Dissing the Dentist?

Has your little one shown off those adorable chompers to the dentist yet?

If not, now's the time to schedule an appointment.

My twins had a well check-up and cleaning at the dentist last week and afterwards I had a few people ask me when a child should start seeing the dentist. I'm glad I got this question because oral health is a subject we haven't touched on yet and one that I'm passionate about. Before my transformation into "Mommy", I was a dental assistant and worked with children in the orthodontics field, I've seen first hand what dental neglect looks like. So, let's get down to the facts!

The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends beginning regular dental check-ups, every 4-6 months depending on your child's needs, within six months of eruption of the first tooth, and no later than the child's first birthday.

I know what you're thinking...I thought it was 3, but my baby is breastfed not bottle fed, we brush her teeth twice a day, we don't give juice, etc., etc. but your baby still needs to be seen by the dentist! Your baby goes to the pediatrician for well checks, right? They receive shots to keep them healthy and the doctor checks their growth progress. A dentist does the same thing. The dentist will clean your baby's teeth, brush on a safe fluoride treatment, and do an exam to make sure their oral health and growth is progressing! If they see any concerns, you can begin treatment, just as you would if the pediatrician found an ear infection during a well check.

5 things for a healthy mouth:

• Brush your child's teeth at least twice a day. *If your child cannot tie their own shoe, they do not have the dexterity to brush their own teeth correctly, especially not with a power toothbrush.
• Wipe baby's gums with a clean damp washcloth between feedings.
• Floss your child's teeth, concentrating on areas where the teeth are touching.
• Do not let your baby sleep with a bottle, or fall asleep during feedings.
• Encourage your baby to use a cup by his/her first birthday and avoid bottles after age 1.
  

Choosing a dentist for your child can be easy! Most pediatricians can recommend a dentist for your child. I personally recommend seeing a pediatric dentist. Here's my theory- I take my baby to the pediatrician and not to my general physician if he is sick so why would I take him to my general dentist for oral health care? Pediatric specialists have the knowledge, experience, equipment and staff to make your child's visit to the dentist the best one possible! ADA.org has a great search engine that will help you find a dentist in your area. Click Here. If you have dental insurance your provider can also help you find a pediatric dentist.

Let's talk about fluoride - I had the most intriguing conversation with our boys dentist, she told me that she has patients refuse fluoride treatments for their children because they believe that fluoride was created as a plot in the 70's by communists. Really? I'm sure none of you believe that, because we all know that fluoride is NATURAL and comes from the Earth, right? Good, just making sure. Fluoride comes from the element fluorine, and is naturally released into our air and water daily. Fluoride is added to community water, toothpaste and some mouthwashes to help reduce and prevent tooth decay (cavities). The ADHA has a great list of fluoride facts if you'd like more information on fluoride.

Toothpaste- baby toothpaste is a waste of money. I'll say that again. Baby training toothpastes are a waste of money. You might as well use water. There is nothing in the paste to help clean your child's teeth. They do not contain fluoride and many actually have sugars and sweeteners in them. Training pastes encourage your child to swallow the paste rather than learn to spit it out because of the great flavor. Now, our pediatric dentist has recommended from our boys first visit (12 months old) that we use a tiny smear of toothpaste WITH fluoride in it. Just a smear does the trick. We still use the smear because they are not spitting every time yet at age 3. We use Tom's of Maine Anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste for children in Mango flavor and the boys love it (so does my husband). I love that the other ingredients in the toothpaste are as natural as the fluoride.

How does your family make brushing teeth fun and effective? My husband started brushing alligator teeth a few weeks ago when our lil' guys decided it was no longer convenient to brush their teeth before bed. Now we count alligator teeth and brush each one. Then we brush their tongue because "nobody likes dragon breathe", works like a champ every time!