What a cutie! (Google Image) |
By
Diane Forrest, RN
"Sometimes when I
floss, big stuff comes out, like a spaceship."
Gabe, 6
"I always brush after
meals, but sometimes it's my hair."
Mackenzie, 5
"Fluoride gives your
teeth super powers to fight cavities and zombies."
Michael, 5
"Sometimes I forget
to move the toothbrush up and down."
Brittany, 5
"Dinosaurs have
really big teeth because they love to brush."
Garrett, 6
"Mommy thinks I brush
all my teeth, but I just do the ones I like best."
Hannah, 5
"If I'm good, can I
go to the dentist?"
Grace, 5
"Candy canes make my
breath minty so Mommy thinks I brushed my teeth."
Chance, 7
"Never trade lunches
with a kid whose Daddy's a dentist."
Jillian, 7
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When I was a little girl I remember driving to the
dentist. We didnt use the dentist in our
town, so it was a long drive to get to his office. I don't remember much of the visit, except
that he had a big cork board on his wall and there were alot of small toys
tacked on the board. After my visit I
was allowed to pick any toy off the wall.
Many years later I took my own child to the dentist. Things had changed since the toys on the cork
board. The office was filled with video
games, television sets and stereo equipment.
Today, taking your child is like going on a trip to Disneyland. There are slides, games, bright colors and
friendly people. All of these items are
used to establish a fun environment to allow children to seek dental treatment
without fear of the unknown.
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Your teeth develop during the second trimester. Proper dental care should begin at
birth. You should wipe the baby's gums
with a soft wash cloth after feeding.
Never give a baby a bottle when puttig them down to sleep. This will cause a condition called bottle
mouth, where the bacteria seeps into the gums and causes decay. Normally the teeth have finished erupting by
age 3. It is at that age you should take
the child for his first dental appointment.
It is important to teach the proper techniques of brushing, flossing and
rinsing at an early age so that the child will grow up with good healthy dental
hygiene habits. The importance of fluoride
treatments as well as sealants are also discussed to be used to prevent
cavities.
A good pediatric dentist will help to ensure a healthy habit
of dental care. My son went to his
pediatric dentist until he turned 18.
Last week I was surprised to see him, since moving to a town an hour
away from here, he still comes home to see his dentist. He is still practicing good oral hygiene, and
his good care of his teeth will last a lifetime.
Some good dental health tips include:
- Brush at least twice a day to remove plaque. If plaque is not removed, it can lead to cavities. Brushing can be fun for kids with these free printable tooth brushing charts.
- Floss daily. Flossing helps to remove food debris from in between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach.
- Eat healthy and nutritious foods and limit the intake of sugary carbonated drinks.
- Visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
- Fluoride treatments twice a year are very beneficial in preventing tooth decay.
- Sealants can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and premolars. Sealants help to prevent tooth decay.
- Wear a mouth guard during sports. Mouth guards can greatly reduce injuries to the mouth and teeth.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. If you have children or grandchildren,
encourage them to seek proper dental care, and help to teach proper dental
hygiene.
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this is such an important month! Dentist.net is promoting this great cause by offering Sonicare Kid’s toothbrush at 5 bucks off. They have a promo code for 5%off too! Use the code "toothache"
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