 Do you want to encourage your little ones to take care of their teeth in between visits to the dentist? Or maybe encourage a life-long appreciation for the importance of consistent dental hygiene? One option you might want to consider is encouraging your child to play mobile apps related to tooth care. There are plenty of fun dental care apps for kids that can help your child not be afraid of dentists by encouraging an understanding of the tasks dentists complete. Following are five options you can consider downloading to your smartphone or your child's tablet:
Dentist Story Kids Offered by GeniApps, the Dentist Story Kids app helps encourage your child to take care of their teeth by allowing them to care for the teeth of a virtual child. Your little ones can perform dental activities like teeth cleanings, dental whitenings, and mouth washing. If your child is the adventurous type, they can even perform virtual tooth extractions and cavity drilling. This fun app has received a recent upgrade and now lets your child add a variety of humorous colors to teeth too. (itunes.apple.com/app/id670179741) Dentist in the Circus Available from Tommy Lee, the Dentist in the Circus app lets your child pretend to care for the teeth of a circus clown. Your child can polish the clown's teeth, add sparkles to his molars, or pull teeth to leave the clown with a toothless smile. If your child is afraid of clowns or not big on visiting the dentist, this application should only be used with parental supervision. (itunes.apple.com/app/id893218553) Dentist in the Wild If your little one loves animals, the Dentist in the Wild app from Gregory Ellis might be an excellent option to consider. This engaging application lets your child attend to the teeth of numerous jungle animals including leopards, zebras, and giraffes. Your child will enjoy plenty of giggles as they attempt to beautify the teeth of their favorite furry animals. (itunes.apple.com/app/id789634478) Pirate Dentist If your child enjoys anything related to pirates, the Pirate Dentist app from Illusia Studios might be worth considering. This silly iOS app lets your son or daughter take care of the teeth of a pirate by brushing and rinsing the eight teeth left in the pirate's mouth. Look out for crumbly candies and hidden germs that are lurking behind the pirate's teeth. (itunes.apple.com/app/id760135045) Dentist Jokes If you want to help alleviate any possible tensions the next time you are visiting your children's dentist, the Dentist Jokes app might be worth downloading. This free app from Thomas Chiang offers a variety of silly jokes related to dentists. While adults might find the offered jokes a little on the juvenile side, small children are likely to at least smile as they await their appointment with the dentist. (itunes.apple.com/app/id694214234) Using a mobile app to acquaint your child with the services provided by a pediatric dentist can encourage little ones to not be fearful of their dental healthcare provider. Children are able to understand that their neighborhood dentist is simply providing maintenance to help keep their teeth and gums strong and healthy. Do you think you will be downloading any of these dental apps for children to your family's digital devices?
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 For most of the people even a regular visit to a dentist, every few months seems to be inconvenient and laborious, as a result they settle for daily brushing and flossing of teeth. However, only brushing and flossing doesn't provide the oral hygiene that is being needed for people to become free from painful dental issues.
No matter how properly you clean your full mouth, cavities may find a way to develop as food is stuck in between teeth and inside deep pits. Even dental equipments like tongue cleaners, oral irrigators, waxed dental floss, toothpicks, electric toothbrush etc can't match the services of a dentist even if it is just a regular appointment. Even if you use the costliest oral products like dental chewing gums, mouth wash or tooth paste, oral care is not only about cleaning complete mouth and maintaining fresh breath. Here are important reasons why periodic dental cleaning is important. 1. To help improve or build self confidence: Regular visit to dentist will guarantee that you have a fresh breath and bright smile. Even the most costly oral products can't give you those white teeth that you have always wished for. Dental cleaning may remove stains that are there due to smoking, tea or coffee. 2. To be monitored from oral cancer: According to Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer can be identified early by screening. It hardly takes 5 minutes time as the dentist performs thorough neck, oral and head cancer test. The dentists check all patients carefully who visit their clinic for periodic check up. 3. To take care of your complete health: Conversely, to what individuals think, oral health is not only about your mouth. Studies suggest that the advanced stage of gum disease is related with health issues like bacterial pneumonia, high blood sugar levels, pancreatic cancer, and even heart disease. It is also very risky for pregnant women as it may lead to low birth weight and premature birth. 4. To prevent dental issues that may need meticulous and expensive treatment: Even if you don't experience toothache or pain, your teeth need regular check up so that your dentist can keep your teeth always healthy and white. Severe tooth issues may need tooth removal, gum surgery or root canals. It is not always possible to know about a dental issue merely by looking at your teeth, there may be gum infection or gingivitis. Dentists can easily identify gum infections and early treatment can save your teeth because gingivitis is one of the popular causes of tooth loss. Contact Smiles Whitening Express for thorough teeth cleaning. Just like your overall general health, your oral health is affected by your dietary choices too. To maintain oral hygiene and good health, it is very important to brush, floss and mouthwash, but it is also very important to eat the right food. Some foods are not good for the teeth, some are not good for the gums.
