When it comes to brushing there are a few more things we should be doing to ensure that we are taking the best care of our teeth as possible– more than the twice daily brush. The ADA and the Council on Scientific Affairs provide the following toothbrush care recommendations:
Do not share toothbrushes. Sharing a toothbrush could result in an exchange of body fluids and/or microorganisms between the users of the toothbrush, placing the individuals involved at an increased risk for infections. This practice could be a particular concern for persons with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases.
Thoroughly rinse toothbrushes with tap water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste and debris. Store the brush in an upright position if possible and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again. If more than one brush is stored in the same holder or area, keep the brushes separated to prevent cross-contamination.
Do not routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers. A moist environment such as a closed container is more conducive to the growth of microorganisms than the open air.
Replace toothbrushes at least every 3–4 months. The bristles become frayed and worn with use and cleaning effectiveness will decrease. Toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. Check brushes often for this type of wear and replace them more frequently if needed. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adult brushes.
Credit: ada.org
Barefield Pediatric Dentistry is excited to announce that we are having a Halloween costume contest again this year. It is always so much fun too see our patients dress up and take pictures with us at the office; we are looking forward to a week of fun and creative costumes. Here are the rules:
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Congratulations to our Summer 2015 Backpack and School Supply winners: Jameson, Julissa, Jaevan and Brittney. Our High School, Tablet winner is Gabrielle. Dr. Barefield and the entire staff at Barefield Pediatric Dentistry wishes you a successful 2015-2016 school year!!!
Can you believe Summer is already here?! As you can imagine, Summer is our busiest time at Barefield Pediatric Dentistry. Please be sure to schedule your child’s appointment now to ensure that we can get you in before the school year rolls back around. And there is a little extra incentive: we’re bringing back the BACK TO SCHOOL, BACKPACK GIVEAWAY!! We’re looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Our patients had such a fun time dressing up for their dental appointments last year, that we decided to bring the Costume Contest back! Starting tomorrow, Wednesday October 29 and continuing through the week, we will be taking pictures of all patients that come in for an appointment in a costume. All of our friends on Facebook will vote throughout the week and the costume that has the most “likes” by the end of the week will be the winner!!! What a fun way to get our young people excited about coming to the dentist!
The Barefield Pediatric Dentistry Team will be joining in on the fun on Friday!!
Congratulations to our Back to School Giveaway winners: Triniti Barksdale, Luiz Vazquez and Dasja Rusk!!! We hope that all of our patients have a productive and successful school year!!
We want to make sure that our patients have all that they need to succeed this school year, so we put together these awesome backpacks for 3 lucky students!! If you had an appointment in the last six months or have one before school starts, be sure to enter your name in the drawing at the front desk. Good luck–we hope that you all have a great school year!!!!!
This backpack is filled with all of the essentials– binders, folders, paper, pens, pencils, etc!! The first girl’s name that we pull (pre-k to 8th grade) will win this backpack.
This backpack is filled with all of the essentials– binders, folders, paper, pens, pencils, etc!! The first boy’s name that we pull (pre-k to 8th grade) will win this backpack.
This tablet is for students in high school (9th-12th grades). It comes with a case and an extra memory card– great for storing school projects and access to the internet for research.
The winner will be announced via the blog, our twitter account @DrDonna_B, and Facebook on MONDAY AUGUST 18th.
