Dr. Bridges volunteered at Give Kids a Smile Day, a non-profit event in which dentists provide free dental care to underserved children. Attending this event shed light on what the software developer wanted to do with the rest of his life: care for kids and families. Dr. Bridges applied to dental school and earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) at the University of Oklahoma. 

In dental school, Dr. Bridges thrived. He earned the Pierre Faughard Academy Junior Scholarship, and for the American Student Dental Association, he was Speaker of the House. 

He then joined Dr. Schreiner’s practice, and Dr. Schreiner has since retired. Dr. Bridges bought the practice and changed the name to Chisholm Trail Smile Center.

To continue giving back to the community, Dr. Bridges volunteers with the American Dental Association Foundation, as well as the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy. He was President of the Southwest Dental Society from 2018 to 2021 and currently holds the role of Trustee in the Southwest region of the Oklahoma Dental Association. In 2021, Dr. Bridges was nominated for a fellowship in the American College of Dentists. 

In short, Dr. Matthew Bridges loves being a Duncan, OK, dentist, and he still thoroughly enjoys caring for children at Chisholm Trail Smile Center.

Special Dental Care for Children

By Age One

The ADA and other reputable dental organizations suggest that a baby visit the dentist by his first birthday. At this “happy visit,” the child will become accustomed to the friendly faces and helping hands of the Chisholm Trail Smile Center team. Dr. Bridges will conduct a brief exam, just to ensure your baby’s mouth and teeth are properly developing. 

Babies and Toddlers

After the very first tooth erupts in your baby’s mouth, you should begin using a small dot of non-fluoridated toothpaste and a soft baby’s toothbrush to clean the tooth/teeth in the morning and before bed. Around age three, toddlers understand how to spit toothpaste out after brushing, so they can advance to fluoridated toothpaste. Replace your child’s toothbrush every six months, and begin flossing once teeth touch one another. A child’s pre-threaded dental flosser makes the job easier.

Preschoolers

When kids reach preschool age, around four or five, they can understand how to sit in the dental chair during dental cleanings and exams. So, at this age children should begin twice-a-year preventive checkups with Dr. Bridges.

School-Aged Kids

When children start school, they still need Mom or Dad to inspect their brushing and flossing efforts. Children are prone to develop cavities and/or gingivitis if they don’t maintain effective daily oral care habits at home. (Kids who use an inhaler for asthma are at higher risk for gingivitis.) Even teenagers need daily dental care reminders, as well as regular dental checkups and cleanings.

To deter cavities, encourage your children and teens to drink water instead of soda, sports drinks, or flavored drinks like Kool-Aid. These beverages are high in sugar. The carbonation in sodas, as well as the acidity and sugar, can cause cavities. If your child is going to enjoy one of these beverages, encourage the use of a straw to limit contact between teeth and the harmful elements of the beverage.

Also, limit sweets and carbs. Sugars are carbohydrates, as are starches. Bad bacteria in the mouth consume the carbs and emit an acidic byproduct that causes tooth decay. An occasional sweet treat is fine, but be sure that your child rinses his mouth with water afterward, so carbs don’t sit on teeth. 

Sealants & Fluoride Protect Young Teeth

As your family’s Duncan, OK, dentist, Dr. Bridges wants to protect your children’s teeth and gums from harm. He often recommends that children get dental sealants once molars develop in the back of the mouth. The sealant is a clear, protective coating that we paint onto the chewing surfaces of molars. It fills in small grooves and crevices to create a barrier against bad bacteria, acid, sugar, and other starches. Over time, sealants naturally and safely wear off.

Fluoride treatment in our office also protects tooth enamel against decay. Children benefit from a small amount of swallowed fluoride, which comes from the public water supply. Be sure that your kids drink tap water because bottled water doesn’t contain fluoride. Kids also benefit from topical fluoride. We offer a topical fluoride treatment that takes only a few minutes. 

Fluoride is a cool mineral. It attracts calcium and phosphorus, minerals that strengthen tooth enamel. So, by coating teeth in fluoride, we prompt these minerals to naturally infiltrate enamel and strengthen it against decay.

Your Family Dentist in Duncan, OK

If you’re looking for a dentist to care for your loved ones, remember that Dr. Bridges entered dentistry as a result of a volunteer event that benefitted children. He loves kids! And your kids are sure to love him. Our entire team comes to work each day excited to serve the families of our community. Schedule appointments for everyone in your family. Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center at 580-255-4880 today.

