OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS, we’re going to trace a timeline for your lifelong, healthy smile! And to help make it useful and actionable for you, we’re breaking the content into four age categories. This also gives us a chance to share some “age-specific” concerns and tips.

Even if YOU don’t fall into the age range of today’s blog post, you certainly know and/or care for someone who does. So pass this great oral health timeline along by sharing this post with your extended family members, neighbors, friends, and coworkers. They’ll thank you.

The first age group we want to address is 1–20 year olds, which includes both children and teens. To help you prioritize, we’ve divided the information into must-do’s, should-do’s and could-do’s.

Must Do’s, Ages 1–20:

• Establish a dental home for children early, and stick to regular checkups. When children are comfortable with their dental team, it sets a pattern for a lifetime of great oral health.
• Set up an at-home oral hygiene routine. Remember, everyone should brush for 2 minutes, twice a day.
• ALL CHILD ATHLETES should wear a mouthguard during sports! Skaters, wrestlers, ballers, etc. That means you!

Should Do’s, Ages 1–20:

• Orthodontic evaluations should happen at about age 7 in case there’s a need for early intervention treatment.
• Dental sealants can provide a shield against tooth decay that will last throughout childhood.
• Healthy-teeth eating habits start now! That means minimal sugar, soda, and snacking—and, lots of vegetables.

Could Do’s, Ages 1–20:

• For teens, increasingly conscious of their appearance, teeth whitening can be a great boost.
• Exciting characters, colors, and flavors on toothbrushes and toothpaste can make brushing and flossing more fun for kids.

Use These Ideas As A Launchpad…

The musts, shoulds, and coulds above are by no means a comprehensive list of every dental factor to consider between the ages of 1 and 20! But we hope it gives you some good reminders and a starting point for building your own oral health goals.

Remember to watch for the future posts about each age group! And if you have any follow-up questions, let us know! Comment below, message us on our Facebook page, or give us a call.

Thanks for your trust in our practice. We appreciate you!

NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS that much of the dental “wear and tear” we see today rarely existed prehistorically, and overly-processed diets may be partially to blame. While not all experts agree, some studies conclude that our modern-day teeth are just not getting the workouts they need.

Some Wear Is Natural And Even Beneficial

Harder foods eaten in moderation can help strengthen our teeth and gums. In fact, if all we ate were soft foods, our enamel could actually deteriorate. Hard foods can smooth the surfaces of our teeth, making them flatter. This can help more evenly distribute chewing force and can help protect our teeth.

Yes it’s true… Our teeth need to work out. But there are proper and improper ways to strengthen our smiles. Let’s talk about a few dos and don’ts.

Do:

• Eat raw vegetables and fruit. There’s grinding and healthy resistance when you eat these kinds of foods—which can be strengthening. But it’s also gentle and less likely to cause damage.
• If you eat meat, eat tough meat once in a while—like a steak. According to the American Dental Association, the phosphorus in red meat also helps protect tooth enamel and bone. Each slice of sirloin provides a good, prolonged chew giving your teeth and gums some good exercise. Be sure to thoroughly chew each bite.
• Eat nuts, but eat them carefully. Our enamel is hard but it can fracture. Chew with caution.

Don’t:

• Try not to clench your jaw or grind your teeth. This can lead to microfractures.
• Never use your teeth to open packages, bottles, or to bite your nails. Using your teeth as scissors or a knife can damage your smile and your dental work. Biting your nails is not only unsanitary and potentially damaging, but it can also cause teeth to shift.
• Crunching on ice cubes is NOT a good idea. Let the ice cool your drink, not damage your smile.

A Fun, Vintage Video About Exercising Your Teeth

How Do You Strengthen Your Smile?

A balanced diet of hard and soft foods is one way to help strengthen your smile. Do you know of others? If so, please share them with us in the comments area below or on our Facebook page!

We appreciate having you as our valued patient. Thanks for the trust you place in us!

NO DOUBT YOU’VE HEARD that vitamins and minerals are good for your overall health. But did you know that many of those same vitamins and minerals are very important to the health of your smile? Read on!

Does Your Diet Include An Ample Supply Of These Important Vitamins & Minerals?

Calcium

Calcium protects your teeth from decay and your gums from disease. It also helps keep your jaw (and other bones) strong. Calcium can be found in milk, yogurt, cheese, oysters, beans, etc.

Magnesium

Magnesium helps with the healthy formation of your jaw, teeth, and gum tissue. It can be found in leafy greens, nuts and seeds, fish, whole grains, bananas, and even dark chocolate! Yummm…

Iron

Iron helps prevent mouth sores and inflammation of the tongue. It can be found in red meats, bran cereals, spices, and some nuts.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps saliva flow (and thus washes away bacteria). It also helps maintain a healthy mucous membrane and mouth tissues. It can be found in beef liver, sweet potatoes, spinach, melon, etc.

Tips For Smile-Healthy Eating Habits

Although this video often references teaching children great habits, the information applies to ALL of us! Pass this blog post (and video) along to friends, extended family members, neighbors and coworkers.

Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2 helps prevent mouth fissures and can be found in dairy products, lean steaks, pasta, bagels, mushrooms, spinach, almonds, etc.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps prevent inflammation and bleeding in the mouth. It also helps heal any mouth wounds you may have. It can be found in sweet potatoes, oranges, red peppers, etc.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Without vitamin D, you may experience burning mouth syndrome. The best way to get vitamin D is to spend some time in the sun! You can also consume milk, egg yolks, and fish.

A Helpful Resource For Learning More

The U.S. Department Of Agriculture’s website is a helpful resource in determining whether or not you’re getting the nutrients your body needs. Check it out!

As always… Thanks for being our valued patient!