Post 3: Will You Let Your Young Child Ride a Bike on Their Own Unsupervised?

"I told you you need to brush your teeth." My disappointed mom is telling her child after hearing their 5-year-old has cavities. Then the mom tells me,"I told them to brush but they don't listen." or
"They brush so quickly."

At times I get the 'hush-hush version' where the parents whisper to me "Can you really tell them to brush their teeth?" It always makes me smile. All these comments and more gave me insight on how parents are struggling at home to get their children to brush.

Most parents are not aware that just like walking as a toddler and riding a bike, a 5-year-old needs guidance when it comes to brushing and flossing. If you have been faithful about brushing and flossing your child's teeth till now, you are already on the right track. 

I encourage parents to help children brush and floss even up to age 12. Slowly ease your 5-year-old into brushing on their own. Use positive reinforcement and praises! Check to make sure all is clean and brush once again for them as routine. Introduce them to flossing the same way. Soon, your child will become an expert.

Some parents, though, struggle with the children with a more independent nature who just don't like the idea they are being supervised. Then how about turning it into a fun parent-child activity? Brush together side by side! Time each other a good two minutes and see who persists! After checking your child's performance, maybe even allow your child to check if you did a good job.

If you need advice on how to improve your techniques, your dentist can help you during your regular visits for exams and cleanings. These visits to your dentist will play an important role in maintaining and improving good habits and skills.

Post 2: Your Baby's First Tooth to Toddler

As soon as you see your child’s first baby tooth appear (usually 8-12months), they should be seen by a dentist. This visit is not just a checkup for the child, but also to educate the young parents on how to take care of their child’s oral health.

It is quite simple. Take a clean moist washcloth or a piece of gauze and wipe the gums of your baby once daily. As soon as your child gets a tooth, it can be subject to getting a cavity. You can use a finger brush or a soft baby toothbrush to lightly brush it and continue with wiping the gums with a washcloth or gauze, also once daily.

Once your baby is older and now is a toddler, you should continue to brush their teeth but also start flossing in between teeth. They will have most or all of their teeth by the age of three. I recommend the flossers on a plastic handle with the fun colors and alligator shapes made for children. There are other types of floss available as well. If you have questions on how to use it, bring your child in for a checkup and cleaning. The dentist can demonstrate how to use the flosser better.

Post 1: A Gift that can last a Lifetime

Good oral hygiene and habits is a great gift parents can give their children. But doing so is not always easy. If the routine can be started early on in the child's life, even before your child's first tooth appears during the teething stages, it may increase the chances your child will retain these habits as they grow up. This routine includes bringing your child to see the Dentist in a timely regular manner along with consistent home care.

Baby Teeth Don't Matter: A Common Misconception

Cavities on baby teeth are often thought to be ‘ok’ since they will ‘fall off anyway’. This is not true. Baby teeth are vital to your child’s development such as muscle and bone development, speech, and facial profile; they provide a guiding path for the adult teeth to grow in.

A small cavity on a baby tooth can eventually grow into a tooth infection and affect the adult tooth under it and/or your child's overall health. Regular checkups and cleanings and parents actively involved in children's daily home care can help prevent this. It is a gift you can give your children that can last a lifetime.