How do you keep your mouth and your body healthy

1. Healthy Mouth,
Healthy Body
Falls Community Dental

2. Brush 2 times a day
• Brush 2 times a day for 2 minutes each time
• Always using a soft toothbrush
• Brush all 3 sides of the teeth in a circular motion

3. Plaque

4. Caring for Teeth at Home
• Brush morning and evening before bed
• Babies to age 2 years, just a dab (smear)
of toothpaste without fluoride
• Age 2 yrs and older children, add a pea size or end
of pencil amount of fluoride toothpaste
• Brush your child’s teeth until age 7 or 8 years or 3rd
grade
• Watch, or time, older children's brushing habits – 2
minutes 2 times a day
• DO NOT SHARE TOOTHBRUSHES

5. Floss daily
• Flossing is just as important as brushing
your teeth
• Floss once a day, between all teeth
• It’s important to know the “right” moves when
flossing *demonstration*
• String floss vs. floss picks

6. Why do we brush and
floss?
• So we have our teeth forever
• To prevent cavities (caries)
• To prevent gum disease, gingivitis, periodontal
disease
• To improve overall systemic (body) health
• Lessen the bacteria we give to other people

7. What is a Cavity?
• A cavity is a soft spot, hole or a damaged tooth

8. How do I get a cavity?
• Bacteria and sugar – acid attack!
o Acid Attack = cavities
• Preventing cavities– proper brushing, flossing and
good nutrition with less sugar
• Avoid sharing bacteria
• Sugar free gum – less acid attack

9. How does the dentist
“fix” a cavity?
• A cavity can be stopped, or fixed, with a filling
• A cavity will not heal or “fix” itself. Cavities only get
bigger and cause pain and infection.
• A cavity that is large and reaches the middle, or
inner tooth, needs to have a special procedure
called a root canal. Sometimes the tooth must be
removed.
• It’s important see a dentist if any
teeth cause pain - hurt
with biting, cold or warm

10. Fluoride is important
• Fluoride is a vitamin for our teeth
• Fluoride strengthens teeth
• Our teeth use fluoride when forming in the jaw
• Protects our teeth from cavities
• Fluoride is in toothpaste and tap water (some states)
• Fluoride is applied to children’s teeth at your dental
office

11. Nutrition
Good for teeth and body Bad for teeth and body
• Tap water, milk, fruits and
vegetables
• Sugar – soda, pop, juice, candy,
cookies/cakes

12. Children and nutrition
• Limit snacking between meals
o Typical Day: breakfast, healthy snack, lunch, healthy snack, supper
• Remember there is sugar in most other foods that
we eat!
• 1-2 treats a day that have sugar in them is okay at a
meal but NEVER before bed
• Not only is this important for their teeth but their
health
o Sugar and obesity
o diabetes

13. Children and Nutrition
• Only water between meals
o Tap water vs. bottle water
• Milk at mealtime
• Juice only 1 time a day at a meal
• NO soda or pop daily – special treat
o Others: Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Powerade, Fruit drinks: Sunny D, Capri-Sun
• NO bottles or sippey cups with anything but water!!
• Don’t buy it, they can’t eat it.

14. Baby teeth are important
• Why are baby teeth important?
• Baby teeth – 20 teeth= 10 on bottom, 10 on top
• Dentist visit – age 1 year and then every 6 months
Erupt – age
when
tooth comes
Into the mouth
Shed – age
when child
will lose the
tooth
*Age can be
different for
each child

15. Dental visit – age 1 for life
• Dentist - looks at x-rays (pictures) of the teeth and
checks for cavities. Dentist will look at soft and hard
tissues in the mouth to make sure they look healthy.
• Dental Hygienist – clean the teeth to remove
bacteria from the teeth. Helps improve health of
gum tissue and bone that support the teeth.
• Age 1 and for the rest of your life
• 2 times every year
• Apply fluoride – ages 18 and younger

16. What is gingivitis and
gum disease?
Gingivitis
Periodontal Disease
• Red and puffy gums
• Bleeding when
brushing or flossing
• You can make tissue
healthy, brush & floss
• AKA - Gum disease
• Red and puffy gums
• Bleeding when
brushing or flossing
• Bad breath
• Gum tissue loss
• Bone loss – permanent
• Mobile or shifting teeth
teeth

18. What causes Gum
disease?
• Bacteria or plaque in our mouth release toxins
• This process starts to break down the connective
tissue and boney structure around the teeth
creating pockets around the gums
• Bone does not grow back
• Bone loss can result in tooth loss

19. Other Factors in gum
disease
• Poor brushing and flossing
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Hormonal changes
• Medications
-Lessen saliva flow
• Other Systemic diseases
-Diabetes
-HIV
-Cancer
• Family history of gum disease

20. How do I know if my
children or I have this?
• Dental exam: x-rays (pictures) and measure the
gums

21. Prevention
• With all this information it is important to act
preventative:
o Brushing 2 times a day and flossing 1xday
o Practicing a healthy diet
o Limiting sugar intake
o Visiting your dentist at least 2 times a year
• Once you experience pain its often too late to save
the teeth!!

22. Injuries to face
• Fall or accident can cause injuries to face can hurt
the teeth
• See a dentist, even if no pain with the teeth:
- Broken tooth, swollen lips, bleeding lips, bleeding
gums
• Teeth can die or become infected if we injure or hit
them
• Sometimes teeth die later or cause pain a long time
after the injury
• X-rays (pictures) are taken to watch teeth
• Watch for the tooth to change color, bump on the
gum tissue, pain, loose tooth

23. 521 N. Main Ave, Sioux Falls,
SD
• We provide Dental exams and dental cleanings
(routine care)to:
o ages 18 and younger with Medicaid, private dental insurance, no
insurance
o Ages 19 and older need SD Medicaid
• Emergency services Monday- Friday at 730am
- No appointment
- $35 if you do not have Medicaid, private insurance
- Children, pregnant patients seen first