Healthcare Directory

2019 Medical & Dental Directory | 25 Healthy Teeth and a Healthy Diet Good dental health is essential to enjoying many of the foods that are beneficial to your whole body. When you are missing teeth, or experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity, fresh fruits and vegetables can be especially hard to get down. Ironically, these are the foods that are most recommended by dentists for healthy teeth. Almonds, apples, leafy greens, raw carrots and celery all contain helpful nutrients and provide a texture that helps to keep teeth clean and strong. Continued on page 26 Even if you are a dedicated brusher and flosser, your mouth is home to hundreds of different species of bacteria. Good dental care keeps their numbers down to 20 billion or so, but if you go 24 hours without brushing, that number balloons up to 100 billion! Good dental health is essential to enjoying many of the foods that are beneficial to your whole body. Preventing tooth decay in children A child's baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear. But tooth decay is preventable with proper care. Begin cleaning your baby's mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. Until you're comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own, brush the child's teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. For children younger than 3 years, caregivers should begin brushing children's teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children's brushing to ensure that they use the appropriate amount of toothpaste. For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children's brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste. n -American Dental Association

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