UrbanMommies » Dentist

When Your Child Resists Teeth Brushing

Jill — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:11:34 +0000

If your child or toddler won’t let you brush their teeth, good oral care can get tricky. It’s important to develop good health habits at an early age. Start off by using a clean washcloth to clean your child’s mouth after each meal, as early as possible. This will get your child used to your later oral care efforts. Try this also for your uncooperative two year old: start off with the washcloth approach and gradually move to a toothbrush. With patience and perseverance, she should eventually let you brush her teeth properly. Current guidelines recommend brushing your children’s teeth until they are able to write their own name. Once they’re able to brush on their own (usually after age eight), supervise them frequently to ensure they’re doing it properly.

Dr. Chris Kan is a Kitsilano Dentist and since 1998, has been practicing family and cosmetic dentistry with a conservative, “less is best” approach. By integrating innovative technologies with a passion for excellence, Dr. Kan and his team provide thorough, comprehensive care for everyone from toddlers to seniors. Contact Dr. Kan at 604-224-8000 or at www.arbutusdentist.com

Scared to Go to the Dentist

Jill — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:02:21 +0000

If your child is afraid and scared to go to the dentist, there are a few things that you can try. Start off by being a good role model: children will want to go to the dentist and take care of their teeth when they see you brushing and flossing your own teeth, and having a positive attitude toward dental visits. At my office, we try to introduce children to the dental office environment as young as possible – often before the first tooth even erupts. We encourage new parents to bring in their babies at their own appointments so that their children can become comfortable in and familiar with the dental office setting. Through coaching at home by the parents and repeated positive exposures to my office and my staff, children are often able to overcome their anxiety and fear of the unknown in the dental chair. It also helps if the child watches an older sibling behaving well in the chair. With some especially fearful children, we’ve had to try up to three or four visits, every six months, to get them relaxed enough to complete a proper examination. As a last resort, if you’ve tried the above techniques and the child is still not cooperative, try a pediatric specialist.

One Year Old and No Teeth

Jill — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:50:55 +0000

Q: My baby is one year old and has no teeth. Should I be worried or is he just late teething?

A: The first tooth usually erupts between the ages of six months to one year. If teeth haven’t appeared by about age 18 months, this is unusual and you should bring your child to the dentist for an x-ray to check if the teeth are under the gums or possibly congenitally missing. Consider bringing your child to a pediatric specialist soon if you are very concerned. Anecdotally, I have heard of teeth erupting as late as age 17 months and everything turned out completely normal.

Teether: Fisher Price

Choosing a Dentist for Your Kids

Jill — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:43:14 +0000

How Do I choose a dentist for my kids? Dr. Chris Kan, our resident dental expert, weighs in on this question. He says to look for these factors to help narrow your choices:

(1) Similar goals and easy communication. Your dentist should want the same things you do for your children’s dental health, and be able to explain these goals to you clearly. You should feel comfortable asking questions and discussing treatment options.

(2) Modern technology. Don’t be dazzled by a fancy office décor but realize that newer technology often means more comfort and less pain, and that the dentist cares about keeping current with skills and continuing education. How well the office is maintained is usually indicative of the quality of care you’ll be receiving.

(3) Experience. Do you want a dentist who is proficient or just merely competent? There’s growing support for the notion that it takes about ten thousand hours of practice (roughly ten years) to achieve the level of mastery associated with being an expert. With this in mind, if you choose a dentist who’s had at least ten years of experience, you’ll likely find a combination of relatively recent training and the wisdom of years of honing diagnostic and motor skills critical to being a good dentist.

What is the Best Way to start Brushing my Baby’s Teeth?

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:35:17 +0000

Brushing your baby’s teeth: Begin brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as their first tooth appears. Use a soft, baby toothbrush with just a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste. Brush twice a day; brushing before bed is especially important. Don’t miss brushing where the teeth and gums meet! Lift your baby’s lip regularly to check for white or brown spots on their teeth. Look closely along the gum line. Call your dentist if you notice anything unusual. Take your baby to see a dentist once their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday.

