Toothbrush Care

Toothbrushes are essential tools for removing decay-causing bacteria and their food sources. But how do you clean the tool you use for cleaning? And how do you know when you need a replacement? At Kidz Connextion in Phoenix, our patients receive a toothbrush with each regular appointment, but if they’re using them properly, they’ll need to switch toothbrushes more frequently than that. Fortunately, taking care of a toothbrush is usually easy.

 

Each time a toothbrush is used, it should be run under tap water afterward to rinse away some of the bacteria and debris it accumulates. Following that, it should be allowed to air dry in an upright position. Leaving toothbrushes inside travel caps will keep them damp, allowing mold to grow on them. Putting them in an upright position will allow moisture to drain out of them, and keeping them in separated holders will prevent cross-contamination. Besides avoiding contact with other people’s toothbrushes, your child may want to keep their toothbrushes separate if they have different ones for their teeth and oral appliances such as retainers and mouthguards. Plastic sometimes requires gentler toothpaste than enamel, and grit leftover in a toothbrush could leave scratches in a retainer.

 

A toothbrush will need to be replaced when it flares outward too much to reach into crevices between the teeth. This typically happens after about three months of use, regardless of whether it is manual or electric. However, if the user has recently suffered a nasal or respiratory infection, they should dispose of the toothbrush after recovering. Toothbrushes also need to be replaced if they become warped or damaged in a way that would allow mold to colonize cracks in their handles. For this reason, we recommend not running toothbrushes in the dishwasher or storing them anywhere they could easily melt.

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Flossing Technique

From the moment our first teeth come in, flossing is essential for oral hygiene. Learning to floss properly is a major milestone for children in their self-care, and parents need to understand how to do it for them until then. There are a few details about flossing that are important to get right for it to be effective, so we wanted to remind everyone of what those are so they won’t figure out the hard way that they’ve been flossing wrong.

 

The first step of proper flossing is to not be stingy; you’ll need about a fifteen-inch long strand. Wrap the floss around your middle fingers and pull it taut so that you can maneuver it with your thumb and index fingers. Slide it along each side of each tooth, pulling it toward the tooth so it bends in a c-shape, and slide it as far along as is possible without causing gum pain. Wiggle it back and forth on the way out so as much plaque is caught as possible, and keep doing this until no more plaque remains. As you go, you’ll unspool fresh thread and spool up the other end of the floss to ensure you’re not spreading plaque from one tooth to another.

 

Flossing isn’t just about removing large chunks of food debris; it’s also about clearing residue from tooth surfaces. It’s important to remember to floss the backs of the back teeth, as well. Prosthetic crowns also need to be flossed. In a healthy mouth, flossing should not cause bleeding. If it does, schedule an appointment with us so we can perform a treatment for gingivitis.

 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Mouthwash for Children

Are children able to benefit from mouthwash? Possibly, but it depends on their age and whether their parents accurately understand what mouthwash is able to do. At Kidz Connextion in Phoenix, we regularly see children of all ages and are happy to help their families understand their oral treatment options, so let’s take a closer look at how mouthwash should be used.

 

Outside of special cases, the mouthwash marketed to children is a fluoride fortifier or cosmetic. What this means is that it may help to prevent tooth decay by providing the teeth with more fluoride, or it may simply combat bad breath. It is non-alcoholic and, like mouthwash for adults, may supplement brushing and flossing but is not a replacement for ordinary hygiene. It may also help to mask bad breath by shaking food particles loose, but it will not kill bacteria on the tongue or ease dehydration, which is usually the source of halitosis in children.

 

Children under the age of six should not use mouthwash or they may be overexposed to fluoride, resulting in cosmetic problems for their teeth. A child over the age of six should still demonstrate that they are able to spit the mouthwash instead of swallowing it. However, teenagers and older children with braces often appreciate the improvement mouthwash can have on their breath, and as long as they continue to floss appropriately each day, it can be helpful for immediately removing food debris. Prescription-strength antibiotic mouthwash may be used in cases when a patient suffers an injury such as a dry socket, but is usually used for adults.

 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Fluoride Toothpaste

At Kidz Connextion Dental Care in Phoenix, we want our patients to understand how to protect their oral health. Brushing their teeth is often one of the first self-care skills children learn, and when properly done, it can prevent a lot of health and comfort issues throughout life. Using fluoridated toothpaste properly is a major component of that.

Fluoride boosts teeth’s protection from the acids bacteria secrete as they eat food residue. During a standard tooth-brushing session of two minutes, children should be sure to brush all over every tooth surface. They should do this using a soft-bristled brush that will not cause irritation to the gums since they will begin brushing at the gum line and work their way to the tip of each crown. (They should also brush their tongues to prevent bad breath.)

Fluoride is commonly supplied through the water and people who drink it have significantly better dental health. However, people who consume too much fluoride are at risk for tooth discoloration, which is why toothpaste should be spat out. For this reason and to ensure they brush thoroughly, we recommend that children not be left to brush alone until they are about seven. They also should not use fluoride toothpaste on retainers or other oral appliances, as this may scratch them.

Kidz Connextion Dental Care maintains offices around Phoenix. To find out more, visit our website at Kidz Connextion.