As I am sitting anxiously at home today waiting for my granddaughter to arrive, I thought I would share with you some tips on how to care for the health of your children’s teeth.

Even though baby’s teeth will start falling out sometime between 5 and 6 years old, some of your children’s teeth may remain in their mouths till 10 or 11 years old.  Here are some Healthy Tips for Caring for Your Children’s Teeth:

Tip #1:  You should start cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as they come into their mouths.  Lay your baby in your lap with his or head close to your chest and then gently, but firmly rub a clean or damp piece of gauze or washcloth and clean their teeth.  Ideally, you should set the example of cleaning their teeth after every time they eat.  When your children are bigger, let them watch you brush your own teeth, as they will want to imitate you.  Dental visits should start at one year old or when their first teeth appear.  The earlier the first dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems.

Tip #2:  What to feed your children—Parents should ensure their children are eating a balanced diet and limit the frequency of snacking which can increase a child’s risk of developing cavities.  If some days, you choose to give your child a breakfast cereal, be sure to select cereals that are low in sugar (7 grams of sugar or less per serving).  Multi grain Cheerios is a much better alternative than Captain Crunch or Apple Cinnamon Cheerios.

The best beverages for children to drink are low fat organic milk and water.  Juices can have a great deal of sugar.  When you do give them juices, please dilute them with 50% water.  Soda is really unhealthy for children and adults alike.  Some may think diet sodas are OK because there is no sugar, but diet sodas are extremely acidic and acid softens tooth enamel and makes teeth more prone to decay.

Stay away from sticky foods such as raisins and dried fruit as they stay in the grooves of children’s teeth and can cause tooth decay.  A better snack would be carrot or celery sticks with natural peanut butter.  Ice cream is a better occasional treat, as it doesn’t stick to their teeth.

When kids are exposed to sugar for extended periods of time like when sucking a lollypop, they are at a higher risk of developing tooth decay.  If left untreated, this puts these young children at increased risk for pain and infection, which can lead to, missed school, lost sleep and loss of appetite

Tip #3:  Young children require fluoride to help developing teeth grow strong.  If your children have fluoride from birth until 14 years old, they will have a 70% reduction in tooth decay.  If they are not drinking fluoridated water, talk to their dentist or pediatrician about giving them a prescription for vitamins with fluoride.

Proper preventative care, fluoride use and a balanced diet are the keys to healthy teeth and be sure to take your children to visit the dentist every 6 months.

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

photo:Empirically Grounded

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You are walking down a crowded city street and you look up and there coming toward you among all the faces is this woman who is walking confidently with a bounce in her step and she is smiling.

The energy coming from this woman is contagious. You smile as you pass her by. You feel lifted. For that moment, your first impression of this stranger was very positive. Her gift to you, even as a stranger, was an inspired moment.

Clearly, the most influential attractive asset a person has is the power of a smile. It exudes warmth, authenticity, and confidence.

Now imagine how that might affect a job interview. A sales call. A presentation. A speech.  A healthy, bright smile reflects the self care in one’s personal health and grooming – the mark of a sound personal lifestyle that can be advantageous to a person’s career.

In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology, University of California researchers found that more attractive people make more money. A healthy smile speaks volumes about how a person takes pride in their oral care, which also demonstrates their overall care and nurturing of their whole body health and well-being. This then carries over to less illness at work, being more productive and making healthier decisions at work.

People will trust someone more who exhibits proper self care. So, whether it’s a potential employer or a potential client you have been pursuing for weeks – you want to put your best impression forward when meeting these people – because it will translate to more money (income) for you and your loved ones.

As a cosmetic dentist, I truly believe I am in the self esteem and life improvement business. Given that, I’d like to recommend these 5 important oral hygiene actions that will surely support your path to financial prosperity:

1.   Be consistent with your 6 mos check-ups. If you have an important presentation, job interview, or speech to make – schedule a check up and cleaning right before these.

2.  Look at your options for teeth whitening or if more extensive treatment is needed, have a smile makeover.  If you weren’t born with a beautiful smile there are steps to take to get the smile you’ve always dreamed of having.

3.      Make sure your breath is at its freshest.  No one likes to be close to someone who has bad breath. Most people don’t realize that bad breath frequently starts with the tongue.  Use a tongue scraper daily!

4.      Brushing and flossing not only prevents gum disease and decay, but new research shows that it may also help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

5.      Think about wearing a Night Guard. Many people nowadays grind their teeth during sleep.  This wears down the edges of your teeth giving you a very aged appearance.  If you want to have a beautiful smile and look younger than your age, protect the edges of your teeth!

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Enjoy our Premiere issue of Marilyn Calvo DDS at Smile Studio LA!

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

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