Family dentist in Arden, NC provides tips for families on maintaining healthy teeth and smiles

When you are a parent, the health of the children is a top priority in your life. Maintaining good oral health and regular dental check-ups are just as important as check-ups at the doctor for ensuring your family is healthy! At Family Dental Health of South Asheville in Arden, NC, we provide dental wellness services for the whole family to keep everyone smiling. Below, we provide tips for keeping your teeth healthy and answer frequently asked questions about oral health.

What is the proper toothbrushing method?

Even though the act of toothbrushing seems simple enough, using the proper technique and toothbrush can make a big difference on how well you are able to clean your teeth. Since most of the care for your teeth is done at home via toothbrushing, using the right toothbrush and technique can have a large impact on your overall oral health.

• Brush at least two times per day, or ideally after every meal
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Brush for a full two minutes – this may be hard to judge, so we encourage patients to use a stopwatch or minute timer to ensure they are brushing for the full amount of time needed
• Tilt your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle from the gum line and roll or sweep the brush away from the gums
• Ensure that you thoroughly brush all the areas of your teeth, including the outer surfaces, inner surfaces, chewing surfaces, and tongue
• When cleaning the teeth, use gentle, short back-and-forth strokes

Do we really need to floss every day?

Yes! It is important for everyone in the family to floss daily, even your children. From the time your child has grown enough baby teeth for them to fit closely together, it is important for them to start the habit of daily flossing. Flossing helps keep your gums and teeth healthy by eliminating the food, sugars, and bacteria from between the teeth. Younger children will often struggle with the mechanics of flossing, so we encourage parents to help their children floss. Single-use interdental cleaners can also make flossing easier for you and your child. If you or your child have braces, special flossers designed to help guide the floss underneath the wires of the braces are available.