The Value of Brushing and Flossing A Super Duo There are many great superhero and sidekick combos in the world. From Batman and Robin to Captain America and Bucky Barnes to The Doctor and his or her assistant, there’s no shortage of powerful duos to keep us entertained. Back in the real world, there are perfectly synced superhero and sidekick combinations that make our lives better and easier each day. One of the best one-two punches also happens to be one of the easiest to do: brushing your teeth and flossing. See how these two great actions come together as the ultimate grime-fighting team for your oral health by reading all about their adventures below. THE HERO: YOUR TOOTHBRUSH By covering three of your teeth’s five sides, your toothbrush is in the thick of fighting plaque. Soft-bristled toothbrushes gently scrub germs and bacteria from your teeth, gums, and tongue, doing most of the dirty work when it comes to cleaning your mouth. In addition, an electric toothbrush is highly recommended over a manual toothbrush because studies show the electric toothbrush is more effective. As for timing, brushing once in the morning removes the airborne grime that snuck into your mouth at night, while brushing again before bed removes all the bacteria you’ve accumulated throughout the day. Both are vital to a healthy smile. Just don’t forget to scrub your tongue too! THE SIDEKICK: FLOSSING As powerful as your toothbrush is, it can’t reach all the places plaque likes to hide. Instead, you have to rely on the floss to remove those pesky germs and bacteria, which can get lodged in between teeth and gums. Floss and water picks reach those two remaining faces of your teeth — the sides of each tooth — as it glides in between your teeth to catch what the toothbrush misses. This not only protects your smile from decay but also aids in gum health, which can be vital to the overall health of your mouth. ( Pro Tip: You don’t have to always brush first and floss second. In fact, Dr. J flosses and then brushes his teeth! The dynamic duo still works no matter who goes first.) When it comes to oral health, there’s no team better equipped to protect your smile in the trenches day in and day out than your toothbrush and floss, but every great team needs help sometimes. That’s where your dentist comes in. Stay on top of your dental wellness by scheduling your appointment. Call our team at 703-584-5996.
ENCOURAGING YOUR LITTLE GIRL Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women
In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s your role as a parent or guardian? We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk-taking and resilience, but it can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments. ENCOURAGE BRAVERY AND A GROWTH MINDSET. Even children can feel pressured to perform to high standards yet stay within their comfort zone. They might think, “I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.” But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems. TRUST YOUR DAUGHTER WHILE TEACHING GRIT. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it. However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult-directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own.
When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.
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