Simply – YES!
Bedtime is a particularly important time to brush. Think of everything that went into your
mouth during the day - maybe cereal and milk or eggs and toast for breakfast, then a
sandwich, chips, soda, and fruit for lunch. Perhaps dinner was spaghetti and meatballs
with lots of parmesan cheese or a delicious burrito. Let's not forget any snacks or
desserts you ate!
No matter what you ate, some of the food particles may still be lingering in your mouth.
Do you feel like taking a chance that these won't start creating the perfect environment
to cause tooth decay or the beginning stages of gingivitis? That's what happens if you
don't take the time to brush your teeth before you go to bed.
We all know that bedtime brings many things to do before we go to sleep, and it's easy
to jump into bed without the two minutes it takes to brush our teeth thoroughly. But
finishing the day with a clean mouth sets the tone for a good night's sleep. It removes
the food remnants between the teeth and the harmful bacteria floating around our
mouths and any plaque beginning to form.
Plaque is that film that forms on your teeth from the combination of food, saliva,
bacteria, and fluids in your mouth. Bacteria in the plaque on our teeth lead to acid
production, and sticky plaque buildup can damage the enamel of our teeth and lead to
cavities. When it sits on the tooth's surface all night, it can do this damage without being
disturbed.
Plaque can affect your oral health in many ways:
● Makes your teeth look yellow
● Causes bad breath
● Allows harmful bacteria to accumulate
● Causes dental caries (cavities) and gingivitis
If plaque is not removed within one day, it can become tartar – a hard, yellow, or brown
substance that tightly adheres to the teeth. Tartar can only be removed by a dental
professional.
Gingivitis is an infection and swelling of the gums caused by bacterial plaque. If it is not
treated, it can become periodontitis, which may eventually cause bone loss where the
tooth sits or even tooth loss. Even more dangerous is that the infection can become
systemic, affecting the whole body.
We all know that the foundation of a good oral hygiene routine is brushing twice daily,
flossing once daily, and seeing the dentist every six months for regular cleanings and
check-ups. Did you know these habits are most easily started when your child is still a
baby?
When an infant's teeth have yet to erupt, wiping their gums off with a soft cloth will help
establish their good oral habits from the beginning. As they begin to get their primary
teeth, begin using a soft toothbrush instead of the cloth.
Fluoride-free toothpaste, the size of a rice grain, can be used until your child is old
enough to know how to spit it out after cleansing and not to swallow. It’s okay to switch
to toothpaste with fluoride once they can spit it out, usually around three years old.
Sometime between the ages of three to six, they can start using a full pea-sized amount
of toothpaste with fluoride. (If you are worried about fluoride, we discussed some helpful
information about it, safety concerns, and best practices in this article.)
Beginning these habits young will help establish a routine and the habit of caring for
their teeth from an early age, which will probably stay with them throughout their lives.
Choosing healthy snack foods is essential for keeping children's teeth sparkly clean.
Even milk or juices can cause damage when left in the mouth, and this is especially true
at bedtime. If you give your child a snack or a drink other than water after they've
brushed before bedtime, have them rinse with water and spit to remove any residual on
their teeth - or even brush again!
Many of us will be enjoying friends and family during the upcoming months of
celebrating the holidays. Yummy food concoctions we haven't had since last year will be
calling to us. We will consume holiday cookies, pies, and tasty beverages.
Unfortunately, these can all leave sugars in our mouths, which leads to bacteria, which
leads to plaque formation, which leads to… You get the idea!
Maintaining our usual oral hygiene routine may be difficult while visiting with others,
traveling, or staying overnight in unfamiliar places. Here are a few tips to help keep
dental health a priority while celebrating the busy holiday season:
● Keep a new toothbrush for every family member in a pre-packed travel case with
fluoride toothpaste and floss.
● Make a cute sign to post on the bathroom mirror where you stay to remind you
and the family to brush morning and night.
● Set alarms on your phone or watch to remind you and your family to brush and
floss.
● Carry sugarless gum with Xylitol. This helps remove bits of food and fights
harmful bacteria.
Everyone should get in the habit of brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and getting
regularly scheduled dental check-ups every six months. These easy but essential steps
can help prevent problems with dental health. Helping your child remember and practice
these habits can establish life-long oral health.
Brushing before bed is so important. It's like running the dishwasher to clean all the dirty
dishes you've accumulated during the day, except it's your teeth you're cleaning, not the
dishes. The next morning, like opening the dishwasher, your mouth feels cleaner and
ready to begin the day with a fresher start.
Jungle Roots is here to support you. Talk with us about your concerns about your child's
oral hygiene. We can help!
