Preschool cavities and trips to the operating room.

A friend pointed out an interesting article in the New York Times yesterday.

Rise in Preschool Cavities

It shows how important proper tooth brushing, flossing, and nutrition are in preventing cavities.

Proper dental care for children starts with the proper education for the parents.  As the old saying goes,

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

For more information about dental care for expecting moms and children, please visit my website

http://verynicesmile.com/children/

Flossing.

Ok, so the first step in taking care of your teeth should be flossing.  Flossing cleans in between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach.

Let's start with the basics,  first you grab a piece of floss about 18 inches long.

You want to use a piece this long so you can wrap it around your fingers.  This way you'll have a firm grip on the floss even when it gets wet.  Just spin the floss around your finger tips.

Now, using this short piece of floss, work it in between your teeth.  Once you get the floss under the tight spot where your teeth meet (dentists call this the "contact point") push the floss against the tooth and gently move the floss up and down.

By pushing the floss against the side of the tooth, you'll be able to remove the dental plaque that adheres to the sides of the tooth.

Now just repeat the process for every tooth.  The first few times you floss your gums will bleed.  As your gums get healthier, they won't bleed when you floss.

Now just do it everyday!  It takes some time and patience to do but it's a heck of a lot easier than have to have a filling or periodontal treatment.