October is many things; Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but most importantly National Dental Hygiene Month (NDYM) and National Orthodontic Health Month! This October, the Adams Dental team would like to wish our patients a happy fall season while taking care of their smile health.
National Dental Hygiene Month’s “Daily 4”
National Dental Hygiene Month’s message is known as “Do The Daily 4”. These are the four most important parts of a preventative oral health regimen:
- Brushing those pearly whites twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Doing this will lessen plaque to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
- Flossing in between your teeth and gums once a day. You can use dental floss or interdental brushes. Doing this will remove food particles and plaque in those places where your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Rinsing with an anti-microbial mouthwash once a day. This will help freshen breath, and most important of all, help prevent gum disease. Make sure to find a mouthwash with the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the packaging. This ensures the product is both safe AND effective.
- Chewing sugarless gum. This is to boost your daily regimen by “cleaning” your teeth after eating and drinking when you can’t brush your teeth. Chewing stimulates saliva production which neutralizes plaque acids, remineralizes enamel and washes away food particles. Chewing sugar-free gum will get saliva on the job until you can brush those pearly whites.
In addition to following the four daily do’s, you can prepare your child for Halloween by having dental sealants put on their teeth. We advise providing healthy snacks, but for those times they will be enjoying sugary treats, supply candy which is easily rinsed away, such as powdered candies that dissolve easily, and avoid chewy or hard, sticky candy. Provide water or milk after snacking on sweets, as water helps rinse away bacterial film and milk has a high pH to offset the acid in the candy.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning, please call our office at (973) 377-6500. The Adams Dental team wishes you and your family a frightfully healthy Halloween!
