February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!
A month to promote the importance of oral health.
I have spent most of my adult life surrounded by amazing friends in the dental industry and have watched as they visit schools to talk about the importance of oral health. I learned early on that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. The crazy part – it is entirely preventable! Help your kids develop good habits at a young age, so that they can continue them throughout their lifetime.
When do you start brushing your child’s teeth?
- Clean baby’s mouth! It is recommended to use a washcloth or piece of gauze to clean baby’s gums, even before teeth erupt. We did this after feedings and before bed each night.
- Once you see teeth, you can use a grain size amount of fluoride free toothpaste on a soft bristled brush or cloth to clean the teeth.
- At age 2, we started helping our boys brush their own teeth (with some assistance to teach them how to do it) and then worked on rinsing and spitting!
- Once teeth start touching, we were recommended to start flossing.
- At age 3, you can start using a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Where do you go?
Find a dentist who specializes in pediatric dentistry. Not sure where to start looking, try these options:
- Friends can offer great recommendations based on their experience
- Check out the Wichita Moms Blog guide to Dentists & Orthodontists in Wichita
- Ask for a recommendation from your local orthodontist or other dental specialist
- Search the Wichita Moms Blog Facebook groups for your area
- American Dental Association
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Search for an accredited pediatric dentist in your area
Talk to Your Child about Oral Health
We are a book family, so we started here. Simple ones that would just talk about teeth and often portray decay as an evil villain out to get your teeth dirty. As my children got older, the books became more educational and full of facts so they knew the truth and impacts of what they eat and how to care for their teeth.
First Trip to the Dentist
- Prepare your child for what to expect when visiting the dentist. Talk about the cleaning process the dentist will go through during their visit and that they will use fancy tools to clean their teeth.
- With trips to the dentist, my goal was to have my sons feel comfortable with the environment and actually want to go to the dentist! I definitely had a concern that there could be a cavity but I didn’t let them know that. I knew they would pick up on any anxiety I might have, so stay positive!
- Several friends would role play with their child about what would happen. Some have even made a pre-visit trip to the dentist, just to expose their child to the dentist office and make them aware of their surroundings.
Visit the Dentist Twice a Year
Dr. Michelle Sobba is the dentist for our boys, and she taught me early on to visit twice a year on a regular basis. She finds and removes the plaque buildup the boys and I can’t remove with a toothbrush and reviews our daily oral care routine.
A dentist will help you figure out where you might need to help your child brush. For us, these were the areas we had not realized we were missing! Plus, the boys see the importance of oral health with these visits and are proud to flash a smile to everyone they see.
Brush Twice a Day
- Make it a habit! We started very young with the routine of waking and then brushing our teeth! We read a book before bed, after we brush our teeth! This was a challenge at the beginning but little things helped the habit form.
- In our home, everyone has their own toothpaste and their own special toothbrush! Since our boys are different ages, we have them on different types of toothpaste and they know which is theirs! The boys pick out their toothbrush and we rotate it out every three months.
- The boys know before they can start their day, their mouth must be clean and stinky free! We often joke that we wouldn’t want to scare away our friends or teachers with our morning breath, so we brush our teeth and tongue, and do a quick smile check as we head out the door.
- There are apps out there by companies like Oral-B and Crest that try and make brushing teeth fun. If your kids like Marvel or Disney characters, check out the app by Oral-B and Disney that includes a timer, revealing characters the longer they brush! App linked here: Oral-B App
- We like to play a two minute song and brush until the music stops playing! Whatever you do, create a routine and make it fun. Our boys wake up and immediately want to brush their teeth. They know it is how we start our day!
Things to know:
- If your child has a sucking habit (thumb, pacifier, or even a bottle), tell your dentist. This may affect your child’s teeth and jaw.
- Sleeping with a bottle of milk or juice can cause tooth decay. It pools around the teeth and erodes them.
- Sweets and sugary drinks like juice add to plaque buildup more quickly. Sugar turns into acid, which causes teeth to decay.
- Drink water! I often have water available to the boys in a separate cup, if they are drinking milk or eating a snack, because it helps wash away the bacteria left on their teeth throughout the day.
What ways do you promote the importance of oral health in your home?
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