What not to eat? From time immemorial candy and chocolates have been linked to decaying teeth. It isn't the candy or the chocolate that's at fault, it's the excessive sugar and their sticky nature that is the problem. If their remnants are not rinsed or cleaned immediately, they can lead to decay. Similarly, excessive caffeine (in tea, coffee, aerated beverages, etc) can cause stains on teeth in the long run. Excessive starch is harmful as well, as one of the by-products saliva breaks it down into sugars which can cause the enamel to erode. Similarly, citrus fruits when had in excess cause erosion of the enamel. Like everything in life, too much of anything can be bad. It is not humanly possible to avoid all things that are unhealthy. What we can do is, rinse our mouth whenever we eat/drink something and consume everything in limited amounts. Another thing you can do is, make a conscious effort to consume foods and drinks which are healthy for teeth, oral health and general health. Some healthy food options 1) Water: Drink plenty of water. It rinses the mouth naturally and prevents excessive food build-up in the mouth. Also, water is the main component of saliva, and drinking lots of water, replenishes and improves saliva quality. Saliva is the mouth's first line of defense against plaque and infection. 2) Green tea: It is rich in antioxidants and compounds called polyphenols. Green tea helps provide relief from inflammation (swelling) in gums dues to its anti-oxidant properties and in the long run reduces chances of gum infection. Polyphenols cause suppression of plaque forming bacteria and thus prevent the production of harmful acids by them. 3) Foods rich in vitamins and minerals: Nuts (such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts), green leafy vegetables, eggs, etc help keep teeth strong and healthy. They provide us with a wide range of vitamins, calcium, phosphorous and other minerals, thus helping in deposition of minerals on teeth which have eroded (demineralized) Vitamin D and Calcium also help to keep the bones strong. 4) Fruits and Vegetables rich in Fibre: These are foods which often require a lot of chewing. When you chewing high fiber foods, they stimulate flow of saliva. Also, they have a high water content because of which they are self cleansing foods, and don't stick to teeth. With increased saliva and water from the food itself, the effect of acids and sugars of food is neutralized. Chewing also displaces plaque and thus prevents bacterial build up and growth. 5) Dairy products: Milk, cheese, yogurt, etc are rich in calcium, phosphates and Vitamin D. Thus, they help in keeping teeth and (jaw) bones strong and healthy. They also partially remineralize teeth which have eroded. Milk has a neutralizing effect on the acid produced by bacteria in plaque, thus preventing damage. So, chose what you eat and how much you eat wisely. These 5 choices above are healthy for your teeth and body.  Across the globe, the recommended age for a child's first dental visit is 1 year, or within 6 months of eruption of the first tooth. While this is what almost all dental associations prescribe and advocate, not many parents follow this. The most common reason being 'Milk teeth will fall off anyhow, what's the point getting them checked?'
