Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in his or her health that will pay lifelong dividends. You can start by setting an example; taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is something to be valued. And anything that makes taking care of teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own toothbrush, encourages proper oral care.

To help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:

* Brush twice a day with an ADA — accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque-the sticky film on teeth that’s the main cause of tooth decay.

* Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gumline, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.

* Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When you do eat these foods, try to eat them with your meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth.

* Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.

* Make sure that your children’s drinking water is fluoridated. If your water supply; municipal, well or bottled does not contain fluoride, your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.

* Take your child to the dentist for regular checkups.

WHAT BRUSHING TECHNIQUES CAN I SHOW MY CHILD?

You may want to supervise your children until they get the hang of these simple steps:

* Use a pea-sized dab of an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Take care that your child does not swallow the toothpaste.

* Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the inside surface of each tooth first, where plaque may accumulate most. Brush gently back and forth.

* Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth. Angle the brush along the outer gumline. Gently brush back and forth.

* Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Gently brush back and forth.

* Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom.

* It’s always fun to brush the tongue!

WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD BEING FLOSSING?

Because flossing removes food particles and plaque between teeth that brushing misses, you should floss for your children beginning at age 4. By the time they reach age 8, most kids can begin flossing for themselves.

WHAT ARE DENTAL SEALANTS AND HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS THEM?

A dental sealant creates a highly-effective barrier against decay. Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of a child’s permanent back teeth, where most cavities form. Applying a sealant is not painful and can be performed in one dental visit. Your dentist can tell you whether your child might benefit from a dental sealant.

WHAT IS FLUORIDE AND HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS GETTING THE RIGHT AMOUNT?

Fluoride is one of the best ways to help prevent against tooth decay. A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride combines with the tooth’s enamel to strengthen it. In many municipal water supplies, the right amount of fluoride is added for proper tooth development. To find out whether your water contains fluoride, and how much, call your local water district. If your water supply does not contain any (or enough) fluoride, your child’s pediatrician or dentist may suggest using fluoride drops or a mouthrinse in addition to a fluoride toothpaste.

HOW IMPORTANT IS DIET TO MY CHILD’S ORAL HEALTH?

A balanced diet is necessary for your child to develop strong, decay-resistant teeth. In addition to a full range of vitamins and minerals, a child’s diet should include plenty of calcium, phosphorous, and proper levels of fluoride.

If fluoride is your child’s greatest protection against tooth decay, then frequent snacking may be the biggest enemy. The sugars and starches found in many foods and snacks like cookies, candies, dried fruit, soft drinks, pretzels and potato chips combine with plaque on teeth to create acids. These acids attack the tooth enamel and may lead to cavities.

Each “plaque attack” can last up to 20 minutes after a meal or snack has been finished. Even a little nibble can create plaque acids. So it’s best to limit snacking between meals.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD CHIPS, BREAKS OR KNOCKS OUT A TOOTH?

With any injury to your child’s mouth, you should contact your dentist immediately. The dentist will want to examine the affected area and determine appropriate treatment.

If your child is in pain from a broken, cracked or chipped tooth, you should visit the dentist immediately. You may want to give an over-the-counter pain reliever to your child until his/her appointment. If possible, keep any part of the tooth that has broken off and take this with you to the dentist.

If a tooth is completely knocked out of the mouth by an injury, take the tooth to your dentist as soon as possible. Handle the tooth as little as possible — do not wipe or otherwise clean the tooth. Store the tooth in water or milk until you get to a dentist. It may be possible for the tooth to be placed back into your child’s mouth, a procedure called reimplantation.

Did you know that 1 out of 3 Americans don’t like their smile?

If you feel unhappy about your smile, you’re not alone. Many people hesitate to smile in photographs or talk without covering their mouths.

So often these insecurities boil down to the color and appearance of one’s teeth. But it’s important to remember that there are solutions.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to teeth whitening treatment than pearly whites. People undergo professional whitening for all sorts of reasons. And if you don’t like your smile, teeth whitening may very well be an option for you.

Curious to learn more? Here are the top 5 reasons to get professional teeth whitening!

1. Fastest Results
Which benefits of professional teeth whitening outweigh over-the-counter treatments?

For starters, professional teeth whitening guarantees instant pearly whites. There’s no need to wait weeks for results to accumulate and show over time. After you finish your professional treatment, you’ll have a brighter and whiter smile.

In most cases, it only takes one session for patients to see major results. In other cases, it may take an additional 1-2 treatments. But that’s still far shorter than D-I-Y solutions.

Over-the-counter treatments can be just as costly as a professional treatment. They also don’t produce the same extremely white teeth you get by going to a dental practice. Not to mention, there’s a lot of hassle, maintenance, and clean-up with these treatments.

