It may be hard to believe, but schools will be back in session before you know it. As you are doing your back-to-school shopping, it’s a good time to bring your children to the nearest Sunrise Dental location for a dental cleaning and examination. We have dentist offices in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. As you are picking out new school clothes, it’s worth taking some time to do something to keep your family’s smiles looking nice, too. Family Dentistry At Sunrise Dental, we understand that your family is the most important thing to you. Their oral health plays a big role in their overall health, and we want to do our part to help you keep your family healthy. When you and your children visit our office, you will be welcomed by our caring and compassionate staff. If this is your first visit with us, we do have some forms for you. You can save some time by printing the forms and filling them out before you arrive. Many times one of our dentists (we have two at each location) will meet with you before your cleaning and examination. During the exam, one of our dental professionals will be looking for tooth decay, gum disease, and alignment problems. We know that early detection makes treatment more effective for everyone involved. If we find anything that concerns us, we will let you know, and we will advise you on your treatment options. Each member of your family will receive a professional cleaning during your visit as well. A dentist or hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Patient Education Your visit is a great time to ask questions as well. Cleanings and examinations should be part of your oral care routine, but your daily habits are more important. If you have questions about the correct techniques for brushing and flossing, we will be happy to explain what you should be doing every day. As a quick refresher, the American Dental Association encourages everyone to brush and floss on a daily basis. When brushing your teeth, anyone 3 or older will need a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Scrub your teeth twice a day. When you brush, be sure to brush for two minutes, which is enough time to clean all sides of your teeth. And remember to spit out the toothpaste when you are finished. At least once per day, you should floss between your teeth and below your gumline. This is necessary because there are some places your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing is how your remove bacteria and plaque from those parts of your mouth. Fluoride Treatments As part of our preventive care, we also offer fluoride treatments for children and adults. The outer layers of your teeth are made of enamel. This is the hardest substance on the human body. It protects the softer, inner layers of your teeth. Unfortunately, enamel also wears down from biting and chewing foods that are hard and crunchy. It also is the layer that bacteria attacks to cause tooth decay. Fluoride is a mineral that can help your enamel. When you receive a fluoride treatment, the mineral is applied directly to your teeth. This can repair minor damage and strengthen other parts of your enamel. It won’t get rid of a cavity that has already formed, but it can be a factor in preventing tooth decay. Dental Sealants Brushing and flossing on a daily basis will remove a lot of the bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Fluoride treatments can make the protective enamel on your teeth. And dental sealants act as a barrier that makes it harder for bacteria to harm your most vulnerable teeth. Bacteria use the sugars in our food for form plaque. Our molars (the teeth in the back of our mouths) have the greatest exposure to these sugars since these are the teeth we use to grind and chew our food. Dental sealants can be applied to those teeth to form a barrier to keep bacteria from eating into them. Be Ready For The First Day Whether this is your child’s first day of school ever or just the first day of the new year, make sure he or she is ready. A great smile goes well with any back-to-school outfit, and clean and healthy teeth make for better smiles. To schedule an appointment at the nearest Sunrise Dental location, call one of our offices or use our online contact form for that location.