5 Tips for Establishing Healthy Dental Habits in Kids

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5 Tips for Establishing Healthy Dental Habits in Kids

As parents, we strive to instill good habits in our children from a young age, and dental health is no exception. Teaching your kids how to care for their teeth and gums early on sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. With that in mind, here are five essential tips for establishing healthy dental habits in kids:

1. Start Early

The journey to good oral health begins even before your child's first tooth emerges. Wipe your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeding to remove bacteria and prevent the buildup of plaque. Once teeth start to appear, transition to a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for infants and gently brush their teeth twice a day.

2. Lead by Example

Children learn by observing the behavior of those around them, so make sure to demonstrate good dental habits yourself. Brush your teeth alongside your child to show them the proper technique, and make it a fun and interactive experience. Let them pick out their toothbrush and toothpaste with colorful designs or their favorite characters to make brushing more exciting.

3. Make Brushing a Routine

Consistency is key when it comes to dental care. Establish a regular brushing routine by brushing your child's teeth at the same times each day, such as after breakfast and before bedtime. Incorporate flossing into their routine as soon as their teeth start to touch to remove food particles and prevent cavities between the teeth.

4. Limit Sugary Snacks and Drinks

Sugary snacks and beverages can contribute to tooth decay if consumed in excess. Encourage healthier snack options like fruits, vegetables, cheese, and nuts, and limit sugary treats to occasional indulgences. When your child does have sweets, encourage them to rinse their mouth with water afterward to help wash away sugar residue.

5. Schedule Regular Checkups

Routine dental visits are essential for maintaining good oral health and catching any issues early on. Schedule your child's first dental appointment by their first birthday, and continue to schedule checkups every six months thereafter. Regular cleanings and exams allow the dentist to monitor your child's dental development and address any concerns promptly. 

By following these tips and making dental care a priority in your child's life, you can help them develop healthy habits that will benefit them for years to come. Remember, consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key to instilling lifelong habits that promote a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Make an Appointment with Dr. Esfandiari 

If you haven't seen a Dentist in a while, don't worry. You can make an appointment to see Dr. Esfandiari and get back on track with your preventative dental health care. Call the Ventura office to make an appointment 805-647-6100 or click here to make an appointment online.

Take A Tour

We've launched a new video for you to see what's inside our Ventura office. When choosing a dentist we know it's important to feel safe, comfortable and familiar with your surroundings.

12 Signs You Need to See a Dentist

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12 Signs You Need to See a Dentist

How do you know it's time to call Dr. Esfandiari and make an appointment??

1. You Have Pain
Pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck can mean a number of things.

2. Your Gums Are Acting Up
If your gums are puffy, they bleed when you brush or floss, or you have a family history of gum disease, it's time to make an appointment.

3. You Try to Hide Your Smile
Whether you're self-conscious about a missing tooth or hoping for a brighter smile, don't be shy about talking to your dentist.

4.  You've Had Work Done
If you have fillings, crowns, dental implants or dentures, see your dentist regularly to make sure everything is in great shape.

5.  You Have Ongoing Medical Issues
Make your dentist part of your team if you have a medical condition (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders or are HIV positive), or you are undergoing medical treatment (such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy).

6. You're Pregnant
It's safe to go to the dentist while pregnant. In fact, pregnancy can make some dental problems worse, so don't miss your regular checkup.

7. You're Having Trouble Eating
Difficulty chewing or swallowing is not the norm. Try eating soft or liquified foods until you can see your dentist.

8. You Have Dry Mouth
Always feeling parched could be the sign of a medical issue or a medication side effect.

9. You Use Any Kind of Tobacco
From bad breath to oral cancer, cigarettes and chewing tobacco are harmful to your overall and dental health.

10. You're Having Jaw Pain
Make an appointment if your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up. See a dentist also if you have an uneven bite.

11.  Your Mouth Has Spots and Sores
If there's something that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth, your dentist should examine any mouth sore that lasts a week or longer. Types of mouth sores include canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia and candidiasis. They vary in their severity and causes. Mouth sores could be the symptom of a disease or disorder; infection from bacteria, viruses or fungus or result from irritation caused by braces, dentures or the sharp edge of a broken tooth or filling.

