Patients who have children often wonder when they should bring them in for their first visit to our Lynnwood Dentistry. After all, how important is dental care when you don’t have any permanent teeth yet? Surprising as it may be, your child’s baby teeth (or “primary teeth”) have a powerful impact on his or her life, and poor oral hygiene at a young age may have tooth-shattering consequences long after this first set of not-so-pearly-whites has been replaced.

Child’s Primary Teeth

A child’s primary teeth, after all, are his or her mouth’s “training wheels”. If you learn how to take care of these teeth at a young age, you’re far more likely to retain these habits later in life. Meanwhile, these teeth are playing an important role in developing proper chewing habits, speech habits, and self-esteem, all of which can be catastrophically harmed if tooth decay plagues your child with a crooked or painful bite.

Further, there is the occasional case of a baby tooth that simply does not have a permanent tooth growing beneath it. Your child may have to hang on to a primary tooth well into his or her adult years and, as fragile as these teeth are, they need all the help they can get.

First Dental Visit

It’s generally advised that you bring your child in for a first dental visit around his or her first birthday. Bring your young ones to Song’s Lynnwood dental center, and give them the gift of a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.

Are you flossing correctly?

Many patients of our Lynnwood Dentistry are surprised to discover that their flossing habits are inadequate, and that those elusive between-the-teeth surfaces that don’t feel the benefits of your brush are giving precious ground in the endless battle against tooth decay.

Flossing Tips

If you think that your flossing could use a quick primer, try following these tips:

• Plan to floss before brushing.  By clearing detritus from between your teeth beforehand, you can gain a maximum benefit from the fluoride of your toothpaste.
• First, draw a length of floss about eighteen inches long.  This may come out to the length of your forearm.  Wind either end around your index fingers until you are holding a two-inch length between your hands.
• Gently guide this length between each of your teeth, including the space between your back teeth and gums.  Pull it into a “V” shape against either side of the teeth to assure that all surfaces are being cleaned.
• Take care to not saw at your gums.  If your flossing habits have not been good in the past, you may experience a little pain and bleeding until your tissues strengthen.

If you have any further questions about flossing, consult our Lynnwood dental center.

Dental Floss Selection

Floss selection is an important part of your flossing routine. Your Lynnwood Dentistry wants you to get the most out of your flossing, and one of the best ways to do this is to be aware of the different kinds of floss available to you.

Not all floss is the same because not all teeth are the same. If you find yourself having to rip your floss out from between your teeth, for example, then your teeth are probably a little closer together than other people’s. Try experimenting with finer floss until you can move in and out from between all of your teeth with reasonable ease.

Dental Floss Picks

For some people, limited manual dexterity is what makes flossing a trying ordeal. If you have this problem, you might consider some of the flossing aids that are available.

Floss picks are great because they allow easier angles for you to floss hard to reach areas. They may also allow you to effectively floss with only one hand instead of using both hands to reach the back teeth.

If you have any further questions about floss, or would like help in selecting floss, feel free to contact Song Dental in Lynnwood.

Nobody likes a cold sore.  They’re painful, unappealing, and difficult to get rid of.  Should you find yourself suffering from one of these unfortunate sores, our Lynnwood Dentistry advises that you take the following steps in order to expedite recovery, minimize pain, and prevent the virus from spreading:

• Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus.  Therefore, they cannot be cured.  However, you can buy over-the-counter drugs that can be effective in reducing the pain of the sores, minimizing cracking, and facilitating the healing process.

• Keep your sores clean.  Cold sores are vulnerable to bacterial infection, which will prolong the sores and cause you undue pain.  If the area becomes dirty, wash your sore gently with soap and water.

• If you are spending any significant time in the sun, apply sunblock to your lips and face.

• Remember: You are contagious!  Wash your hands after touching a sore, don’t kiss people, and don’t share beverages, utensils, or anything else that comes into contact with your lips.

• You can spread the virus to other parts of your own body if you are not careful.  Your eyes and your genitals are particularly vulnerable.  Wash your hands before touching other parts of your body, or you could become afflicted with blindness or genital herpes.

• Replace your toothbrush, and keep your brush away from those of the other members of your household.

Your sores will be contagious until they have completely crusted over.  Cold sores should heal by themselves within seven to ten days.