T h e    R i g h t    W a y    t o    B r u s h Always use a soft bristled toothbrush. Brush upon waking, before bed and after meals if possible. Brush for at least 2 minutes. Brush in a "pattern" so you know you have cleaned all of the areas.  We tell children to pretend their teeth are train tracks and the toothbrush is a train.  Start on the top teeth on the outside track and go all the way around to the inside track.  Then do the same with your bottom teeth. You need to make sure you brush the gumline of the teeth, not just the biting surface. Click on the pictures below for a larger view. Brush at a 45° angle at the gum line. Don't forget the insides of the teeth. Brush your tongue, for fresh breath.

Y o u r    B a b y ' s    T e e t h Around 6 months, the front four teeth begin to appear in the mouth. (See our eruption chart below, to see when the rest come in.) A lot of infants have sore gums as they teeth.  Gently rub the baby's gums with your finger, or use a frozen teething ring or a wet rag. A fever is NOT normal when teething.  If this is the case, you should see your doctor. Normal signs are, increased drooling, irritability, trouble sleeping (often for you too!). By age 3, your child will have 20 primary teeth.  They are important of course, for chewing, speaking and appearance but also, to hold space for the permanent teeth.

P r e p a r e    F o r    t h e    1 s t    V i s i t The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends a visit at age 1 to discuss nutrition and home care. Do's: Be positive, treat the visit as routine. Play "dentist" at home. Read your child a book about going to the dentist. Take your child to the dentist to watch you or a friend having dental work done. Make the appointment early in the day. Dont's: Don't expect perfect behavior from your child. Avoid negative words (shots, hurt, pull, drill). Avoid threats. Don't try to explain exactly what will happen.  The dentist will have special words and ways of explaining things to your child.

T h u m b s u c k i n g Sucking is a natural reflex and infants and children may suck thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other things. Thumbsucking that persists beyond eruption of the permanent teeth (age 6) can cause problems with proper growth and alignment. Pacifiers are NO substitute for thumbsucking. Tips and Hints to stop thumbsucking: Praise your child when they are not sucking their thumb(s), don't scold them when they are. Focus on the cause of the anxiety and insecurity which produces thumbsucking. Reward them when they keep from thumbsucking during difficult times.

T h e    R i g h t    W a y    t o    F l o s s Our Hygienist can show you the right way to floss with many different tricks and tools. Use whatever type of floss you like:           waxed, unwaxed, tape, glide, yarn, rope, etc. Use about 18" of floss, winding it around your fingers. Use gentle pressure between the teeth, curve the floss to form a "C" against the one tooth by "pulling" it against the front tooth and move it up and down.  Then "push" it against the back tooth and move it up and down.  Then go to the next space. Don't just pop it in and out.  "That's the way I used to do it before a hygienist showed me how" Todd. Don't forget to get the back of the last teeth! Click on the pictures below for a larger view. Get under your bridges. Get your front teeth. Back teeth too. Different tools for flossing: Superfloss Floss Threader Stimulators Proxa Brush

S e a l a n t s "Sealants are one of the greatest services we provide for children." Some teeth have tiny grooves or pits on the chewing surface, that collect cavity causing bacteria that's so small, that even one toothbrush bristle is too big to get in there and clean it. What do we do? First we clean out the grooves, then we put a conditioner on the tooth.  Then we flow the sealant, which is liquid plastic, into the grooves and shine a special light on it, and that's it! That part of the tooth is now protected from decay. Sealants usually hold up for several years. Before Sealant Application After Sealant application Please contact us by phone or email, if you have any questions.