Ordinary vs. Powered Toothbrushes

Ordinary vs. Powered Toothbrushes

Stroke of Genius?

The Key to a Lifelong, Healthy Smile

Dental health experts agree that regular tooth brushing (no matter how high tech or low tech the gadget) and flossing can help prevent tooth decay.

As a general rule, Hermiston recommends that children up to age 7 have adult supervision while brushing. This is to make sure kids completely clean all surfaces of their teeth, even hard-to-reach places where plaque often accumulates, such as the back molars or the lower bottom teeth next to the tongue.

The ADA has more suggestions for parents to help their kids develop good dental habits:

• Take your child to see the dentist regularly. Schedule a visit to the dentist within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the child's first birthday.
• Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday.
• Start brushing the child's teeth with water as soon as the first tooth appears. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste can be used after age 2, when the child can spit it out.
• Watch how your child eats. It's better to eat regular meals and fewer sugary snacks.
• Make certain your child gets the right amount of fluoride needed for decay-resistant teeth. Ask your dentist how this can be done.
• Ask your dentist about dental sealant, a thin protective barrier that shields the chewing surface of back teeth from tooth decay.