Good Habits Start Young

Are you looking to get the kids in your household excited about oral hygiene? Well we have some great tips for you.

Although it is not recommended that children see an orthodontist until age 7, children should begin a oral health routine by age 3. If your child does need to receive orthodontic treatment when they are older is it best that we work on healthy teeth and gums.

Here are a few tips:

Listen to fun brushing songs: Kids love a catchy songs, search YouTube for fun songs like "Teach Me How to Brushy".

Play oral health related mobile apps: Mobile gaming applications like "Toothsavers" promote healthy brushing habits as kids work to save a fairy tale kingdom.

DIY Home activities: There are many fun activities that you create with kids to promote habits like flossing. Click here to learn about fun activities.

Character themed dental products: Oral B has introduced new Frozen themed toothbrushes and toothpaste! This a great way to get kids excited about oral hygiene.

Lead by example: Brush with your child and show them exactly how they should be brushing and flossing.

For more information about oral health visit poserortho.com or give our office a call today!

3 Things that are Surprisingly Harmful to Your Teeth

We’ve warned you time and time about foods and drinks that are harmful to your teeth. We’ve even provided you with a food to avoid list, but in this blog you find out about 3 things are harmful to your teeth that you never even considered.

Here are 3 things that are surprisingly harmful to your teeth and the solution to preventing the damage.

Source: Hunington Post Healthy Living

Juicing

While bottles of the cold-pressed stuff may be chock-full of good-for-you nutrients, juices also have such high sugar content. This sugar is consumed by the bacteria in our mouths and converted into acid that wears away enamel and can cause cavities.

The solution: Sip juice through a straw to help keep it away from the surfaces of your teeth. And make sure to wait at least 45 minutes post-drinking to brush your teeth: Scrubbing them immediately while after acid has softened their enamel can leave them even more vulnerable to damage.

Chewable vitamins

They taste just like gummy candy--and they're not much better for our mouths. In fact, their sticky, sugar-y makeup adheres to teeth so well that they're just practically bound to cause cavities.

The solution: Take your vitamins in pill form. While that may not be as fun (or taste nearly as good), neither is a trip to the dentist for a filling.

Dried fruit

While some fresh fruits are actually considered good for teeth (think water-packed produce like apples and pears), dried fruits never are. This otherwise-nutritious snack is packed with non-cellulose fiber, which traps sugar on and around teeth the way gummy candies (and vitamins) do.

The solution: Get it off! Brush and floss teeth immediately after eating dried fruit to get rid of any stuck-on sugar.

Dr. Poser wants you to do the best to protect your teeth this means:

• Eating healthy foods
• Brushing and flossing twice a day
• and visiting you dentist twice a year

To get more oral health tips from Dr. Poser visit PoserOrtho.com.