Good Dental Habits Have a Trickle Down Effect in the Family

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Every parent remembers the moment when their baby, their pride and joy, became just a little too old for that goodbye kiss on the cheek or other
overt display of affection. At that moment, you may have felt that your parental sway had forever diminished. But a recent study from the Journal
of Dental Research reaffirms the influence that parents have in affecting the habits of their children. It found that the oral health of a child’s parents, particularly his or her mother, is highly indicative of that child’s own oral health condition.

If a mother has tooth decay, the study states, then her child is twice as likely as other children to have cavities. Just
one more reason for you, as a parent, to schedule those twice-yearly cleanings and checkups at your family dentist’s office. The example you set for your children will yield benefits for you and for them. Though their baby teeth are only a precursor to their adult smile, keeping those teeth well-cared for is important so they maintain adequate space and prepare properly for the full-sized teeth to come.

Poor oral health, on the other hand, can lead to a variety of diseases and health complications. Unlike your grandfather’s heirloom watch, tooth decay is one thing you don’t want to hand down to your family’s future generations. Plant the seed of responsible oral health habits and watch it grow in your children. They still look to you to set the trends–believe it!

Why You Should Floss

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:30:56 +0000

We know school’s back in session, and in addition to your already-full work schedule, you now have to plan meals, arrange car pools, sharpen pencils, and still find time for you. Trust us, we know. It’s time to know why your hygienist encourages you to floss, they are after all thinking of your health.

If you choose not to floss, and we all most of us do (studies show that 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss – grocery shopping!), here’s what happens inside your mouth:

Food debris piles up between your teeth – even if your teeth appear too close together for this to happen.
Plaque – a biofilm that develops naturally on teeth – hardens between teeth. This can happen in just 24 hours, and after 10 days, plaque becomes rock-hard and can only be removed by a professional.
The hardened plaque release toxins that eat away enamel and gum tissue.
Left to fester, the toxins create cavities and infections in your mouth.
Bad breath takes over.
Gum disease sets in.
There is no cure for gum disease.

So why should you floss? Let’s recap. Flossing removes food debris and plaque, prevents cavities, prevents bad breath, prevents gum disease, prevents tooth loss, prevents bone loss, prevents all the complications associated with gum disease, including elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and dementia. Can flossing save your life? Believe it or not daily flossing can lengthen your lifespan by six years!

Not sure about how to floss? Ask for a demonstration from your dentist or hygienist

Seidner Dentistry - Randolph, New Jersey

Good Dental Habits Have a Trickle Down Effect in the Family

Why You Should Floss