Dental
Here are some things to think about:
- Daily oral hygiene: Each person should brush and floss their teeth a couple of times each day. After every snack or meal is the ideal but once in the morning and once in the evening before bedtime is adequate. Even very young children should be taught these habits for their young mouths and to establish healthy patterns that will last for their entire lifetime.
- Toothbrush and paste: A high quality toothbrush is important for properly cleaning one’s tooth enamel. The bristles should be not-too-hard and not-too-soft but “just right.” Toothbrushes should be replaced every couple of months because they begin to breed bacteria. This couple of bucks for a new toothbrush is money well spent. Toothpaste can be nearly any type and only a small pea-sized dot is required. Youngsters must be taught the appropriate amount so that they don’t get sick from eating all the minty freshness that they may perceive to be candy.
- Preventative maintenance: A visit to a dentist should occur every six months to make sure everything’s going well. The dentist will check every tooth as well as all the nooks and crannies in order to look for decay, plaque and signs of trouble. He or she will also inspect the tongue, gums and inside of the mouth for any signs of oral cancer or other problematic red flags.
- Dental hygienist: A hygienist is another professional that works in a dentistry practice. He or she is not a full-fledged doc but is highly skilled in cleaning teeth and removing plaque and bacteria which may lead to decay. Cavities will occur more often without proper cleaning.