On Wednesday's Action 4 Sunrise, we learned everything you need to know about dental care.
Many parents watching, were wondering how soon their child should begin their visits to the dentist's office.
Gail Thomason from the Harlingen Family Dentistry, along with her assistant, Willy the Walrus, explained more about oral hygiene.
A child should begin their visits as soon as their first teeth begin to come out. For the first three years, they are encouraged to see a dentist every three months. You want to go often because your baby is growing rapidly in the first three years.
Once the molars are set, around ages six to seven, the child can easily handle flossing.
If you're wondering what our everyday food can affect our oral health, it all comes down to sugar.
The average person consumes more than 170 pounds of sugar a year. The human mouth contains bacteria and plaque and Gail explains that plaque loves sugar.
The recommended amount of sugar is not more than 10 teaspoons a day. For example a 12 oz. can of cola contains 10 teaspoons of sugar.
Here are five tips that Willy has for everyone to live by:
1. Brush twice a day, morning and nighttime to remove plaque and keep cavities away.
2. Drink water instead of sugary drinks like sodas or sports drinks because sugar mixes with plaque making acid that causes cavities.
3. Keep practicing flossing as plaque likes to hide in places the toothbrush can't reach.
4. Eat healthy snacks like vegetables and fruit.
5. Visit the dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings.
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