Top 5 Dental Tips for the Modern Family

If there’s one thing that parents and children have in common, it’s the fact that no one finds themselves getting super excited about the thought of going to the dentist. The reason why is because deep down, we all know there’s a chance that we might be told that we have a bit of tooth decay that might result in a cavity that needs to be filled. And that’s not the most pleasant experience in the world to have.

There is good news, though. If you want to know about some of the things that you can do in order to avoid getting that kind of report from your dentist, we have five failsafe dental tips for the whole family; ones that will make each visit to the dentist a pleasant one.

Eat right. The health of your teeth and gums definitely starts from the inside out. That’s why you should make a point to eat foods that will help to keep your mouth in great health. Some of those foods include cheese, eggs, raisins, cranberries, salmon and yogurt.

Go toothbrush shopping (as a family). Although brushing teeth is not something that would go on the top of anyone’s “fun list”, it’s even more boring when the toothbrush is a bland color or it’s not very interactive. According to most dentists, it’s a good idea to get a new toothbrush around every 90 days. So when you’re headed out to the store, ask the family to come along to pick out a toothbrush that they’d like to have. So long as the bristles are soft, leave the rest of the selection process up to their individual preferences.

Carry portable floss. If you plan on going to dinner and a movie (and then ordering some popcorn at the theatre), you should take some floss along. If your kids get into the habit of flossing right after every meal, no matter where they are, it will definitely help them to keep their teeth and gums in good condition.

Put a timer in the bathroom. According to dental offices like Lake Granbury Dental & Orthodontics , one of the main reasons why people get tartar and tooth decay is not because they fail to brush their teeth but simply because they don’t do it long enough. In order to make sure that you devote the 2-3 minutes that your teeth, gums and tongue deserves, put a timer in the bathroom. Another thing that you can do is put on a song that your kids really like. Let them know that they are to brush their teeth from when the song starts until it ends. If they love the music, they won’t mind.

Speak with your dentist before doing any whitening/bleaching. Although at-home whitening and bleaching is a pretty popular way to keep your teeth a pearly shade of white, due to some of the harsh chemicals that are found within those products, it really is best to consult with your dentist first (especially as it relates to your kids). You definitely don’t want to use something that will damage the enamel of your teeth or that your kids might accidentally swallow, so it’s best to get the green light on the front end. For more information on family dental tips, contact your dentist.