It is important that your child gets back to brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes. Two minutes is a long time! To make it easier for kids, we recommend playing one of their favorite songs, that is about the same amount of time, to help them gauge the 2-minute time frame. Flossing is just as important for kids as it is for adults. Supervise your kids when they floss the first few times to make sure they aren’t damaging their gums. Don’t forget that toothbrushes should be swapped out for a new one every three months. Back to school is a good time to start fresh!

If you pack your child’s lunch, make sure you are including food and drinks that promote dental health. Since most kids can’t brush their teeth after lunch while they’re at school, try to avoid sugary and sticky foods, such as candy, cookies and fruit snacks. Those foods will sit on your kids’ teeth all afternoon. Avoid sodas and sugary juice – it’s always best to stick to water. Good snacks to pack would include raw vegetables, celery with peanut butter, string cheese, yogurt and non-sweetened applesauce.

Make sure that you and your family are scheduled for your regular dental cleanings. It’s always easier to have them on the calendar before the homework, projects, and extracurriculars kick in. We all know how busy this time of year can be, but know that all of us at Queen City Dental Arts are here to help get your child’s smile back-to-school ready!

The post Back to School Tips for Dental Health first appeared on Queen City Dental Arts.

There are lots of jobs that a tongue does that we don’t think about on a daily basis. It is comprised of anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds, which help us to taste things that are sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami (or savory). The tongue then sends those signals to the brain, allowing us to recognize different tastes. Have you ever had a cold and couldn’t taste your food properly? That’s because taste and smell are closely connected so our taste buds don’t work as well when we can’t smell. Can you imagine not being able to taste all the time? It would probably be easier to eat healthier If kale tasted the same as Oreos, but different tastes and flavors give pleasure to eating different foods, which is what makes food so enjoyable.

Besides taste, the tongue is important for chewing, swallowing, speech and making saliva. Our tongue is a voluntary muscle, which means we can control the movement of it. Some people (only about 15% of us) have the ability to twist their tongues into a cloverleaf, and about 84% of us can curl our tongue. Don’t feel badly if you can’t do either- it’s completely genetic whether you can do these things or not!

So next time you eat, talk or taste, remember to thank your tongue for helping! If you would like to schedule a visit or speak with our Queen City Dental Arts team in Charlotte, North Carolina, call 704-542-6533 today. Our skilled dentist, Dr. Meghan Stenvall is happy to assist you with all of your dental health needs!

The post Tongue Talk: Fun Facts About Your 8-Muscle Organ first appeared on Queen City Dental Arts.