2. Longer Results
Most over-the-counter whiteners aren’t only expensive and time-consuming. They’re also not as effective as professional teeth whitening treatment.

At-home kit results last for maybe 1-2 weeks at the most. After that, it’s likely that your teeth will look exactly the same as before.

Our teeth lose their white appearance over time for many reasons. Smoking, age, and consuming things that stain teeth are just some of the reasons. With that said, it’s hard to reverse years of damage with D-I-Y solutions, nor are many whitening kits capable of creating extremely white teeth that’ll last.

Professional whitening not only creates instantaneous white teeth. The results are higher quality and last for months — even years.

Whitening treatment is an investment. But it’s an investment that goes a long way.

3. Personalized Care
Have veneers, crowns, fillings, or crooked teeth?

Not to worry! Your whitening provider will personalize your care based on your natural smile. They’ll whiten each and every one of your individual teeth – no matter their size or shape.

Teeth whitening kits aren’t designed to perform at that precise level of care.

4. Minimize Sensitivity & Avoid Damage
Did you know that over-the-counter teeth whiteners contain peroxide bleach agents? Did you also know that these can cause gum irritation, as well as irreversible tooth damage?

At-home whitening kits and whitener products contain many harsh, unhealthy chemicals. Many have suffered from gum irritation as the result of using whitening strips. Others have experienced tooth erosion or needed to undergo restorative treatments.

The bottom line? Professional whitening is the safest route to go. Your cosmetic dentist will determine whether your mouth is healthy enough for treatment. And they’ll also choose the best whitening method for your individual smile.

Get the Smile of Your Dreams with Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment
Everybody deserves to feel and speak freely without feeling conscious about their teeth. With professional teeth whitening treatment, you don’t have to feel self-conscious anymore.

Are you tired of feeling self-conscious about your smile? Do you have a big event coming up and want to dazzle everybody with a new and improved smile?

If you’re located in Killeen, Texas, the dental professionals at Clear Creek Family Dentistry are here for you. To learn more about how we can help you get the smile of your dreams, contact us today!

Do you worry about making a good impression?

It’s scientifically proven that your smile is one of your most powerful features. In fact, almost one in three Americans say it’s the first thing they notice about others.

If you have crooked teeth, you may have given some thought into correcting your smile with traditional braces. However, thanks to evolving technology, you have other options that are worth considering.

In this article, you’ll learn about braces, clear aligners, and Fastbraces. This information can help you choose the dental procedure that fits your individual needs best. Let’s get right into it!

How Long Do Braces Last?
The biggest concern most people have about getting braces is how long the braces process lasts. Not only do braces make eating more challenging, but they can also make you feel less confident when you smile.

Traditional braces are a two to three year investment, depending on the severity of your misalignment.

If you’re an adult who’s interested in corrective dentistry, three years may be too long to feel comfortable wearing traditional braces.

Fastbraces vs Braces Procedures
Fastbraces may not be the most creative name, but it works just like it sounds. Fastbraces function similarly to traditional methods, but there are a couple differences that qualify them as speed braces.

With Fastbraces, you can get a perfect smile in as little as a few months. How is this possible?

Traditional braces use square metal brackets to move the teeth. Their shape targets the visible part of your teeth first. After the crowns shift, then the roots move, which makes the procedure permanent.

Fastbraces use triangular metal brackets that shift the tooth and root at the same time. Not only is this more efficient, but the fit feels more natural in your mouth.

Fastbraces and regular braces look almost identical, which means you will have metal and wire in your mouth. The benefits of choosing Fastbraces include much quicker results, less painful visits to the orthodontist, and less money spent on maintenance.

Clear Aligners vs Fastbraces Review
If you’re unfamiliar with clear aligners, this technology that’s similar to Invisalign can also get you a straight smile. Although it won’t work as fast as Fastbraces, there are other appealing qualities.

Clear aligners are clear trays you put over your teeth to correct misalignments. When in place, it’s almost invisible. This option is best for people who feel self-conscious about having metal in their mouth.

Another benefit is that you can remove the trays whenever you eat. This is more sanitary and freeing, since braces can trap food particles and make eating certain foods painful.

However, it is worth noting that clear aligners work best for people who only have minor misalignments. In order to make the best decision for your lifestyle and goals, speaking more in-depth with your dentist is the best way to get stunning results.

Ready to Get the Smile of Your Dreams?
If you’re someone who wants a perfect smile in the shortest amount of time, Fastbraces could be your perfect solution.

If you live in or near Killeen, Texas, then Clear Creek Family & Cosmetic Dentistry would love to help you achieve a radiant smile. Contact us to schedule your appointment or learn more about how Fastbraces can help you.