Parents come to us with lots of questions about their kids, this post will try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. When should I bring my child in for their first dental visit?

We say that around the age of 3. Before the age of 3, it is great if you can bring them with you to your appointments so that they can watch. We offer chair rides to the little ones and try to make the visit fun.

2. When should I start having my child use fluoridated toothpaste?

We suggest starting with a non- fluoridated “training” toothpaste. Parents can start brushing those little teeth as soon as they come in with a dry tooth brush. At the age of 1, there is no harm in trying the training paste. Use no more than a pea-sized amount. As they learn to spit, you can switch to the kids toothpaste which has a smaller amount of fluoride than adult toothpaste.

3. What can I expect from my child’s first dental visit?

The first visit at our office tends to be experimental. We let them touch everything…. the mirror, the suction straw, the air water sprayer and polisher. We have special names for all these things and we try to make it fun. No Pressure. We start with a chair ride and go from there. What we don’t accomplish this first visit we can do at the next one. We just try to make sure we take a good look inside the mouth; checking for any cavities or underlying issues. (more…)

Here are the top reasons to come visit our office:

1. We are conveniently located in the City of Lakes. Our South Minneapolis location is easy to find and not far from downtown.

2. There is a focus on esthetics and cosmetic dentistry.

3. We are gentle and focused on dentistry for the entire family.

4.  We offer services such as CEREC crowns and veneers done in one easy appointment. Dau Dental is also certified in Invisalign and ZOOM! whitening.

5. You are not just a number to us! We are a small office that strives to provide customized care to fit your needs. Being a small office allows us to spend more quality time with each individual patient. (more…)

Remember when you were a kid getting your teeth cleaned and waiting in anticipation for your dentist to say those two little words… “No cavities.”  Even though dentistry has changed since you were small and getting a filling done doesn’t seem so bad, we still want to help you stay cavity free with these tips:

1.  Brushing at least 2-3 times a day, the most important being at night.  Whatever we have consumed during the day will sit on our teeth for  6-8 hours of sleep.  This is a tremendous amount of time for damage to occur.

2.  Flossing daily, flossing allows us to remove the bacteria(plaque) in between the teeth where our toothbrush cannot reach.

3.  Saying “no” to in between meal snacking.  The bacteria in our mouth feeds off the food/sugar that we consume and the byproduct of that bacteria is acid. Acid slowly but surely breaks down the enamel causing the cavities.

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Top Reasons for dry mouth:

1. Medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, and diuretics are just a few examples of  medications that contribute to dry mouth.

2. Medical Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can injure salivary glands leading to a dry mouth.  Head and neck surgery can also be a contributing factor.

3.  Dehydration can leave a mouth dry.  Make sure to drink plenty of water on hot days, exercising or when running a fever.

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Often we hear patients say “I am going to wait because it doesn’t bother me right now.”  This is not a good way to care for your teeth.  I have listed a number of reasons why you should complete your dental care sooner than later.

1.  All cavities start small and get larger with time.  A smaller filling is always better for the tooth in the long run.

2.  Few cavities are sensitive.

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There are many ways to maintain a healthy smile. Here we have chosen ten ways to get or keep a healthy smile for a lifetime.

1. Regular visits to your dentist- You should be seeing your dentist at minimum of two times a year. This is important to check the health of your gum tissue and regular x-rays to catch active decay while it’s small.
2. Brushing- Brushing should be done at least two times a day. Aid of electric toothbrush can be helpful in preventing gum disease and decay. Manual toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months as the bristles can wear down and become weak. (more…)