If you have not made any New Year’s resolutions yet, then consider some for your smile. From visits to our office to better at-home oral hygiene, you can take steps to protect your teeth and gums. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about improving your family’s smiles in 2026!
A Look at At-Home Oral Hygiene
How well do you care for your smile from home? With a few changes to your daily routine, you can help safeguard your teeth and gums against issues ranging from tooth decay and dental infection to gingivitis and even gum disease! This begins with better at-home oral hygiene. You should brush your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed, and each session should take about two minutes. Be sure you use a toothbrush that has soft bristles as this helps protect your enamel and prevent gum irritation. You should also use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, as this keeps the outside of your teeth strong. Be sure you clean along the gum line too, as this can remove trapped food particles and protect your smile from inflammation.
For kids, you can help by making sure they have an age-appropriate toothbrush, and by using a fun song, video, or even a sand timer to make sure they clean their teeth for two minutes. You can assist your younger kids too. For children, fluoride is helpful too, but make sure they only use a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for kids younger than age three. Kids over the age of three can use a pea-sized amount.
Flossing is also essential for good oral health. You should floss every evening before you go to bed, and this should involve running the tape up and down each side of the tooth, and dipping beneath the gum line to remove lodged particles of food. We recommend doing this before you brush that second time, so you can use the toothbrush to clear away the dislodged food and drink particles. Remember, flossing is also essential for kids as soon as they have teeth sitting side-by-side. You can assist, and they may find a pick is easier to use until their dexterity improves with age.
Your Dental Checkup
You also need to see our team twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, and now is a great time to schedule your first visit of 2026! With an exam, we employ the latest in digital imaging technology to make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. We can then address the issues we find, often in the early stages before you experience discomfort. In the same sitting, our team will take time to clean your teeth, using an ultrasonic scaling and a manual tool to remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. This helps fight issues like gingivitis and gum disease, and is useful for smiles of all ages. For kids, this not only helps protect their smiles but allows them to become accustomed to seeing the dentist, so they don’t dread future visits and remain ready to see our team and even care for their smiles on their own as adults.
Treatment for the Whole Family
With family dentistry, we can provide treatment to help smiles of all ages stay healthy and strong, which helps limit the risk of cavities and more during the year. Combined with a good at-home oral hygiene routine, this can be essential for safeguarding smiles. Our team can also take on more advanced issues, including cavities, wisdom teeth, and periodontal disease or even missing teeth! Our team can create a personalized treatment plan to address this or more severe concerns, boring relief and ensuring care with lifelike results. We want you to enjoy good oral health and improved bite function, but also feel good about the appearance of your smile too!
If you have any questions about family dentistry, then reach out to our team today to learn more. Our team is happy to see you and help you understand what dental benefits you have available to use in 2026, so you can put them to good use and enjoy the smile you deserve. Give us a call now to schedule your first visit of 2026, and let’s start a new year on the path to a new smile!
We Offer Family Dentistry for Everyone
Our team wants to help take in poor oral health and boost smiles of all ages in 2026 and beyond. We are ready to see you, whether you need oral surgery and tooth replacement, or if you want cosmetic treatment to improve the beauty of your smile and facial esthetics. Call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at (913) 681-5500 to schedule your visit with our friendly team.
