Archive for September, 2010

Pediatric Dentistry – How to Maintain Good Oral Health

Maintaining good oral habits is very important to oral health. Teeth, like other body parts, requires regular maintenance to stay clean and healthy. The best thing to do is to start developing healthy habits from a very young age.

During infancy stage (before the age of 2), the teeth of babies are still rather fragile. Therefore, teeth should be cleaned gently using a damp cloth on a regular basis. When the infant grows older to 2 years old, a tooth brush with soft bristles is highly recommended. As for tooth paste, try not to use products that are meant for adults. These products tend to be too heavy in fluoride. Pediatricians recommend using products that are developed specifically for children. Such products tend to be milder and are more suitable for young children. Also, avoid using fluoride mouth washes for children.
More…

Ensuring Dental Health By Cutting Back on Sugar Intake

Sugar can be found in many different types of food. Due to its sweet tasting nature, many people are tempted by sugary foods such as chocolates, sweets, soft drinks, cakes, deserts, and so on.

Consuming the occasional sugar heavy desert is certainly not wrong. However, the problem is that bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) in the mouth depends on sugar for energy. That means the more sugar you consume, the higher the chances of bacteria growing in your mouth and causing cavities. Cavities, if left untreated, can cause severe pain or discomfort for the affected individual.

Of course, it is impractical and unnecessary to avoid all sugar foods completely. With proper dental care, you can still take sweet foods and not have to face tooth decays. Here are some tips on proper teeth management.
More…