Help Children Brush Up on Oral Hygiene Habits

The foundation of healthy teeth in kids is laid during the early years of life. When you inculcate good oral habits in early childhood days, it aids in maintaining the healthy oral routines for the rest of their lives. It is also the perfect time to help your children “brush up” on their oral hygiene if you do stuff like brushing and flossing your teeth with your kids, playing fun games that teach the importance of good oral health and reading books together that cover flossing, brushing and seeing the dentist frequently for examinations.   

Oral Health Tips: 

Here are a few tips to keep your child's teeth healthy:

·         Follow the 2-2-2 rule. Ensure that each member of the family is following the 2-2-2 rule: brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes every time and visit Merrillville dentist twice a year for an examination and teeth cleaning. 

·         Offer your child healthy diets and limit the consumption of sugary snacks and carbonated beverages.

·         Ensure your child flosses, at least, one time in a day, preferably at night to get rid of food debris between teeth. 

·         Schedule dental appointments with Excel dentalstudio every six months for examinations and cleanings.

·         Ask Dr. Bahl about fluoride treatment to keep your child's teeth healthy and strong.

Excel Dental Studio are always here to reply you so, please don't vacillate to contact our Merrillville dental office. If any dentist has not seen your child since six months, we inspire you to call us to book an appointment so Dr. Bahl and his staff can provide your child with full examination to help maintain his or her good oral health. Amazing staff that is ready to assist in your care.

Ways to stay in shape during the cold weather season

Individuals tend to avoid going outside and frequently miss the gym when there’s a chill in the air. But don’t let cold weather outplay your wish to stay in shape this winter. Instead, arm yourself with some strategies. While everybody is scrambling to stick to their New Year’s resolutions, you’ll be coasting along, questioning why everybody is emphasizing about warmer weather and shorts season.

Here are some simple health strategies by Excel Dental Studio to get you through the winter months: 

·        Walking and Stair Climbing: If you need a low-impact workout but don't want to go for a treadmill, look for other resources like shopping malls or tall buildings. Many shopping malls open early and let walkers in. If you reside in a building with lots of stairs, consider climbing stairs for 20 minutes or more instead of taking a lift. This strenuous exercise will pump up your cardiovascular capability and give you strong legs without affecting your joints.

·        Trampolines and Jumping Rope: Most of us have loving memories of jumping rope as a child, and it's still a fun, cheap method to burn calories while increasing your agility, steadiness, and strength. Jumping on the trampoline also burns calories and will make you feel like a child again. These practices have a greater impact on your joints, so consider your knee and ankle strength before beginning with a jumping routine.  

·        Dance Classes: Whether it's jazz, hip-hop or ballroom dancing, you will burn calories, strengthen your sense of balance and learn a skill that you can use at your next get-together. Ask your local dance studio for its group class program to get your score on. 

·         Indoor Athletic Leagues: If you are already active and in abstemiously good shape then hunt for tennis, volleyball, or basketball leagues in your area. Sporting leagues keep you in shape and wake up your approachable, competitive spirit. There's typically a small fee to cover the costs.

·        Workout DVDs: Following a workout DVD is another method to exercise while stuck inside due to a cold climate. There are several DVDs to select from body shaping for your legs, hips, and abs, to yoga and for your balance and flexibility. Choose from several DVDs and rotate them to prevent monotony. 

These are some of the options you have, so choose one and enjoy this season! Our Merrillville Dentist wish you excellent winter months!! 

Sugar Substitutes that will satisfy your Sweet Tooth

Are you one of the many people who crave sugary sweets on a daily basis? These cravings are especially high after you finish your meal. The bodies response to this sugar craving would be to reach out into your refrigerator and grab the tastiest looking chocolate bar or pastry slice. It’s fine to indulge in these tasty treats once in a while. However, consuming them every day in large quantities will lead to weight problems as they are loaded with calories. Plus, eating extremely sugary substances erodes the enamel in teeth leading to dental problems. Therefore, if you want to avoid an emergency visit to the dental clinic, we would recommend the consumption following sugar substitutes instead.

1.Coconut Sugar: The first sugar substitute which is slowly gaining popularity is Coconut Sugar. It is a natural sugar alternative which is extracted from coconut sap and is packed with nutrients. This sugar can easily be used as an alternative for making baked goods like cupcakes and brownies.

