Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM - 3:00PM
Office Location
Phone: 712-580-3300
Fax: 712-580-4328
14 East 4th Street
Spencer, IA 51301

Oral Hygiene


Brushing

It is important that you help your child brush his/her teeth until they are 7 years old and able to clean all surfaces of their teeth well. It is fine to let you child brush by themselves first but make sure you are going back to clean all surfaces adequately. We recommend that your child brush at least twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Use a smear amount of toothpaste before age 1, half of a pea-sized amount between ages 1 and 2 years, and a pea-sized amount for children age 3 years and older.

It is important to lift your child’s lip while brushing to better brush the front four teeth. We see cavities often in these teeth of toddlers. Make sure you are in an adequate position to see your child’s teeth well when you are brushing. This may mean brushing your child’s teeth while he/she is lying down.

Flossing

For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach between the teeth. It is important to start flossing your child’s teeth once they are touching. We recommend flossing at least once daily.

Fluoride

Fluoride helps make teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. There are several ways to ensure your child is getting adequate fluoride. Fluoride is in the drinking water in most communities. If you are unsure if your water is fluoridated be sure to contact your local water authority and ask what the water fluoridation level is. It is also important to use fluoride toothpaste when brushing your child’s teeth. Lastly, our office offers a professional fluoride application. Dr. Brea will determine if such a treatment would benefit your child and discuss this with you.