12. It's Time For Your Checkup
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, checkups are important because they can help prevent problems from developing and treat existing symptoms before they become more advanced. 


Contact Us 

Dr. Frank Esfandiari makes it easy to get back on track if it's been a while since you've seen the dentist. You can make an appointment online by clicking here, or call us at 805-647-6100.


Take A Tour

We've launched a new video for you to see what's inside our Ventura office. When choosing a dentist we know it's important to feel safe, comfortable and familiar with your surroundings.

Cold and Flu Season: 5 Ways to Care for Your Mouth When You’re Sick

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When you have a cold or the flu, taking care of your body is your top priority—and that includes your mouth. It’s important to take care of your dental health all year round, but especially when you’re sick.

Here are some simple ways to care for your dental health when you’re not feeling well: 

Practice Good Hygiene
When you’re sick, you know to cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. Don’t forget to keep up your dental and toothbrush hygiene as well.

According to the CDC, the flu virus can live on moist surfaces for 72 hours. The number one rule is not to share your toothbrush anytime, but especially when you are sick.

You also probably don’t need to replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick. Unless your immune system is severely compromised, the chances of reinfecting yourself are very low. But if you’re still in doubt, throw it out.

Choose Sugar-Free Cough Drops
Read the label before you pick up a bag at the drug store with an eye to avoid ingredients like fructose or corn syrup. Many cough drops contain sugar, and it is like sucking on candy. Sugar is a culprit when it comes to cavities. The longer you keep a sugary cough drop in your mouth, the more time cavity-causing bacteria has to feast on that sugar, which produces the acid that can leave holes in your teeth.

Swish and Spit After Vomiting
One unfortunate side effect of a stomach flu, among other illnesses, is vomiting. You might be tempted to brush your teeth right away, but it’s actually better to wait. When you vomit, stomach acids are coming in contact with your teeth and coating them. If you brush too soon, you’re just rubbing that acid all over the hard outer shell of your teeth.

Instead, swish with water, a diluted mouth rinse or a mixture of water and 1 tsp. baking soda to help wash the acid away. Spit, and brush about 30 minutes later.


Stay Hydrated to Avoid Dry Mouth
When you’re sick, you need plenty of fluids for many reasons. One is to prevent dry mouth. Not only is it uncomfortable—dry mouth can also put you at greater risk for cavities. The medications you might be taking for a cold or flu—such as antihistamines, decongestants or pain relievers—can also dry out your mouth, so drink plenty of water and suck on sugarless cough drops, throat lozenges or candies to keep that saliva flowing.

Choose the Right Fluids
When it comes to your mouth and your body, one beverage is always best. The safest thing to drink is water. Sports drinks might be recommended to replenish electrolytes when you’re sick, but drink them in moderation and don’t make them a habit after you’ve recovered because unless they are a sugar free version, they contain a lot of sugar.

You might also want something to warm you up. When you have a cold or the flu, you may want something comforting to get through it, like tea. Try not to add sugar or lemon if you can avoid it. Sugar can helps to fuel cavity-causing bacteria, and lemon is acidic. It’s something to keep in mind once you’re feeling 100% again, as well.

Contact Us
Dr. Frank Esfandiari makes it easy to get back on track if it's been a while since you've seen the dentist. You can make an appointment online by clicking here, or call us 805-647-6100.

Take A Tour
We've launched a new video for you to see what's inside our Ventura offices. When choosing a dentist we know it's important to feel safe, comfortable and familiar with your surroundings. 

Happy New Year means a Happy New You for 2022

Dental Implants


Happy New Year! Let 2022 be the year you improve your dental health and give yourself the gift of a great smile. Dr. Frank Esfandiari makes it easy to get back on track if it's been a while since you've seen the dentist. You can make an appointment online by clicking here, or call us 805-647-6100.

Take A Tour

We've launched a new video for you to see what's inside our Ventura office. When choosing a dentist we know it's important to feel safe, comfortable and familiar with your surroundings.


