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[caption id="attachment_664" align="alignleft" width="600"] Should I Brush Before I Floss?[/caption]

This is an age-old question. Should you floss before you brush or after? If you asked any one of our team members, you just might get a different answer on this one!

Before you report them for not knowing their stuff, each response can be right! As long as you’re doing a thorough job when you floss! Let me explain.

The Case for Flossing Before Brushing

Theoretically, flossing first dislodges the gunk between your teeth, letting the fluoride in your toothpaste reach those crevices better.

Also, behavioral scientists say since most people don’t like to floss, it’s better to get the least-pleasant half of your dental routine out of the way first – you’ll be less likely to skip it.

Once you have a minty, fresh mouth from brushing, you might be less inclined to feel the need to floss afterward.

The Case for Flossing After Brushing

Some say flossing last is better because it clears your mouth from extra food and debris that could otherwise be carried by the floss into the very spaces you’re trying to clean out.

Plus, it might be more pleasant to put those flossing hands into a clean mouth versus an unbrushed one.

Bottom Line

Floss when it works for you. But make it a habit! Choose the same time every day, floss once a day, and floss thoroughly.

And don’t forget to use the right flossing method: for each new set of teeth, use a new section of floss, and hug each side of the tooth by dragging the floss upward in the shape of a “C.”  Need a refresher? Check out our flossing illustration to help you keep those pearly white teeth clean.

Want us to show you how? Just ask!

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also has a handy infographic to maintaining healthy teeth for your children.

Last Note

Just remember, if you want your children to have healthy oral habits, such as flossing, you will have to start doing it yourself. Daily.  Research has shown that children mirror their parents.  Why not get them to start a habit that will be beneficial and one that they can use to save their teeth for the rest of their life!

All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit. Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention. For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page. Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention! Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Get acquainted with us by watching our practice video and find out what we do.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy! Start here to schedule an appointment. All of our forms are online. Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send. On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time. For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

[caption id="attachment_629" align="alignleft" width="640"] Electric vs Manual Toothbrushes[/caption]

This is one of our most frequently asked questions!

Our answer? It’s not the brush that matters, it’s who’s doing the brushing.

Let’s break that down. The goal of tooth brushing is to remove plaque from your teeth on a consistent (daily!) basis, so that we prevent the buildup of tartar which leads to tooth decay.

Manual Toothbrush

A manual toothbrush is a great and inexpensive tool that helps us do just that. Make sure to brush at least for two minutes per day, twice a day. Gently brush ALL surfaces and make sure to reach those back molars.

If you need some help with visualizing the proper techniques, here are some helpful recommendations.

Electric Toothbrush

For some people, it can be difficult to brush properly with a manual toothbrush. Those with some form of motor disability or arthritis may benefit from using an electric toothbrush. An electric brush can also be helpful for kids or anyone with braces.

The same tooth brushing rules apply – two times per day, two minutes at a time. One advantage of an electric toothbrush is that some have a built-in timer. If you’re one of those quick brushers who has a hard time making it to two minutes, consider using a timed electric brush.

Round vs Rectangular

When picking an electric toothbrush, pick one that has a round brush head instead of a rectangular head.  A rounded brush head can more easily maneuver around teeth, especially those hard to get molars.

What about Battery operated toothbrushes?

You've all seen those cute battery operated electric toothbrushes with that are decked out in action figure brands or stylish colors.  Note, only some allow for battery replacement when they start to run low.  Moreover, very few allow the brush head to be changed.

An electric toothbrush would be recommended for long term use.  Just replace the brush head every 6 months.

Cost of Electric Toothbrushes

Some are deterred by the cost of electric toothbrushes.  They can range from $30 to over $130.  A solid $30 electric toothbrush can last over a decade with proper care use.

Take home message: When choosing an electric toothbrush, choose function over all the bells and whistles.

At your next dental visit, ask us whether we think you would do better with a manual or electric brush! And, as always, don’t forget to floss!

Bonus: How do astronauts brush their teeth?

Here's a bonus video from astronaut Chad Hadfield, who is commander of the International Space Station.  He explains who he brushes his teeth while in space! Find out what type of toothbrush he uses in outer space!

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit. Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention. For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page. Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention! Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy! Start here to schedule an appointment. All of our forms are online. Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send. On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time. For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

[caption id="attachment_611" align="alignleft" width="640"] Obey Your Thirst: Effects of Soda on Your Teeth and Body[/caption]

Have you ever seen those videos where someone puts a baby tooth in a glass of soda and watches it decay? Well, the effect of soda in an actual mouth is a bit different. You have your saliva to help wash away the sugar, you eat other things throughout the day, and brush at least twice a day to remove debris or plaque. Nevertheless, soda is not something we recommend you consume more often than a once-in-awhile treat. Here’s why:

Sugar

Soda has an extremely high sugar content. The bacteria that cause tooth decay feed off of sugar and excrete acid, which is what causes tooth decay. The more sugar our teeth have to interact with, the more prone to decay they will be.  The beverage industry refutes the science, however if you search online for "Mountain Dew Mouth," you will see the ill effects of soda drinking that is ravishing Appalachia. In this community, the scale of economics has led to a catastrophic public health crisis of oral health.  Since the cost of soda is less than the cost of milk, many families give their children and infants soda to drink.

