Healthy Snack Choices

If you have ever been told that you are what you eat, the person who told you this is partially telling the truth. The mouth is the window to the rest of our body, so if we eat foods and beverages that provide no nutritional value to our body, our teeth and gums will suffer. A balanced diet that is rich in nutritious, low-sugar foods is important for maintaining a beautiful smile. Our doctors at Kidz Connextion recommend these healthy snacks for kids.

Sugary treats, such as candy, sugar, and pastries should always be avoided. Low-fat dairy foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein sources all support the health of teeth and gums. Treats that supply the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that children need include low-fat yogurt with berries, fresh watermelon, cheddar cheese, and apples. Frequent snacking will cause bacteria in the mouth to form into plaque, so remember to brush your child’s teeth after every meal.

If you have questions or concerns about oral hygiene or dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Brushing For Two Minutes

It’s hard to get a child to sit still, let alone get them to brush his or her teeth for two minutes. The American Dental Association recommends that children brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day. This will keep their baby teeth healthy, which will assist in keeping permanent teeth healthy when they begin to erupt. Our doctors at Kidz Connextion are here to help you get your child on the path to excellent oral hygiene.

Children love learning something new, so take the time to make dental care fun. Play their favorite song while they brush their teeth so that the time passes without them noticing. There are also children’s toothbrushes on the market that play Disney tunes for exactly two minutes to make brushing something to look forward to. Once your child is done brushing his or her teeth, reward them with good behavior. Don’t allow it to be a snack because that will just ruin all the hard work, but a sticker or a bedtime story won’t hurt!  

If you have questions or concerns about oral hygiene or dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Why Should We Floss?

Our doctors at Kidz Connextion have heard every excuse in the book for why a patient chooses not to floss. You can brush your teeth five times a day, but this won’t do you any good if you don’t floss. This is because plaque starts to harden within hours of eating, and within minutes begins to stick to the teeth. Food that is left behind can cause gingivitis to develop which can eventually lead to more serious dental health complications.

Dental floss has the capability to reach where the toothbrush can’t. If you begin to floss and notice a bit of blood in the sink, this may be a sign of gingivitis. Fortunately, if you keep up with flossing at least twice a day, you can eliminate gingivitis and your gums will thank you. In addition to preventing gum disease, flossing can prevent cavities that cause tooth decay. By maintaining your oral health with flossing, you are protecting your smile and your overall health.  

If you have questions or concerns about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Tongue Scraper

A tongue scraper may sound like a torture device, but it’s actually a very effective oral hygiene tool. To assist with preventing bad breath, a tongue scraper can be used after you finish brushing and flossing and it will take excess bacteria off the tongue and out of the mouth. Tongue scrapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and our doctor at Kidz Connextion is here to explain how they work.

If you’ve ever stuck your tongue out in a mirror and noticed a white coating on top, this is a combination of plaque, leftover food, and bacteria. To clean your tongue using this tool, place it at the back of the tongue, pulling the scraper forward. You may choose to clean your tongue with a toothbrush, but a tongue scraper is just slightly more effective in removing this layer of biofilm. Investing in a tongue scraper is not necessary, but it can help you reach the next level of clean when it comes to your oral hygiene routine.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Toothbrush Abrasion

At Kidz Connextion, our doctors make it a goal to get your child excited about his or her oral hygiene routine, after all, brushing on a daily basis is critical for pediatric pearly whites. It’s important to observe how your child brushes his or her teeth because you don’t want them to brush too hard. Brushing too hard can not only cause damage to their toothbrush but their teeth and gums as well.

It’s important to understand that your child doesn’t need to brush with all of their might to maintain a healthy smile. What’s vital is brushing your teeth, period. Brushing too hard will lead to tooth sensitivity and will cause the gums to recede resulting in damage that isn’t reversible. Our doctors recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush when practicing proper oral hygiene. Aim for brushing for two minutes at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions or concerns about pediatric oral care, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Oral Piercings and Teeth

At Kidz Connextion, we understand that our teenage patients may have a little rebellion in them. Perhaps they’ve been toying with the idea of getting an oral piercing. We encourage patients to express their individuality to its fullest potential, especially when it comes to their smile, but we can’t help but warn them of the dental drawbacks that oral piercings may cause.

When deciding to pierce the tongue, lips, or cheeks, it can hinder your ability to chew, speak, and swallow. The mouth contains millions of bacteria, and often, infection and swelling occur with mouth piercings. If the body rejects a piercing, or if aftercare instructions aren’t obeyed, infection, pain, and swelling can quickly become life threatening if not properly attended to. Additionally, these piercings may cause damage to teeth because playing with a piercing can crack a tooth if you are not careful. If you choose to go through with an oral piercing, keep the piercing site as clean as possible. Contact us immediately if you experience any sign of infection.

If you have questions or concerns about oral piercings and dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Gum Chewing: Helpful or Harmful?

It’s no secret that kids love to chew gum, which is why our staff at Kidz Connextion, wants you to know it’s the type of gum you chew that makes a difference in whether it’s helpful or harmful to your teeth. The chewing of sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, which washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth.

For most people, chewing sugar-free gum (especially gum sweetened with xylitol) can be a good preventive measure in situations when tooth brushing and flossing aren’t practical. It’s important to remember that sugar-free or not, chewing gum should never replace good dental hygiene practices. Next time you and your child are walking through the sweets aisle and he or she is begging for some chewing gum, look for the ADA Seal so you can be sure it’s sugarless. All gums with the ADA Seal are sweetened by non-cavity causing sweeteners such as aspartame, xylitol, sorbitol or mannitol.

If you have questions about dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Are You Brushing Correctly?

 

If you’ve ever licked your tongue and felt a fuzzy buildup, that buildup is called plaque and it can be very dangerous if not removed promptly. Plaque can lead to periodontal disease and eventually tooth decay if a proper oral hygiene routine is not practiced on a daily basis.  Our staff at Kidz Connextion can’t stand behind you while you brush your teeth, but we can encourage you to brush at least twice a day for two minutes. He can also provide you with these brushing tips, to make sure that you are doing the job correctly. 

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.

• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes. 

• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.

• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria 

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

If you’ve ever licked your tongue and felt a fuzzy buildup, that buildup is called plaque and it can be very dangerous if not removed promptly. Plaque can lead to periodontal disease and eventually tooth decay if a proper oral hygiene routine is not practiced on a daily basis.  Our staff at Kidz Connextion can’t stand behind you while you brush your teeth, but we can encourage you to brush at least twice a day for two minutes. He can also provide you with these brushing tips, to make sure that you are doing the job correctly.

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

 

The Proper Flossing Technique

Flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. In fact, it helps to remove plaque from the areas between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. This is important because plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing can eventually harden into tartar which only our hygienists at Kidz Connextion will be able to remove. Therefore, the next time you floss you should utilize these tips.

• Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with.


• Holding the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth.


• Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line.


• Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

If you have questions about maintaining your oral health regimen, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.