2.Honey:Honey has been used as a sugar substitute for years. Honey goes well with all the products which you usually mix with sugar such as milk, lemon juice, tea etc. And nowadays, there are many bakers who prepare their pastries and cakes only using honey. There are also plenty of health benefits that can be derived from having a teaspoon of honey every day.

3.Fruit juice: Having fruit juices is another healthy alternative to sugar, which will instantly satisfy your sugar cravings. You do not even need to spend time juicing your own fruits, as there are many companies which offer ready-made juices that contain 100% natural fruit and no added sugar. (How easy is that!)

4.Cinnamon:Cinnamon is one more food item which has many healthy properties and are naturally sweet to taste. They can be crushes into powder easily and added to any food dish to give more taste and enhance the flavor. Cinnamon is also one of those powerful antioxidants and loaded with nutrients like manganese and iron.

5.Carrots:Carrots have a natural sweet taste and is another healthy snack to have in between meals. Along with being a rich source of vitamin A, carrots have numerous health benefits, such as, they help to maintain your eyesight, promote healthy skin and even cleanse the body of toxins. They even save you a trip to the dentist, as they keep your teeth clean and strong.

6.Raisins:You can also eat a cup of raisins or any other dried fruits whenever you start getting those sweet cravings. These dried fruit items can be had as a healthy snacking alternative or added to your bowl of oats to make it more filling.

10 Best ways of Ensuring Good Oral Hygiene

There is an old saying ‘better safe than sorry’. And that holds true even for your teeth and gums. If you constantly suffer from bad breath or bleeding gums, it’s a shows that you have poor oral hygiene. However, there are a few simple steps which, if followed religiously, will get your oral health back on track in no time. Your teeth are a very precious asset, so take care of them to avoid cavities or tooth and gum decay

1. Brush two times a day: The first step towards maintaining good oral hygiene is to brush your teeth two times a day for about two minutes at least. You also have to make sure that the toothbrush which you use is able to reach the back of your mouth and is able to clean the rear teeth efficiently. Don’t forget to even brush your tongue as most of the bacteria tends to settle there.

2. Floss after every meal: Flossing after every meal is also important, if you want to ensure total oral care for your mouth. Even if a small food particle gets lodged in between your teeth, it could lead to tooth decay if not removed after long time. So whenever you feel that there is something stuck between your teeth, floss it out immediately. And for complete tooth care floss as soon as you finish your meals.

3. Gargle with mouthwash: The main purpose of a mouthwash is to freshen your breath. No one would like to stand near a person with bad breath. So avoid such embarrassing situations by gargling with a good mouthwash. This can be done after you finish brushing. There are many mouthwashes available which also help in destroying any remaining bacteria in the mouth, which could cause bad breath.

4. Kick the butt: If you are serious about maintaining your oral hygiene, you need to get rid of your smoking habit. The ingredients used in the manufacturing of cigarettes like tobacco, have a damaging effect on the tissues in gums. Along with bad breath, regular smoking causes yellowing of teeth and also damages the bones which connect to your gums.

5. Eat teeth strengthening foods: There are many foods like apples, cheese, carrots, etc. which help in enamel formation on your teeth and also increase saliva flow. These food items are easily available from your local grocery store and if added to your regular diet, will help in strengthening of your teeth and gums.

6. Reduce Sugary food consumption: When you were a kid, there must have been many times when your parents might have tried to discourage you from eating too much sugary foods by stating that it would spoil your teeth. And they were right! Eating too much sugary foods like chocolates and hard candies release harmful acids that can damage teeth and gums.

7. Drink fluoridated water: Drinking fluoridated water is another great way of maintaining overall oral hygiene. Fluoridated water is good drinking water with just fluoride added to it, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Most dental hygiene services agencies recommend drinking fluoridated water to combat tooth decay.

8. Chew Sugar-Free gum: Sugar-free gum not only acts as an alternative for your chocolate and candy cravings, but there are also some specially manufactured chewing gums which are actually meant for freshening breath and maintaining tooth health.

9. Use ADA-approved products: The American Dental Association is the most reputed name in the field of total oral care. With their guidance, you will purchase only those products, like toothbrushes and toothpastes, which will help you to maintain complete oral hygiene.

10. Visit your dentist: Finally, it is wise to pay a visit to your local dentist at least once a month for a complete oral checkup. He is the best person to advise and instruct you in the different ways in which you should care for your teeth and gums.