Acid

Think diet soda is a better alternative? Even though it contains zero sugar, it can still contain acids such as phosphoric acid or citric acid. Acid eats away at a tooth’s enamel and leaves it prone to decay.  Soda may also rob you of your calcium deposits on your teeth and body (see below Bone Density Disease).

Colors

Caramel color, Yellow 5, etc. Any type of artificial coloring can cause tooth-staining.
If you prefer your teeth sparkling white, it’s best to stay away from soda.

Effects of Soda on Your Body

Drinking carbonated drinks, like sodas, can adversely affect your health.  Sodas add additional "empty" calories that have no nutritional benefit to you while simply adding to your total caloric intake.  What does this mean? Soda drinking can lead to weight gain.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s, according to the Centers for Disease Control.¹ This means 1 in 5 school age children or young adult are considered obese.

Dehydration

There is nothing quite like a soda on a hot summer day, right? Well, that's what the cola companies try to portray on their television ads. However, consuming high quantities of sodas can actually make you feel worse on a hot day.  Sodas often contain caffeine.  Caffeine is a natural diuretic, which removes water from your system.  The more you drink sodas or caffeinated drinks, the more water leaves your system.

Diabetes

Since sodas are packed with sugars, your body gets a sugar rush.  Initially, your body will self regulate to take care of the excess sugars.  However, over time, the body loses its innate ability to regulate the flood of sugars and may lead to diabetes.² This most often leads to Type 2 Diabetes, where the body does not use insulin well to control the blood sugar levels.

Bone Density Disease

Drinking sodas may lead to decreasing your body's calcium levels.³ A Cleveland Clinic report stated that osteoporosis, especially in women, maybe due in part to drinking sodas.

Recommendations

Instead of soda, we recommend spicing up your daily beverages with other alternatives. How about plain water infused with fresh fruit? If you MUST (on a rare occasions) drink soda, make sure to use a straw and always rinse with water after 3o minutes. And, as always, keep up with regular brushing and flossing to protect those precious teeth!

For more information about Nutrition and Oral Health, here are some helpful recommendations.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm

2. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html

3. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sodas-tea-coffee-can-make-bones-brittle/

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit. Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention. For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page. Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention! Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy! Start here to schedule an appointment. All of our forms are online. Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send. On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time. For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

So as as one cola company ad slogan puts it, "Obey your thirst!"  Reach for the water, instead of the soda!

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

[caption id="attachment_602" align="alignleft" width="640"] Baby Steps Series: Choosing the Right Toothpaste[/caption]

Question: Doctor, what toothpaste do you recommend for my children?

Answer: Any fluoride toothpaste that will help you maintain a good oral health routine!

Question: What's the big deal about fluoride? What does it do?

Answer: Fluoride helps by reducing the risk of dental decay (or dental cavities) in several ways.

First, it helps to remineralizes (or harden) the enamel.  Every time you eat your teeth get bathed in an acidic environment.  This acid is important to breakdown food, but it can also breakdown the enamel on your teeth.  This is the reason why you should not constantly snack throughout the day...the acid will eventually breakdown the enamel.  If the enamel has a break, it causes a pit to form, which is now considered a cavity.  Using a fluoride toothpaste after meals and snacks will reduce the acid attack but remineralizing the enamel.

Second, fluoride can strengthen weakened enamel in surface cavities.  Proper use can prevent a surface cavity from growing, therefore possibly eliminating the need for a dental filling.

Finally, fluoride has antibacterial properties. It helps to prevent acid production from plaque producing bacteria.

Question: I have a toddler, is a fluoride toothpaste safe for him? If it is, when should I start using it to brush his teeth?

Answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a fluoride toothpaste as soon as first teeth erupt. This means starting to brush with a fluoride toothpaste from an early age. Normally teeth start to erupt around 6 months of age.

Question: How much toothpaste should I use for my toddler? I'm afraid he will swallow it and get a tummy ache.

Answer: Great question. For children who are not able to spit out on their own, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a "dry rice grain" amount of flouridated toothpaste.  This amount will give your child the proper benefits of flouride without causing them to have a tummy ache, if they swallow any of the paste.

Question: How do I pick the right fluoride toothpaste for my child?

Answer: We know you have a million and one choices facing you in the toothpaste aisle, and it can be hard to figure out what’s best for you. Most people, however, can use any toothpaste that has the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval. This seal means that the toothpaste contains fluoride, has the right amount of abrasiveness (not too little and not too much), and has been shown to be both safe and effective for intended use. If you have any sensitivity to dyes, preservatives, or certain ingredients, opt for a toothpaste that is free of those, such as Tom's of Maine. Just make sure it has fluoride.

Question: What is the proper way to brush my child's teeth?

Answer: Here is a quick graphic that will illustrate the basic technique of toothbrushing. Note, most children cannot master toothbrushing on their own so continue to supervise their toothbrushing and then go in for a quick spot check after they are done. For more information, visit our preventive care page.

We can’t say it enough: fluoride is your best form of cavity prevention!

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit. Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention. For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page. Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention! Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy! Start here to schedule an appointment. All of our forms are online. Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send. On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time. For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

*This blog is part of the Baby Steps Series. Look for future blogs in this series.

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.