Children's Dentistry | O’Fallon Dentist

Tips for Cleaning Your Teeth & Gums

By Dr. Michael Brown, on April 5th, 2012

dental tips st louis st charles dentist dr michael brown ofallon dental clinic health hygiene gums teeth Whether you are 80 years old or five, your teeth and gums require the same amount of care. A few minutes every day spent on dental hygiene can save you from dental pain and potentially thousands of dollars in the long run.

I recommend the following for good oral hygiene:

Brush your teeth twice a day.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months, or when the bristles start to fray.
Floss daily to remove bacteria that still lingers between teeth where your toothbrushes bristles can’t reach.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Limit the amount of sugary and processed foods you consume.
See me at least twice a year for a cleaning and exam.

Follow these tips and you will stay on the road to keeping your teeth & gums healthy.

Enjoy your Easter!

- Dr. Michael Brown

Dr. Michael Brown is an O’Fallon Dentist that has provided General Dentistry services to residents of O’Fallon and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. Dr. Brown is listed in the Top Dentists in St. Louis by St. Louis Magazine for 2010, 2011 and 2012, as voted by peers.

Share|

Tips on How To Give Your Child a Great Smile!

By Dr. Michael Brown, on February 7th, 2011

Happy Child Smiling Dental problems, like cavities, tooth decay, enamel breakdown and even serious problems like gum disease can start at a very young age so Proper dental care of baby teeth is important to a child’s oral health.

Here are some tips to help you make sure your child has healthy teeth and a great smile:

Start cleaning teeth early: As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride is important for fighting cavities. But if children younger than 6 years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

Don’t Go To Bed With Juice: Giving juice, at night, in bed, can lead to tooth decay. If you must give your child something to drink, it should only be water. Not even milk!

Supervise brushing: Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.

Talk to your child’s doctor or dentist: Check with the dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

Share|