What To Expect At The Dentist

Healthy Smile


At Dr. Esfandiari's offices we're dedicated to providing you and your family a safe dental visit, so we're taking every possible safety precaution when it comes to COVID19. An October 2020 report published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that fewer than one percent of dentists nationwide were found to have had COVID-19, and a more recent study in February of this year also found a low infection rate among dental hygienists.

We're using enhanced infection control procedures such as screening protocol intake, temperature readings and enhanced disinfection practices when treating patients.  

Before Your Appointment
To help make sure that patients arriving for their appointments are healthy we ask you fill out a COVID19 questionnaire.

We ask that you also limit the number of people you bring to the appointment. That could mean leaving your children at home or allowing older children to go into the office alone while their parent waits outside during their appointment.

At Your Appointment
When you arrive at the office we require all patients be masked and you will have your temperature taken.

Inside the office, you may notice things people often touch in the waiting room have been removed to cut down on transmitting virus germs.  We also provide hand sanitizer for you to use and may wipe down items you touch, such as pens, clipboards or furniture.

When you’re in the dental chair, you may notice some things look different from the last time you were there. We've covered the chairs with plastic to decrease the likelihood of transmission.  Dr. Esfandiari is also using different protective equipment than he's used at previous appointments as is his staff.  These additional precautions help protect both you and the dentist.

After Your Appointment
After your appointment is over, the staff will thoroughly clean the areas where you’ve been using disinfectants that are effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 to prepare for the next patient. This helps reduce the risk of illness being passed to others.

If you start feeling ill with the symptoms of COVID-19 within two days of your appointment, call us. You may have already been carrying the virus at the time of your appointment, so anyone who came into contact with you during that time could be at risk for getting sick too.

Remember, regular dental visits are an essential part of your overall heath. Be sure to reschedule your dental checkups. Dr. Esfandiari will make sure your visit is as safe as possible for everyone involved.

Brushing Up on Your Brushing Skills

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Teaching your child to brush?  You probably don't remember who taught you how to brush your teeth but it was most likely a combination of watching your parents and learning at school. Considering most adults could use a "brushing up" on their brushing skills, it's best to revisit the right way to brush.

Toddlers love to mimic their parents so use the Partner approach. This is simply partnering up with your child in the bathroom because the best way to teach kids is by letting them watch you brush. Dentists recommend placing the toothbrush in the child's hand, and guiding it in their mouth. This allows your child to get a feel for the brush in their hand even before he or she can hold it without assistance.

Dentists recommend parents continue to supervise your child's brushing until the age of 6.


• For children younger than 3 years, begin brushing teeth as they come in using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Use no more than a smear or an amount the size of a grain of rice. Take care that your child doesn't swallow the toothpaste.

• For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush morning and night. Supervise children's brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.

• First, brush the inside surfaces of all teeth, where plaque accumulates most. Angle bristles toward the gumline. Brush gently back and forth.

• Next, clean all outside surfaces of teeth. Angle bristles toward the gumline. Brush gently back and forth.

• Last, place brush on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Brush gently back and forth

How Does What I Eat Affect My Oral Health?

Healthy Diet


You may be able to prevent two of the most common diseases of modern civilization, tooth decay (caries) and periodontal disease, simply by improving your diet. Decay results when the teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid products from oral bacteria.

Certain foods and food combinations are linked to higher levels of cavity-causing bacteria. Although poor nutrition does not directly cause periodontal disease, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diet does not supply the necessary nutrients.

Poor nutrition affects the entire immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to many disorders. People with lowered immune systems have been shown to be at higher risk for periodontal disease. Additionally, research shows a link between oral health and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So eating a variety of foods as part of a well-balanced diet may not only improve your dental health, but increasing fiber and vitamin intake may also reduce the risk of other diseases.


How can I plan my meals and snacks to promote better oral health?

Eat a well-balanced diet characterized by moderation and variety. Develop eating habits that follow the recommendations from reputable health organizations such as the American Dietetic Association and the National Institutes of Health. Choose foods from the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, bread and cereals, milk and dairy products and meat, chicken, fish or beans. Avoid fad diets that limit or eliminate entire food groups, which usually result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

If you have any questions about healthy meals for your oral health, please contact our Ventura dental office today!