dental hygiene

We know we should do it, and a lot of us think about it when we brush our teeth, yet only 49 percent of Americans floss on a daily basis. Even though flossing does a big part of the work of a healthy oral hygiene routine, why does only half of the population do it? Alla Wheeler, an associate professor of the dental hygiene program at NYU School of Dentistry, puts it simply: "There is no instant gratification with flossing." People brush their teeth because they feel clean afterward and have improved breath, but most don't think of flossing in the same way. As we segue from Halloween season into Thanksgiving and beyond, we are hitting the Super Bowl of dessert season. Flossing is now more important than ever to maintain healthy gums; here's why.

• Sugar is worse on its own: Eating sugar is the main reason for tooth decay, but it's not just because of sugar itself — how you eat sweets can increase odds of tooth decay. When you eat candy by itself you are directly exposing teeth enamel to more acid, and you don't produce as much saliva, which naturally washes the teeth. This is a big problem during Halloween time, so flossing postcandy is a must.
• It's harder to eliminate decay at night: Since most holiday celebrations occur at night, you consume more sugar before bed than you normally would. Dinner can be an hours-long affair, and before you know it, a fresh apple pie is on the table at 9 p.m. Flossing is typically recommended to be performed in the p.m., but it's important to abide by the nighttime rule during the holidays. The body produces less saliva when sleeping, leaving enamel more exposed to sugar. Flossing before bed will remove more of the plaque acquired during the day at all of those holiday festivities.
• Those sticky, seasonal treats: From Fall to Winter, we're introduced to a variety of delicious gummy candies, caramels, and other sticky surprises. It's natural to consume these foods, and you should enjoy them — with caution. Sticking with a casual flossing routine won't cut it against gooey sugars that cling to your teeth. Harder-to-chew treats like dried fruit and gummy candies will hold acid onto your teeth longer than other foods, leaving your teeth helpless against plaque. Flossing soon after you enjoy these treats or at least rinsing will help limit what sticks to teeth.

Even though your job might not be the healthiest if you sit all day long, eat out for lunch daily, and can't resist the treats that call to you from the break room, you can still make healthy choices on the job. Here are some quick things you should do at work to improve your health and well-being.

1. Brush after your morning coffee: Sure you brush your teeth at home before heading to work, but what about that morning cup of joe you're sipping on during your commute? Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste at work and hit the ladies room after finishing your hot beverage to prevent stained teeth. The sugar in your coffee, especially when coupled with the dry mouth often associated with caffeine consumption, can create an environment that promotes tooth decay. Consider brushing those chompers after lunch — that clean minty feel in your mouth is sure to prevent you from snacking when you're not hungry.
2. Take your meetings for a walk: Whether on a conference call or meeting one-on-one, slip on your sneaks and walk while you talk. Twenty minutes of walking will burn calories, give you fresh air, improves mental clarity, and revs up your energy. If you can't head outside, walk up and down the stairs in your building.
3. Disinfect your desk every morning: Now that we've jumped into cold and flu season, it's time to be extra vigilant about germs. Grab an antibacterial wipe and take a couple minutes to degermify the things you touch daily like your keyboard, mouse, water bottle, and phone.

I hate to say it, but it's cold season. Yours truly has already succumbed to the scratchy throat, runny nose, and deep coughing that is sure to drive those around me crazy. Not one to get too down on the negatives, I found a silver lining in this cold of mine. A trip to the doctor was productive on two counts — I got a prescription for my nasty hack, and I got a useful tip from my doctor worth sharing.

When illness strikes, it's time to toss the toothbrush. The sickly germs will be better suited for the trash can than your mouth. An infected toothbrush makes it all too easy to make yourself sick again. Besides that, we're advised to change our bristles every three to four months anyway, right?

Do you change your toothbrush when you're not feeling well?

When dental health becomes a battlefield, it is time to try a new tactic. Lights and colors have always attracted tots and the TrendyKid Wash and Brush Timer ($7.50) uses both to keep kids at the sink until their hygiene tasks are complete. With a simple press of the button, mom (or tyke) chooses the cleaning to be completed and a green light begins to flash, setting off a two-minute timer for tooth brushing and a 20 second timer for hand washing. Once the timer is through, the light turns red and lil ones know they are good to go. Keeping clean has never been so much fun! Would the TrendyKid Wash and Brush Timer work for you?

This post was submitted by Betty Wayne in The Mommy Club group.

My four year old is good at brushing; I give her teeth a quick brush myself if she's had lots of sweets, but mostly she does it on her own. My concern now is flossing. Her mouth is too small for me to stick my fingers in there and really teach her how to do it; I give her a piece of floss to play with and run between her front teeth just to get her used to the idea of flossing. Any suggestions for how or when I should go about teaching flossing? Am I waiting too long? Also, can anyone recommend a good mouthwash for children? Any advice on children's dental hygiene would be appreciated. Thank you!

Talk about motherly things on your mind at The Mommy Club group over in the LilSugar Community.

Sitting in the dentist chair is never pleasant for me. Luckily, my daughters still enjoy the experience — they think a cleaning is like having their teeth tickled. Inspired by their enthusiasm for oral health, I compiled a list of simple tips to make the experience of dental work a little less anxiety provoking.

• Keep your eyes open; the visual stimulus will distract you from discomfort or pain.
• Even with all those hands in your mouth, try to focus on your breath.
• Bring your iPod to block out the noise of the drill.
• Come up with a hand signal to alert the dentist when you're in pain, because a sudden movement or twitch can complicate matters.
• Be sure to tell the dentist if you are sensitive and/or afraid. Most will be accommodating; if not, I suggest finding a new dentist.
• Take a written list of questions and concerns so you don't forget them due to the stress of the visit.