Along with Halloween, October is National Dental Hygiene month! At Premier Dental Care in Indianapolis, Indiana, we are excited to share the message of Do The Daily 4, which are the four most important things you can do every day to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Dr. Marla Wilson and our team want to create oral health awareness for our patients by encouraging incorporating these four practices in your oral hygiene routine. Here is how to Do The Daily 4:
Do The Daily 4
#1 Brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time lessens plaque to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
#2 Flossing in between your teeth and gums once a day–using dental floss or interdental brushes–to remove food particles and plaque in those places where your toothbrush can’t clean effectively.
#3 Rinsing with an ADA approved anti-microbial mouthwash once a day to freshen breath and prevent gum disease.
#4 Chewing sugarless gum to “clean” your teeth for those times you can’t brush after eating and drinking. Chewing stimulates saliva production which neutralizes plaque acids, remineralizes enamel, and washes away food particles.
Healthy Halloween Tips
To help your children (and grandchildren) enjoy healthy Halloween treats, provide fresh fruit treats and have them stick to sweets which dissolve easily (like sweet tarts) while avoiding chewy, hard, and sticky candy.
If your children can’t brush their teeth after eating and don’t have access to sugarless gum, try giving them water or milk. Water helps rinse away bacterial film and milk has a high pH to offset the acid produced by candy in the mouth.
Encourage healthy smile care while enjoying the fall festivities. If you would like to schedule a dental consultation, please call 317-787-6625. Dr. Marla Wilson and our team in Indianapolis, Indiana wish you and yours a spooktacularly healthy month of October!