Find a comfortable position: It is often easiest to brush your baby’s teeth when the child is lying down. You will see better and do a better job. Try these positions:

Hold your baby in your arms in the feeding position.
Lay your baby on a change table, making sure they cannot fall off.
Place your baby on a couch or bed, with their head in your lap.
Lay your baby on the floor with their head on a pillow placed between your legs.

Cleaning your toddler’s teeth: Use a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles. Use a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste; at age three, it should be the size of a pea. Brush twice a day; brushing before bed is especially important. Brush the tongue, the top of the tooth and both sides of the tooth; remember to brush where the teeth and gums meet, too! Brush for about two minutes. Gums that bleed need more brushing to make them healthy. Take your child to the dentist regularly when they reach one year of age.

Remember!

Young children cannot clean their own teeth. Do it for them when they are very young; do it with them as they grow.
Children under eight need you to finish brushing for them.
Always use toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
Toothpaste should not be swallowed. Encourage children to spit out toothpaste and keep it out of their reach.
Discourage ongoing nibbling on foods and sipping on drinks between meals and snacks. This causes ongoing acid attacks on teeth, which can cause tooth decay, even tooth rot.
Be a great role model: children want to brush their teeth when they see you brushing your own.

For more information visit – www.kidsmiles.ca

Listerine Smart Rinse

Jill — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:00:54 +0000

We don’t know about you, or if you really want to talk about it, but our toddlers have.. gasp.. bad breath. They’re good with brushing, but the minty freshness just doesn’t seem to last. Enter, Smart Rinse. Not only does it act like grown-up mouthwash, but it has some kid features too. The most exciting (for kids anyway) is the bottle. Squeeze it, and the liquid gets pumped into a single-serve reservoir so you don’t spill the entire bottle when pouring it into the cap. (Kind of like a jigger for 3 year olds). You use this after brushing, and any leftover particles on the teeth get stained pink (or green), and when spit into the sink, the child can see evidence that they didn’t exactly do the fabulous brushing job that they promised. We love teaching with fun tools. Cool.

www.listerine.com

Oh, and Listerine has come out with another treat for kids as well – a website with tips and activities. We love more things to do at home with the kids!

www.listerinekids.ca

Breastfeeding Before Bed

Jill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:34:05 +0000

Q – Is it ok to nurse before bed or is this the same as my baby going to bed with a bottle?

A – Nursing before bed is not the same as putting your child to bed with a bottle. Often babies will fall asleep with the nipple of a bottle still in their mouths. This allows for a continual leakage from the bottle, bathing the teeth in sugar all night. Therefore it is best not to have your baby going to bed with a bottle. If a bottle is to be used at bedtime, water or milk is best – definitely no juice or pop – and remove the bottle once the child is asleep.

Sippy Cups

Jill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:23:02 +0000

Q – Should I put juice into a sippy cup?

A – Although nutritionally better than pop, juice still has lots of natural sugars that can cause decay. If juice is given, it should be consumed quickly and not sipped on throughout the day. Putting juice in a sippy cup or bottle encourages sipping and periodic drinking. The more frequently your child is exposed to a sugar source throughout the day, the more likely cavities will develop. If a sippy cup is used, do not let the juice be drunk beyond snack or mealtime. Use water or milk if your child would like to sip on a beverage in a sippy cup or bottle during playtime. The sugars in milk are less likely to cause decay and so it is a safer choice than juice. 'Watering down' juice does not make it safer for teeth.

Brushing by Themselves

Jill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:10:35 +0000

Q – My 3 year old wants to brush ‘by himself’. How can I tell if he’s doing a good job?

A – Your 3 year old is not able to do a good job brushing his teeth. Children do not have the dexterity required for adequate brushing until 7 or 8 years of age. As a compromise let your son brush his own teeth after every meal and have mom or dad brush in the morning and at night before bed. At this age, flossing should also be done by a parent once a day.

Jennifer Kelly is a dentist practicing in Vancouver.

See also our article on starting to brush a baby’s teeth.

Toddler Brushing Teeth

Jill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:06:53 +0000

Q – How many times a day should my toddler brush his teeth?

A – Your child should have her teeth brushed at least twice a day, once in the morning and at night before bed.