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Did You Know? February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

national-childrens-dental-health-300Every February, the American Dental Association sponsors a campaign called National Children’s Dental Health Month. The purpose of this operation is to raise awareness about how important it is to get an early start on developing good dental hygiene habits — and how this can lead to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. So we thought this might be a good time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about how to do exactly that:

When is it time to start cleaning my baby’s teeth?
As soon as you see one! The earlier your child gets used to a daily dental hygiene routine, the better. Baby teeth that have not fully emerged from beneath the gums can be wiped with a clean, moist washcloth after feedings. A tooth that has grown in completely should be brushed twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening) with a soft, child-sized tooth brush and a thin smear of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is an important weapon against tooth decay, but you don’t want your child to swallow too much.

Can babies get cavities?
Absolutely — especially if they are allowed to fall asleep routinely with a bottle filled with anything but water. Milk, formula — even breast milk — all contain sugars that should not be left to pool around your baby’s teeth during sleep, facilitating decay. Juice is an even bigger no-no because it is not only sugary but also acidic.

Can’t I give my child sweets once in a while?
We realize total avoidance of sweets may not be realistic, as beneficial as this would be for your child’s teeth. If you are going to allow your child to have sweets once in a while, better that the treat be given immediately following a meal, and not as a between-meal snack. Soda should really be avoided completely — it’s that bad.

When should I take my child to the dentist for the first time?
The experts say: Get it done in year one. That’s right — even though your child won’t have many teeth by age 1, there’s a lot we can do at that first visit to ensure good oral health now and well into the future. We will do everything possible to make sure your little one has a positive first experience in the dental chair; this helps set the tone for the many important preventive visits yet to come. It’s also a great opportunity for you to ask any specific questions you may have, and receive hands-on instruction on how to care for your child’s teeth and gums.

If you would like more information about children’s oral health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Taking the Stress Out of Dentistry for Kids” and “Age One Dental Visit.”


Orthodontic Relief For Your Broken Brackets

braces(2)If you’ve had braces placed in your mouth to straighten misaligned or crooked teeth, congratulations: braces remain one of the leading choices for perfectly-aligned rows of teeth and a beautiful smile.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean braces are perfect all the time, every time: brackets, which are the metal or ceramic pieces attaching your braces to each individual tooth, can occasionally become loose, dislodged, or broken, putting the integrity of your braces at risk.Because brackets are made from a material known as composite resin (similar to the material used for many dental fillings), they’re particularly susceptible to coming undone if you chew on something hard or sticky, or if you like to tear things open with your teeth. If you have a dislodged or otherwise faulty bracket, it can cause persistent pain and discomfort as the unchained piece pokes into your gums, tongue, or cheek.

But at DeLaura Dental, you can get your broken brackets fixed as soon as they start to deteriorate, as the expert orthodontists on site make it their goal to get your braces straightened out once and for all. These helpful oral technicians can repair the dislodged bracket and can even apply a special wax over it to keep it in place for the future. They’ll likely give you this wax if they haven’t already, too, so you can rely on it yourself to ensure your brackets don’t get loosed and start poking the innards of your sensitive oral cavity again later on down the road.

For more information on what to do if you have a broken bracket, give the orthodontic professionals at DeLaura Dental a call today at 855-601-2948 for the full oral relief you deserve right here in Romeo, MI! After all, your braces’ job is to keep your teeth straight– not get you all bent out of shape!