Dental Tip - Flossing

Flossing is one of the most effective methods of keeping your teeth and gums healthy yet many overlook it. Don’t skip this step in your oral routine. Follow these simple rules for proper flossing techniques: (www.mayoclinic.com)

·         Don't skimp. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand — leaving about 1 inch (3 centimeters) to floss your first tooth.

·         Take it one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gumline to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.

·         Keep it up. If you have trouble getting floss through your teeth, try the waxed variety. If it's hard to manipulate the floss, use a floss holder or an inter-dental cleaner — such as a dental pick or stick designed to clean between the teeth.

Back to School Dental Tips

It’s that time again! Summer has come and gone, but now we have to get our kids ready for a new school year. With the hustle and bustle of school supplies, schedules, and after school activities don’t forget the health checklist. A dental exam is on the top of many parents’ back to school checklist.  One of the main causes why children miss school is because of a toothache. There are several things you can do to keep your child’s teeth healthy in between dental visits.

1.       Brushing- Look for a tooth paste with fluoride in it and brush for at least 2 minutes

2.       Flossing- If your child does not have all of their permanent teeth, brushing usually takes care of the flossing part. Flossing becomes more and more important as your child grows and gets their permanent teeth.

3.       Diet- Watching what your kids eat and drink can help keep their teeth healthy. Candy, sugar, and acidic foods can cause serious wear and tear on their teeth. Try to squeeze in crunchy veggies and swap out sodas and sugary drinks for water whenever possible

Lakeway Smiles wishes everyone a happy and safe school year!

New Dental Products to help with flossing

Here are 2 new products we're excited about:

1.Flossed Today Floss Reminder App for the iPhone--go to i tunes and download the app, it'll send daily reminders to your iPhone letting you know to floss! That's pretty cool!

2. Sonicare Air Floss
http://www.sonicare.com/dp/ca_en/OurProducts/AirFloss.aspx
It works with a burst of water and air to clean between teeth! Will it replace flossing? We're not sure yet, but we're really excited to give it a try and see for ourselves!

If you have questions about taking care of your teeth, brushing, or flossing or what products to use...give us a call or send us an email. Dr Patel is a Dentist in Austin and Lakeway Tx.