Beyond Basics You teach your patients that good oral care starts with regular brushing, flossing, and dental appointments, but is that enough? With your professional advice and guidance, your patients can go beyond basics and develop oral care habits specific to their needs. In fact, communicating with you and the rest of their oral care team might be the best tool patients have to promote oral health! The beyond-basics tips at right can help you start a conversation with your patients. Printer-friendly version National Dental Hygiene Month October is National Dental Hygiene Month. See how Oral-B is encouraging people to talk to their dental professionals and go beyond oral care basics. Radio spots: Bad Breath | Smoking Waiting room tent card: English | French View consumer web page Resources Handouts for Patients Clinical Research ADHA.org CDHA.ca ADA.org CDA-ADC.ca General Nutrition Tips | Illness & Medication Pregnancy & Kids | Seniors | Smokers   General Nutrition Tips Choose water over soda. Sipping soda can increase the rate of harmful acid attacks on tooth enamel. Drink tap water when possible. If bottled water is your patient's main source of drinking water, they could be missing the decay-preventive benefits of fluoride. Low-carb diets can cause bad breath. A balanced, dental-healthy diet can help reduce tooth decay. Stay fresh in between brushings, even when eating on the go.   Illness & Medication Your patients should replace their toothbrushes every three months and after every illness. Certain medications can impact oral health, for example causing dry mouth . Time for a brush replacement? Our selection of manual brushes and replacement power brushheads provide many options.   Pregnancy & Kids Good oral health habits not only help prevent oral problems during pregnancy, they also help the oral health of your patient's baby. Take care of a child's oral health from birth. For starters, clean baby's gums with a washcloth. Oral-B Stages® offers toothbrushes for all the developmental stages a child's mouth goes through. Learn more.   Seniors More people are keeping their teeth as they get older, but older adults face additional dental problems. Thorough daily care is essential. If your patient has arthritis, make brushing easier by inserting the end of their toothbrush into a tennis ball. Some seniors find the ergonomic handle and brushing action of a power toothbrush easier to handle.   Smokers Smokers can have gum disease even without any signs of bleeding. Smokers have an increased incidence of periodontal disease, with the bone and tooth loss associated with it.     © 2006 Procter & Gamble. All rights reserved. Legal Terms & Conditions. Privacy Policy.