Why First Dental Visits Important In the last decade, the number of 5 year olds with dental caries is on the rise (one study conducted by Toronto Public Health placed it at 11.6% in 2005-2006) With increased reliance on processed foods and dietary supplements, children are at a higher risk for tooth decay than before. Even though they fall off, milk teeth stay in a child's mouth till the age of 12, and an infected milk tooth can adversely affect overall oral health as well the permanent teeth which are yet to erupt. A visit to the dentist at age 1, will help parents - 1) Identify and tackle any decay early on, if it exists 2) Learn how to best care for their infant's mouth (how to clean their mouth) 3) Understand the impact dietary habits and other habits (such as thumb sucking) have on a child's teeth and oral health. 4) Discuss things like use of fluorides and how best to prevent decay. Get yourself Ready First While it is essential to prepare a child for his first dental visit, it is equally essential to prepare parents. As adults we are biased towards dental treatment because of previous experiences. It is imperative that parents do not transfer their fear to children. Parents need to be relaxed when they take their child to a dentist. Infants aren't seated in the dental chair alone, they are made to sit in their parents' laps and examined. This makes it even more important for parents to be calm, so that the child can be calm as well. Before going to a clinic, it is advisable for parents to think about the questions they would like answered, and go prepared. At the first visit, your dentist will spend quite some time discussing about the child's general health, history and things that are linked to oral health. These include- habits such as thumb/finger sucking, teething, dietary habits, method of cleaning, etc. It helps to have another adult accompany you for the visit. Now, get the Kid Prepared A child's first dental visit can be stressful, for both parents and the child. The environment is new, as are the people. Children can easily get cranky in such situations. Carry your child's favorite toy or blanket or teething item to keep him occupied. Also, dress him up in comfortable clothes, carry an extra diaper and a snack for your child. These seem like small things, but help the child identify the dental office as a safe comfortable place because of the familiarity. A successful first visit to the dentist prepares the child for a life free form the fear of dentists.  We all want to look extremely beautiful and perfect always. We can have the best clothes, best hair, and best skin but it all looks incomplete without a shinning and bright smile. But, a lot of people are not happy with their smiles because they have yellow or gray teeth. Thankfully, now you can smile without any inhibitions. There are so many methods out there that can give you perfect pearly whites and giving you more reasons to smile.
Zoom whitening is one such teeth whitening procedure that helps to get rid of stains and assist you feel and look your best. What is zoom whitening? Zoom whitening is done in the office using a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution and a bright light to assist whiten your teeth. This can be achieved without changing the natural structure of the teeth. In this method hydrogen peroxide and UV lamp work simultaneously to bring your teeth back to their natural color. The light beam activates the hydrogen peroxide, assisting the bleaching agent to penetrate the surface of the tooth. The complete Zoom whitening treatment generally takes one hour. And prior to treatment, cleaning is suggested, in order to ensure that no food particles or plaque obstruct the process. Who needs zoom whitening? Anyone seeking to lighten or remove stains and discoloration, or looking for whiter or brighter teeth can consider getting zoom whitening. Tooth discoloration can happen due to consumption of coffee, red wine, smoking, or some medications. Almost anyone can get visibly whiter and brighter teeth with zoom whitening. Knowing if the procedure is right for you? Knowing if the procedure is right for you is extremely important. Children below 13 years of age are not suitable candidate for this procedure. Also, pregnant or lactating women are not eligible. Also people with anxiety or strong gag reflex may find it tough to last throughout the complete procedure. Benefits of zoom whitening The zoom whitening gives effective and fast tooth whitening. The zoom whitening is known to give up to 8 shades lighter teeth within the 45 minutes to one hour treatment. The results are instant. The zoom whitening procedure is also very comfortable with a low sensitivity and low heat gel and lighting system. You can relax during the procedure by watching television or listening to music. Contact Smiles Whitening Express today to schedule an appointment for in-office zoom whitening. We specialize in teeth whitening and suggest only the best, safe and most effective whitening treatment to our patients depending on their medical history, present condition of teeth and the required results.  Maintenance plays an enormous role when it comes to any kind of machine, and as has been taught to us in science class, our body is a machine. Cleaning and taking care of your teeth is something you must practice every single day at home, but that does not make your teeth one-hundred-percent resistant to wear-and-tear. What might help, though, is a periodical appointment with your dentist who will take a good look inside your mouth and tell you if everything is A-Okay. Therefore, it is highly necessary that you get your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist, because your toothbrush will not keep them entirely healthy.
But the question is, how frequently should one schedule these appointments in order to ensure healthy gums and hygienic oral care? At least once a year. And that is the minimum requirement. Ask any dentist, and he or she will give you the same advice: A routine examination of your mouth will prevent the occurrence of infections and diseases, and keep oral problems in general at bay. However, this number changes if you suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, in which case you should see your dentist more often. This applies even if you are a smoker. Smoking can permanently stain your teeth and lead to other tooth and gum problems. If you do not wish to or intend to beat the habit anytime soon, then you should plan more frequent visits to the dentist and get a full cleaning done so that no stains are formed. Advantages:
 Braces have become a rite of passage for most children between the ages of 11 and 16, and they're nothing to be ashamed of. As the parent of a child, it is your responsibility to keep an eye on the development of your child's teeth, and take him or her to an orthodontist so that the need for braces can be recognized at an early stage. Most dentists recommend that children should have a checkup with an orthodontist before they reach age 7. The dentist is the best source of information when it comes to yours and your child's teeth.
So, how can you tell if your child needs braces? Are there any signs that you can identify? Why, yes.
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