My final year of college, I had the privilege of living with two
roommates who were studying to go on to dental school. I remember once quizzing them for some big science exam -- going through flashcards that they had made and barely being
able to pronounce all the big words, let alone understanding (or caring) what
it all meant. Science was never my
thing (I majored in Mass Communications... surprised?) but I am so glad it was
theirs! Aarika in particular was very
passionate about teeth, even before dental school, and always got on me about
flossing. My own dentist would have been
proud.
Both roommates went on to dental school and are now practicing in their
home states of Washington and Nevada. I
confess that I still don't floss every day... but when I do, I think of them!
Baby's Got a Mouth Too
It just recently occurred to me that Dan and I are fully responsible
for Penny's oral hygiene... and we are going to have to brush her teeth... like
soon.
What else will this entail? Should we be doing something already? Does she need to go to the dentist yet? Naturally, I reached out to an old friend (whose baby son, is just five months older than Penny!) for
January's My Friends the Experts post
to gather some info about dental care for the little ones.
I hope you will read the full interview here.
But if you only have a minute, here are some key takeaways:
- Babies should go to the dentist when their first tooth comes in or no later than their first birthday.
- Even before teeth come in, it is good practice to wipe out a baby's mouth with a damp wash cloth after feedings. This rids the mouth of some excess sugars and prepares baby for future mouth cleaning practices.
- When you do start brushing baby's teeth, the knee-to-knee technique works well, but you can still expect a normal amount of chewing, wiggling and crying.
- Tooth decay (cavities) is influenced by both diet and hygiene, and can be inherited.
- Never give baby or toddlers a bottle throughout the night and avoid giving them foods or drinks with added sugar (especially juice!). A whole food diet (no processed foods) is great for baby teeth.
- Pacifiers and thumb/finger sucking should be discontinued around age 2 to prevent a detrimental effect on developing teeth.
- Kids need a grownup's help to brush their teeth effectively until about age 6 or 7.
I don't love shots and drills and things, but I love having my teeth
cleaned and I know that whatever my dentist tells me about flossing and coming
in more often, etc... I probably need to hear it . I think I'm in the minority when I say
that I actually like going to the dentist. Most people dread it, so it seems. Poor dentists! Dr. Anderson Elter wanted to "drill
home" that taking your kid to the dentist should be positive experience for parent
and child. Everyone wins if mom and dad
have a positive attitude about dental visits -- so let's all try not to pass
along "dental anxiety" to our kids!