The post A Favorite Children’s Dentist in Duncan, OK appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

In today’s blog, you’ll learn excellent tips about how to teach your children to effectively brush their teeth with you, then later without your help. We’ll explore:

• The right children’s dental care tools (with tooth development chart)
• Use the mimic method to train your child
• Two minutes, two times a day: 2×2

The Right Dental Homecare Tools per Your Duncan, OK, Family Dentist

On average, kids lose all of their primary teeth by age 13. Their mouths keep growing from birth through the end of their teen years when jawbones stop growing. All this growing and changing compounds the complexity of teaching kids to properly brush their teeth.

To set your child up for success, begin by wiping out his infant mouth with a soft, wet washcloth after feedings. If your child will fall asleep while feeding, only allow water in his bottle. Milk and juices contain sugar, and sugar triggers the development of cavities. A child who falls asleep with a bottle dripping sugar into his mouth bathes his teeth in cavity-causing liquid while sleeping. As a result, a painful condition called baby bottle tooth decay can develop.

By month six, the first baby tooth should erupt. See the chart on this page for a timeline of when to expect the eruption of all primary teeth. Baby teeth should be brushed with an infant toothbrush. The style that fits over your forefinger makes brushing easier and more comfortable for the child than if you use a toddler toothbrush in a baby’s mouth. 

Also, you choose a fluoride-free children’s toothpaste, at least until a child will spit and rinse his mouth, which is usually after age three. Kids who swallow fluoridated toothpaste can develop fluorosis, a condition in which white, horizontal lines appear on permanent teeth while the permanent teeth buds are still developing within the jaw. Fluorosis will not respond to teeth-whitening chemicals.

Once a baby becomes a toddler, graduate to a small-head, soft-bristle toddler toothbrush. From that point, as your child grows, continue to purchase a size-appropriate brush, always with soft bristles. Replace toothbrushes every three months. Your child may become more enthusiastic about brushing if you allow him to select a toothbrush and toothpaste with his favorite characters or colors.

TIP: Do not brush your child’s teeth hard. Gentle, thorough brushing with toothpaste will adequately clean the teeth and gums. Too much pressure can erode tooth enamel and harm the gum tissue.

Use the Mimic Method

Kids want to be like Mom and Dad when they’re small. Allow your toddler to mimic you when you brush your teeth, but end this morning and evening routine by brushing their teeth for them. Once a child reaches age six to eight, depending on skill level, he can brush independently as long as you check the work and provide additional assistance as needed.

The day you stop reminding your little one to brush, and the day you don’t check his work, will be the very day he starts neglecting his oral hygiene!

Fun Dental Health Projects

Here are some kids’ projects for you and your children to learn about oral health together.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Mom and Dad, don’t give up. There may be tears and frustration (hopefully not from you), but great oral health and a strong smile are worth the effort. If you’re diligent and make certain your children are diligent with twice-daily oral hygiene at home, you’ll enjoy few or no cavities throughout your kiddo’s childhood. 

Remember, too, that even middle schoolers and high schoolers will neglect oral hygiene without reminders. Kids just get lazy; it’s human nature. They also forget and cut corners to save time. It’s your job, and that of your Duncan, OK, dentist’s to help your kids and teens maintain healthy smiles. 

2 Minutes, 2x a Day: The 2×2 Rule

Duncan, OK, dentist Dr. Bridges explains: “The rule of thumb is, everyone should brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day: once after breakfast and again after dinner. Singing the “Alphabet Song” takes about two minutes, so you and your little one can hum while you brush or use a timer. You can find kids’ teeth brushing timers on Amazon.” 

To set your kids up for success, brush in quadrants:

• Top right
• Top left
• Bottom right
• Bottom left

And in each quadrant, brush:

• Front
• Back
• Chewing surface
• Gum lines

Flossing

Add flossing before brushing once your child develops teeth close to one another. Widely spaced teeth don’t require flossing if the toothbrush bristles can reach between the teeth. However, the earlier you start a child on flossing, the easier it will become. Start flossing your child’s teeth by age five or earlier. You do it at first, then introduce pre-threaded children’s flossers and your child can attempt flossing independently. As with brushing teeth, come behind to check and touch up the work. 

Add Mouthwash

When a child rinses and spits without swallowing, usually by age four or so, you can also introduce mouthwash as the final step to the brushing and flossing routine. Children can measure their own dose of mouthwash with ACT, a brand that features a push-to-measure cylinder on the product packaging.

Your Child’s Duncan, OK, Dentist is at Chisholm Trail Smile Center

Dr. Matthew Bridges and our team serve families, from a baby with one little tooth to great-great-grandparents. Parents like us because we adore their children! Dr. Bridges got his love for dentistry after participating in a children’s oral health event. He was inspired to go to dental school and he’s loved his job–and his patients–ever since. Call us today at 580.255.4880 and reserve appointments for your family members.

The post Tips for Teaching Kids to Brush from Your Duncan, OK, Dentist appeared first on Chisholm Trail.