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With all of our kids back in school and the viruses/illnesses are spreading again, it's really important to not only keep up good hand hygiene but good oral hygiene as well!

Did you know that a single toothbrush can hold as many 1.2 million bacteria? That's a lot! After your child gets sick, you may wonder if it's OK to even use the same toothbrush again!

So how do you take care of your toothbrush and how often do you need to change them out? These are great questions! A healthy and clean toothbrush means a healthy child!

Here is how you can take care of your child's toothbrush
- After using the toothbrush, shake it vigorously under tap water and store it in an upright position so that it can air out
- Make sure the toothbrush dries between uses

How often should you change your child's toothbrush?
1) It is recommended to change your toothbrush every 3 months
2) Studies have shown that after 3 months of normal wear and tear, the toothbrush becomes less effective at removing plaque from your child's teeth!

And super important! - if your child has had a cold, flu, mouth infection, or sore throat - change out the toothbrush! Germs can hide in the bristles and cause reinfection. We don't want your child to get sick again!

Keeping up the good habit of changing out your toothbrush often will not only keep your child's smile clean and bright, but also keeps your child healthy!

When you go for dental visits, your child's pediatric dentist may advise against giving your child certain types of food because they are more likely to cause cavities. We all know the amount of sugar plays a large role in cavities, but did you know that the texture of foods can also contribute?

Sticky foods, such as cookies, chips, and gummy candies are all squishy textures that stick into all of the deep grooves of your child's teeth. If not brushed out, these foods stay in the teeth and allow a place for bacteria to come in and start causing cavities!

So if your child gets these items as snacks, make sure that you are helping them brush the tops of their teeths extremely well after!

Halloween is coming up but it doesn't have to be all about sweets! Here are a few ideas of treats you can give to your child on Halloween to celebrate!

Jack-o-lantern Fruit Cups: Fill a hollowed out orange peel with various types of cut up fruit (apples, pears, grapes - anything your child loves!). To make it more fun, cut out a jack-o-lantern face in the orange peel.

Monster Apple Bites: Cut up slices of apples and fill with your child's favorite type of nut better (or alternative if your child has allergies). Then place a strawberry slice (for the monster's tongue), some type of seeds (for monster's teeth), and place some googly eyes! This makes for a fun "spooky" snack!

Mini Mummy Pizzas: Make your child's lunch on Halloween pizza, with his/her favorite ingredients! To give the "mummy" look, place slices of cheese in horizontal lines before baking.  Halloween Roasted Veggies: Make vegetables more fun by cutting them into fun Halloween shapes! Roast them in the oven for a healthy snack option.

These are just a few ideas on what you can do with your child. Just remember to make sure to brush your child's teeth after they have their sweet treat!

As your child gets settled into the new school year, here are a few of our tips on making sure your child's teeth are taken care of!

1) Establish a brushing routine! - Kids love routines and having brushing as part of the routine prevents them from forgetting to brush.
2) Pack healthy lunches and snacks! - Avoid any sticky foods like gummies or crackers as they stick to teeth and can cause cavities! We also recommend reducing sugary drinks!
3) See your child's dentist regularly! - As your schedules get busy with activities, don't forget to make sure your child has their regular 6 month visits scheduled!

We hope everyone has a wonderful school year ahead!