Little Rock Family Dental Care Blog

Oral Care Tips For Halloween

October 6, 2014

With Halloween right around the corner, millions of children throughout the country are choosing their costumes in preparation of the spookiest day of the year. Accumulating a bag full of your favorite candy by saying a simple phrase, “trick or treat,” is a memorable experience that boys and girls of all ages will enjoy. However, the mounds of sugary candy your child will receive on Halloween may contribute to dental decay and cavities, which is why it’s important for parents to set some ground rules.

Candy After Meals

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends consuming Halloween candy and other sugary snacks after a meal. The excess saliva produced by your mouth during mealtime will neutralize some of the acids formed by bacteria while also helping to flush out food debris. (more…)

How To Choose The Right Toothpaste

September 23, 2014

Toothpaste is your first line of defense against tartar and plaque buildups. Among other things, it’s responsible for neutralizing bacteria and helping you brush away stubborn food debris. But with so many different brands and types of toothpaste on the market, how do you know which variety to choose?

The next time you’re shopping for toothpaste, keep the following in mind:

Fluoride

Toothpaste containing fluoride is more effective at cleaning teeth and preventing dental caries than non-fluoride toothpaste. Also referred to as “nature’s cavity fighter,” fluoride helps clean away bacteria film (plaque) on the teeth and gums, which subsequently reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Fluoride is also known to strengthen tooth enamel and remineralize areas of decay, which is just one more reason you should use a toothpaste containing this beneficial mineral. (more…)

Baby Teeth: What Parents Should Know

August 25, 2014

A toddler’s baby teeth are just as important as their permanent teeth. Also known as the primary teeth, deciduous teeth, or milk teeth, these “temporary” teeth typically erupt when a baby is between 6 to 10 months of age. They are designed to improve the child’s talking and chewing ability while also creating space in the jaw bone for the formation of permanent teeth.

Baby Teeth Explained

Baby teeth usually erupt in sequential pattern, starting with the central incisors (front teeth) and ending with the second molars (back teeth). See below for more details on when to expect your baby’s teeth to erupt. (more…)

Don’t Forget To Clean Your Tongue!

July 25, 2014

When your busy meticulously cleaning your eight incisors, eight premolars, eight molars and four canines, it’s easy to overlook your tongue. Besides, how much food debris and plaque can a tongue really hold? While dentists continue to debate over the effectiveness of tongue cleaning vs. regular brushing of the teeth, there’s strong evidence suggesting it can fight bad breath (halitosis) and neutralize bacteria.

The practice of tongue cleaning dates back to the ancient Roman Empire, but it didn’t spread beyond Europe until the 18th century. By the turn of the 19th century, tools were invented specifically for cleaning one’s tongue. These tools were often crafted of materials like silver, ivory, bone, and turtle shells.

Modern-day tongue cleaners may differ from 19th century models in terms of style and design, but their purpose remains the same: to remove buildups of food, bacteria, plaque and other unwanted “remnants.” A typical modern-day tongue cleaner looks similar in appearance to a toothbrush, but the head is larger and flatter with more bristles. This ergonomic design offers the highest level of comfort while effectively eliminating food debris on the tongue. (more…)

Can Chewing Gum Help Fight Cavities?

July 15, 2014

Chewing gum can either promote cavities or protect against them, depending on the variety used. Several clinical studies have found that chewing sugarless gum after snacks and meals can protect against tooth decay. To reap the full cavity-fighting benefits of gum, though, there are a few things you should know.

So, how exactly does chewing gum—a favorite among children—prevent tooth decay? Chewing gum triggers the saliva glands in the mouth, which subsequently rinses out bacteria-ridden food and debris while neutralizing germs. Those small pieces of food left in the back of your mouth from your most recent meal may seem harmless enough, but they can harbor millions of decay-causing germs. Chomping down a piece of sugarless chewing gum will promote more saliva in your mouth to wash away this food debris.

Certain varieties of sugarless chewing gum also contain chemicals which neutralize cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, adding another barrier of defense against tooth decay. Aspartame, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol are some of the most common ingredients used in sugarless gum. (more…)