Home Care

Oral Hygiene:

Brush twice daily.
Floss once daily.
If your child is younger than 7 yrs old you will need to help them brush and floss and if they are older than 7 we still recommend you periodically monitor their brushing skills.

Fluoride:

Central Oregon does not have a fluoridated water supply.
Your child needs to take a fluoride supplement until they are about 13 yrs old when their permanent teeth have all come in. This supplement is swallowed and helps strengthen the enamel on the permanent teeth that are forming and developing.
If your child does not spit out all of his/her toothpaste they should use a non/fluoride “safe to swallow” toothpaste, otherwise we recommend the child use a fluoride toothpaste.
In children 6 yrs and older a fluoride rinse may also be used each night to help strengthen the enamel.
Every 6 months your child should receive a topical fluoride application when he/she comes in to the dentist for a check up and cleaning. This helps strengthen the enamel of the teeth.

Diet:

Sugary foods should be kept to a minimum. Foods such as “soda pop” and sticky candies are especially harmful.
Avoid constant snacking or “grazing” as this keeps the bacteria levels in your child’s mouth high and can contribute to decay.
Three meals and two healthy snacks in between are enough to keep your child’s tummy full and their teeth healthy.
Be sure that your child is not consuming anything other than water before bedtime or while falling asleep. The nutrients in breast milk, formula, milks, juices, etc. break down into sugars in your child’s mouth and can cause decay if allowed to sit on your child’s teeth all night.

Keeping your child’s teeth healthy:

Oregon has the 4th highest decay rate in the nation. Experts attribute this to the absence of fluoride in the water supply and the fact that the enamel on primary teeth is one tenth as thick as the enamel on permanent teeth.
Keeping this in mind, your child must continue with regular dental check ups every six months. These check ups will include a comprehensive examination and, depending on your child’s age and tolerance level, a cleaning, topical fluoride application and diagnostic x-rays. Dental x-rays are taken on your child’s first dental visit from age 3 and up and periodically as your child grows and develops.