February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Helping your children develop good dental habits at an early age helps your children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. A part of being a parent is making sure your children learn how to take care of their bodies. This is usually easier said than done. This blog goes over some simple tips to help you make brushing teeth a fun experience for your children.

1) Let them pick their own toothbrush. Some toothbrushes may have your child's favorite character or design on it. Let them pick their favorite brush from the toothbrush aisle. As long as the toothbrush bristles are soft, the brush should be fine.

2) Let them pick out their toothpaste. Toothpaste comes in many different flavors. Help your child find a flavor they like best. Sometimes children don't mind the flavor as much as the character on the tube of toothpaste. Remember: Children do not need to eat or swallow a lot of fluoride. Just a little dab will do the trick. Help your child apply the paste to their brush until they understand how much is enough!

3) Let them see you brush your teeth or brush your teeth with them. Children love to mimic what you do. If they see that brushing your teeth is important to you then they will make it important for them too.

4) Make it apart of their daily routine. If they expect to brush their teeth in the morning, after meals and before bed, it will become less of a struggle. Children enjoy routines, and once brushing has become a part of that routine, they will eventually start looking forward to it.

5) Make it fun! Help them learn how long to brush their teeth by singing children songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Happy Birthday. This will help them learn how long they need to scrub their teeth. It will also entertain them and help make the experience enjoyable for them.

6) Reward them for good dental behavior.Whether it be a thunderous applause, stickers or 10 more minutes of play time before bed, giving your children positive reinforcement will help them want to do their brushing right every time.

If you have any additional tips to helping your child brush their teeth we would love to hear them!  Please leave a comment below!  Is it time for your child's dental check up?  Give us a call at 904-797-4064, email us at AllAboutYourSmile@GMail.com, or simply Make An Appointment with our online feature!

~Dr. Marcia Nemecek

Top 6 Tips for Managing Dental Emergencies

I was reading an article online that I wanted to share with our patients. I hope you enjoy it! It appeared originally here.

As we all know, accidents can and do happen. If you or someone you know has a dental emergency, don't panic. These tips will tell you what to do in case of a dental emergency.

1. Toothaches

Never put any pain killers, including aspirin, on the gum because it can burn the gum tissue. Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may be caught there. If your tooth continues to hurt, you should call your dentist as soon as possible. A toothache can result from several dental problems. Regular dental check ups and dental cleanings can help prevent toothaches.

2. Broken Tooth

If your tooth breaks, the first thing you should do is contact your dentist immediately. You should also clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.

3. Possible Broken Jaw

If you think that your jaw might be broken, apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling. You will need to see your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital.

4. Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, rinse the tooth off very gently to make sure it is clean. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any tissue that is attached to it. Be sure to place a towel or wash cloth in the sink so that it does not go down the drain. If you can, gently place the tooth back into the socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container or cup of milk. You will need to take the tooth with you and get to your dentist immediately.

5. Bitten Tongue or Lip

If you have bitten your tongue or lip, gently wipe the area clean with a cloth. Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling. If the bleeding will not stop, you should go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital.

6. Something Caught Between Your Teeth

Gently insert a piece of dental floss or a dental flosser. Be very careful not to cut the gum tissue. If you are unable to remove the object, contact your dentist. Never use a sharp object to try and remove something that is stuck in between your teeth.

If you find yourself in a dental emergency we invite you to call or office at 904-797-4064 so we can help you.  If your dental emergency is after hours or on the weekend we encourage you to go directly to Flagler Hospital or your local emergency center.

We invite you to call us at 904-797-4064 or email us at AllAboutYourSmile@GMail.com  with any questions or to make an appointment.

One of my granddaughters just got her first set of teeth. It's an adorable site to see those two bright white teeth at the bottom of that sweet smile. Now she's starting to want to explore more foods and try out her new pearly whites, and I'm excited to help her do it!

My daughter-in-law and I were chatting one night about the new nightly routine, which now includes brushing these two little teeth. She was excited and exhausted about getting her baby into the groove of having her mouth invaded by the baby toothbrush. During the discussion, I started thinking about how many new patients I see that are unaware of how to brush their own teeth properly.

Most people know to brush their teeth at least two times a day and to floss daily. However, there are some things I wish I could tell everyone about brushing. So here they are: Some tips to brushing properly.

The Brush Matters

A lot of people choose the hardest, largest tooth brush they can buy. The thought is that the bigger and the harder, the better. For brushing that isn't so. The harder the bristle the more damage it can do to teeth and gums. Harder toothbrush bristles tend to wear grooves in the teeth at the gumline and wear away gum tissue covering the tooth root. I recommend you only get a soft or extra soft tooth brush. The softer brushes clean better, too, because their bristles flex and reach tough to get at areas better. The larger the head of the toothbrush, the harder it is for the brush to reach those small areas in and around back teeth. So when you are picking out your next toothbrush, remember that soft and small are key!

Just A Dab Will Do It

A lot of my grandchildren love to cover the toothbrush with as much toothpaste as possible. They can't get enough of some of the good flavors available now-a-days. However, that isn't necessary for a clean mouth. About a pea size amount of toothpaste will get the job done. And if your child is likely to swallow the toothpaste, you want to keep the amount small.

There's an Angle and a System
(Image courtesy of Healthwise, Inc)

Don't hold your toothbrush flat against your teeth. Hold it at a 45 degree angle! There's a great system the dental community recommends that will help you clean each tooth properly. Start with the farthest 3 rear teeth on your upper jaw. Clean the chewing surface first, then the outer surface (towards the cheek) and then the inner surface (towards the tongue). Don't forget to brush the back surface of the last tooth. Make sure to move the brush in a circular movement and not back and forth. Back and forth movements can damage the teeth and gums. Once you've cleaned those 3 teeth move onto the next three teeth. Once you've cleaned the top teeth then move to the bottom teeth and start the process over again.

Putting The Pressure On

A lot of people brush their teeth the same way they wash dishes. They put a lot of force into their brushing, hoping to remove more food particles and plaque with each stroke. Too much pressure is actually bad for the gums and will cause more harm than good. So when you are brushing keep in mind the angle of your brush and cleaning each surface. Those two things will help your brushing more effectively than putting the pressure on!

Clean Up

Once you've cleaned your upper and lower teeth, take your brush and clean around the gums to remove any food particles that may be left. This is also an excellent time to brush your tongue! Simply take the toothbrush and wipe the bristles from the back of the tongue to the front and spit out the residue. Remember that thousands of small grooves in your tongue collect bacteria so this is a very significant step. This is especially important for fighting bad breath!

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

After you've brushed your teeth, it is always good to rinse out your mouth. This removes particles loosened by your brush. Water will work, but mouth wash is always better. Mouth wash helps to keep your breath fresh. Some mouthwashes kill remaining bacteria they contact while others provide additional fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to decay. Try to brush at least twice a day or after every meal.

Hopefully this will assist you at brushing effectively and thoroughly. Daily brushing is very important to keep your mouth (and your body) healthy. I'm glad my granddaughter is learning this so young!

Have more questions about Brushing or anything else? Email me at AllAboutYourSmile@Gmail.com. I'd love to hear your questions or feedback!