First thing is first: At the very least, brush twice and floss once every single day! This is the most important tip you can follow. However, here are a few more tips on brushing your teeth to help prevent cavities and other avoidable problems.

• Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle placing it where the gum meets your teeth.

•Gently brush using a soft round bristled toothbrush. Brushing too hard can cause receding gums and tooth sensitivity.

•Brush your gums as well using a gentle circular motion right along your gum line instead of simply brushing back and forth.

•To clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, use short sweeping strokes, tipping the bristles into the pits and crevices.

•If your toothbrush has a tongue scraper, use it to remove any additional bacteria as well as bad breath. If you don’t have a tongue scraper, just use the bristles of your toothbrush. Make sure to do the same thing to the roof of your mouth.

•Be sure to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Or after an illness.

•Brush your teeth for two minutes every time. This gives each quarter of your mouth about 30 seconds of cleaning. Plenty of time to make that beautiful smile shine!

Most everyone knows some of the negative effects that diabetes has on people, but many do not know the effects it has on children’s teeth. Kids with diabetes who lose their baby teeth seem to get their permanent teeth sooner than other kids.

Studies show this abnormality in tooth eruption (growing) can lead to a series of complications such as malocclusion, crowding, and therefore can be difficult to maintain good oral hygiene and creates an increased risk of decay and gum disease.

In the May issue of the journal Pediatrics, a study of 590 children, ages six to 18, found those with diabetes had accelerated tooth eruption in the late mixed dentition period.

The mixed dentition period occurs between the ages of six and 14, when children have a mix of baby and permanent teeth. Scientists noticed an accelerated eruption of clinically visible tooth crowns in the children with diabetes.

The understanding of all this is still being researched however isn’t believed to be a major problem, and one that can easily be helped. It is important though to make your dentist aware if your child has diabetes.

What could be more beautiful than a child’s smile? Seeing your child happy and smiley can make you forget all your worries.

But to keep your child’s teeth healthy, you must keep good hygiene measures. These measures are not difficult to maintain, they just need to be applied regularly starting at a very young age.

Parents play an important role in maintaining dental health of their children because a child cannot take care of his own teeth when very young. Preventing tooth decay and other dental problems therefore begins at home.

Nowadays, most parents are well informed and ensure that their children brush their teeth every day. But maintaining good dental health goes beyond brushing in the morning and at night before going to bed.

Avoid Sugar

We all know that sugar is bad for teeth, but why? Sweet food and sweet beverages mix with bacteria that are already in the mouth.

Sugar is found in almost all foods, even in breast milk. Refined sugar makes the most damage to teeth. It is contained in candies, chocolate, cookies, and fruit juices.

You must especially avoid soft drinks that are not only very sweet, but are also very acidic, as they will attack the enamel of teeth very quickly.

Sugars that cause less damage are natural sugars contained in fruits and vegetables. That’s why fruits are recommended for snacks if your child cannot brush his teeth immediately.

You must not confuse fruits and fruit juices, which contain much more sugar and considerably damage teeth. For a child who has enough teeth to eat food, the best liquid to be taken when he is thirsty is simply water. Read the rest of this entry »

Most Americans are aware that the American Dental Association recommends that you see your dentist twice a year for checkups and teeth cleaning. They even recommend visits more frequent than that for some patients.

Going to the dentist is a fear held among many and as a result many people just go once a year, or not at all. Why is going to the dentist twice a year so important?

The first reason to see the dentist so often is to keep your teeth in optimal health. Even though you may brush and floss your teeth two or three times a day, the dental hygienist who cleans your teeth uses more sophisticated tools for a much deeper cleaning.

The cleaning equipment in use at dentists’ offices is specifically designed to clean tarter and plaque off of your teeth that cannot be removed by everyday brushing practices.

The dental hygienist can also offer you tips and tricks to help you keep your teeth healthy and will tell the dentist how the cleaning went so that the dentist can address specific issues or concerns with your teeth.

Another important reason to see the dentist on a regular basis is because many tooth and dental problems do not manifest themselves until it is too late to fix them. For instance, if your tooth suddenly becomes very sore, after not visiting a dentist for months or years, chances are the tooth has decayed and will have to be removed or drilled.

This is the case with most dental issues; they often do not manifest themselves to you until they are in a state of irreparable damage. Visiting your dentist twice yearly can help prevent these issues, or stop them before they are out of control.

Dentists may also take x-rays of your teeth and perform minor surgeries in order to prevent more painful and extensive surgeries in the future.

Cavity detection and prevention is also an important part of visiting with your dentist regularly. If you have an untreated cavity it may become infected and the infection can spread to your blood stream causing a serious infection called Septicemia.

It is also a good idea, if possible, to stick with the same dentist each time you make a visit. As you start meeting regularly with your dentist he or she will become more familiar with your mouth and be able to better help you in the prevention of cavities and infections.

Don’t forget, just because seeing the dentist twice a year is what is recommended for most people, it is not a magical number. If you have a history of gum disease, or frequent cavities it may be recommended that you go more often.

If this is the case, please do not ignore your dentist’s suggestions. Going more often may cost you a little more money and you may have to face your fears a little more often, but it can save you a lot of pain and problems in the future.

Welcome to our Bakersfield Smile Design blog! We are really excited to get everything up and going. Stay tuned for more posts coming soon.