Five Smile Worthy Dental Apps
When it comes to oral hygiene, staying cavity-free, finding a reliable dentist and
securing an affordable dental insurance plan are often top priorities.
Through your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch you can access a wealth of free applications
to help with the basics and even address issues such as why flossing is important,
timelines for children’s teeth, dental pain, chipped baby teeth and braces.
In March 2012, the Apple store reached its 25 billion app download. That means an abundance of options
for consumers—with more apps being developed daily.
Here are five dental apps worth grinning about:
Do you spend enough time polishing your pearly whites? The iTunes store offers several
brushing timers geared toward children and adults. Time2Brush may be the most kid-friendly
of such apps and makes teeth-cleaning time colorful and entertaining.
Children enter their names and receive a toothpaste character called a nurdle. Once
they click “brush,” a diagram indicating brushing order appears. The animated nurdle
sings and dances as it tracks time. Every 30 seconds the app prompts young brushers
to move on to another part of their mouth.
Users earn points for every brushing session and may use them to purchase accessories
for customizing their nurdles.
Whether you’re looking for ways to save on dental care, baby teeth development charts
or what to do about chipped teeth, Dental Expert stands by ready to assist.
A portable dental encyclopedia, this app includes 21 Q&A sections whose topics include
choosing a dentist, dental emergencies, keeping costs down, nutrition and diet,
orthodontics, children’s dental care, gum disease and preventive care, to name a
few. Information is presented concisely but thoroughly and in an easy-to-understand
manner.
This info-packed resource also includes a Myths vs. Facts section busting common
misconceptions as well as a Fun Facts section amuses adults and children. Those
looking for more child-focused oral health info, can find it in a companion app
called Pediatric Dental Expert.
The topic of children and braces elicits endless questions, but it doesn’t have
to be so daunting. The iBracesHelp app makes it easy to address concerns on the
go and offers more than just written information. This guide includes actual demonstrations
via illustration and animation.
The Home Care section shows and tells braces wearers how to brush. The Food Center
provides a reminder about what foods to avoid and offers suggestions for tasty braces-friendly
foods—recipes included. A Braces FAQ section serves as a primer for those new to
orthodontics as well as those still in the decision-making stage.
This 24/7 source further assists users in navigating the world of braces by supplying
tips for comfort, term definitions, guidance on what to do in an emergency, elastics
info and diagrams, links to additional information and more.
It’s easy to go through the motions of daily dental care. Most of us could probably
use a refresher. The Cavity Free 3D app brings Brushing and Flossing 101 to your
bathroom sink.
Animated clips offer views from the mouth’s many angles and demonstrate technique.
Additional segments clearly illustrate how to maneuver around braces with a toothbrush
and dental floss.
This app will come in handy for parents teaching children how to brush their own
teeth. Follow it up with a dental timer app for a complete lesson in oral hygiene.
Chances are you don’t brush the recommended 2 minutes. Brush DJ tracks the time
and makes it go quickly by playing 2 minutes of music randomly selected from your
music library.
The app also allows users to set reminders about dental hygiene, including brushing,
flossing and dental visits.
You can even visit the Brush DJ website
to vote for your favorite brushing song and see what others get down to while brushing
up.
Remember, health-related apps never replace a professional’s advice or a dental
insurance plan-click here to learn more about finding the perfect dental plan.
When used correctly, however, the hundreds of free and low-cost dental apps that
exist can help you maximize your at-home care and office visits. A healthier smile
may start at your fingertips!