like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, beets, and even celery do a really good job of sloughing away the plaque and tartar that can accumulate on your tooth enamel. Plus, vegetables can do a really good job of cleaning your tongue, which is part of the mouth commonly overlooked during brushing. When you eat foods that clean your teeth, you are less likely to see issues with decay because you have a generally cleaner smile overall.

Fresh veggies are full of smile-supporting nutrients.

Vitamins and minerals are found in the highest concentrations in fresh fruits and vegetables. For example, a single leaf of spinach contains:

  • Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E, and K
  • Calcium
  • Manganese
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Phosphorous

Eating a well-balanced diet with a load of vitamins and nutrients can be really good for bone health, circulatory health, and more, which means this kind of diet also supports a healthy smile.

Some vegetables may fight bad breath.

Sure, some veggies have a pungent smell that may contribute to oddly foul breath, but there are also certain types of vegetables that can actually help your breath. Some fiber-rich vegetables like celery and carrots can actually help encourage your salivary glands to produce more saliva. In turn, bacteria and foul-smelling debris in your mouth can be washed away.

Get Serious About a Healthy Smile in Beavercreek, OH

They say you are what you eat, but really, your health is what you eat, including your oral health. If you are ready to talk about keeping your smile as healthy as possible, reach out to us at Bellbrook Family Dentistry in Beavercreek, OH to schedule an appointment.