My Blog
Posts for: June, 2014

Plenty of parents use little tricks to persuade young ones to eat their vegetables, wash their hands, or get to bed on time. But when actress Jennie Garth wanted to help her kids develop healthy dental habits, she took it a step further, as she explained in a recent interview on Fox News.
“Oh my gosh, there's a froggy in your teeth!” the star of the '90s hit series Beverly Hills 90210 would tell her kids. “I've got to get him out!”
When her children — daughters Luca, Lola, and Fiona — spit out the toothpaste, Garth would surreptitiously slip a small toy frog into the sink and pretend it had come from one of their mouths. This amused the kids so much that they became engaged in the game, and let her brush their teeth for as long as necessary.
Garth's certainly got the right idea. Teaching children to develop good oral hygiene habits as early as possible helps set them up for a lifetime of superior dental health. Parents should establish a brushing routine with their kids starting around age 2, when the mouth is becoming filled with teeth. A soft, child's size toothbrush with a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste and plenty of parental help is good for toddlers. By around age 6, when they've developed more manual dexterity, the kids can start taking over the job themselves.
Here's another tip: It's easy to find out how good a cleaning job your kids are doing on their own teeth. Over-the counter products are available that use a system of color coding to identify the presence of bacterial plaque. With these, you can periodically check whether children are brushing effectively. Another way of checking is less precise, but it works anywhere: Just teach them to run their tongue over their teeth. If the teeth fell nice and smooth, they're probably clean, too. If not... it's time to pull out the frog.
And don't forget about the importance of regular dental checkups — both for your kids and yourself. “Like anything, I think our kids mirror what we do,” says Garth. We couldn't agree more.
If you need more information about helping kids develop good oral hygiene — or if it's time for a checkup — don't hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “How to Help Your Child Develop the Best Habits for Oral Health.”

Pasadena Dental Implants
Pasadena, CA 91101
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- May (6)
- Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?
- Helping Residents of Pasadena Understand Oral Surgery
- Braces: A Rite of Passage Even for Hollywood Kids
- Dental Implants for Pasadena, CA Residents: The Best Restorative Option for Missing Teeth
- The Periodontal and Systemic Connection: Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Your Heart will Thank You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
- 2013
Tags
- Welcome (1)
- celebrity smiles (51)
- root canal (2)
- cosmetic dentistry (11)
- teeth whitening (5)
- chipped tooth (2)
- periodontal disease (7)
- gum disease (12)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- dental injury (3)
- dental emergency (2)
- mouthguard (2)
- dental implants (24)
- dentures (2)
- Periodontal Health (1)
- braces (4)
- oral cancer (1)
- oral health (16)
- pediatric dentistry (2)
- teething (1)
- bridgework (1)
- nutrition (5)
- medication (1)
- aspirin (1)
- dental implant (1)
- dental insurance (1)
- bonding (2)
- bacteria (2)
- diabetes (1)
- sealants (1)
- TMD (2)
- toothache (1)
- tooth decay (4)
- oral hygiene (10)
- Gum Grafting (1)
- tmj (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- Loose Teeth (1)
- dental exam (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Corrective Jaw Surgery (2)
- crowns (4)
- orthodontics (2)
- dental care (1)
- Periodontist (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- Scaling and Root Planing (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- smoking (1)
- oral surgery (5)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- pediatric care (1)
- gummy smiles (1)
- mouthguards (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- snoring (1)
- x-rays (1)
- orthodontic treatment (1)
- retainers (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- bad breath (1)
- fillings (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- veneers (1)
- sugar (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- saliva (1)
- halloween (1)
- tooth extraction (2)
- seniors (1)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- periodontal dentistry (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- tooth pain (1)