Cavities Learning to Live Without
CAVITIES Learning to Live Without
Look, Ma, no cavities!'' beams the cherubicfaced child in the television commercial. And that's exactly what every parent likes to hear.
A clean report--''No cavities!''--is quite possible these days, according to Luke Matranga, D.D.S., president of the Academy of General Dentistry and chairman of the Department of Comprehensive Dental Care at Creighton University Dental School in Omaha.
Of course, nothing can substitute for good dental care, and most dentists recommend visits every six months after the age of two. But along with the dentist's attention, excellent at-home habits can go a long way toward preventing cavities. Here's how.
Caring for Teeth
Skip baby's bedtime bottle. Lull your baby to sleep with a lullaby--or a bottle filled with clear water--instead of a bottle with milk or juice, says Dr. Matranga. When your baby falls asleep with milk or juice in his mouth, the sugars in those beverages can decay teeth when they combine with plaque, a ''film'' on the teeth that encourages bacterial growth. In fact, most cases of extensive infant tooth decay are known as ''baby bottle syndrome,'' he says.
Clean your baby's gums. Good dental habits start early--even before teeth come in. '' You should get your child used to mouth care by wiping her gums with a moist, soft cloth right after she eats,'' says William Kuttler, D.D.S., a dentist in Dubuque, Iowa, who has been treating children for more than 20 years.
Direct the brushing. Start brushing teeth as soon as they appear, using a round-tipped, soft-bristle baby's toothbrush without toothpaste, says Jed Best, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist and assistant clinical professor of pediatric dentistry at Columbia University School of Dentistry in New York City. Continue to assist your child with brushing as long as he needs it, Dr. Best advises.
''A good rule of thumb is that if your child is dexterous enough to tie his own shoes, he can probably brush his own teeth,'' says Dr. Best. ''Until then, you can let your child do the best he can, then go over any spots he's missed.''
Let your child choose the toothbrush. When your child is old enough to do the brushing, she's more likely to enjoy it if she has a toothbrush she likes--one festooned with cartoon characters, for example. ''As long as the toothbrush is appropriate for a child--with a small head and soft, roundtipped, nylon bristles--your child can select it on her own,'' says Dr. Matranga.
Find fluoridated toothpaste. After your child has six or seven teeth, it's time for her to start using toothpaste. ''Choose one that is fluoridated, but not tartar control,'' advises Cynthia Fong, a registered dental hygienist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of General and Hospital Dentistry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/New Jersey Dental School in Newark. Some tartar-control products can be abrasive, she explains, and tartar buildup isn't a common problem in children. Also, make sure your child knows which tube of toothpaste is exclusively hers. She'll feel more important knowing that toothpaste is hers alone.
Brush twice a day. Many people--children and adults alike--do only a perfunctory job of brushing. It takes time to remove plaque and debris from teeth, and once a day isn't enough. '' Your child should brush his teeth for two to three minutes at least twice a day,'' says Dr. Best. One brushing should be just before bed, so food particles or plaque don't remain on your child's teeth overnight.
| Avoiding Dental Phobia You probably know what dental phobia is--that horrible gut-churning feeling that makes you want to bolt for the car the minute you step into the dentist's office, even if you're just there for a routine checkup. If you don't want your child to develop this irrational fear of the dentist, you need to start early. First, don't let your child sense that you expect him to be afraid of the dentist or that you're uncomfortable there. Kids are experts at picking up your feelings. ''Don't make a big deal out of going to the dentist,'' says Philip Weinstein, Ph.D., professor at the School of Dentistry and in the psychology department at the University of Washington in Seattle. ''Keep it as matter-of-fact as going to the supermarket.'' Also make sure you get your child to the dentist before any dental problems arise, says Dr. Weinstein. This way, that first visit can be a new and exciting experience, rather than a frightening and possibly painful one. The first visit should be sometime between the first and second birthday. Many dentists specialize in treating children, and a pediatric dentist might be much more experienced in this area than your own dentist. A thoughtful dentist will explain to your child what he's doing and why and give her some measure of control over the procedure. ''He will suggest that the child raise her hand, for example, if something is bothering her during treatment,'' says Dr. Weinstein. ''He might give her a mirror to watch and ask her to 'help.' '' |
Introduce flossing early. A s soon as your toddler has two back teeth that touch, it's time to start daily flossing. But you'll be in charge of this task for quite a while--likely until your child is seven or eight, says Dr. Best. ''This takes even more manual dexterity than brushing,'' he explains.
Sit to floss. The easiest way to floss your child's teeth is to sit behind her while she's standing or kneeling, with her head in your lap. ''Now she's in a position similar to that in a dentist's chair,'' says Fong. This will let you reach your child's teeth more easily and see what you're doing.
Floss in front of the TV. Flossing doesn't have to be done in the bathroom. If your child gets impatient while you're flossing his teeth, change locations. ''Most kids will balk less about flossing if you can get him to a place he likes,'' says Dr. Matranga. ''So park yourself in front of the television, place your child's head in your lap and do the flossing there.''
Try a mechanical toothbrush or an irrigator. The buzz of a special mechanical appliance can make daily tooth care more appealing to some children--and can cut the time required as well. ''Electric or battery-operated toothbrushes do an excellent job of cleaning the teeth, in about half the time of manual brushing,'' says Dr. Matranga. Oral irrigators that shoot a stream of water onto the teeth help get food particles out from between teeth. But parents shouldn't assume that oral irrigation is a substitute for brushing and flossing, he says.
| Test the Teeth-Cleaning Routine Okay, you've bought a fluoride toothpaste and a brightly colored toothbrush for your child, you've showed him how to brush and floss and you check the toothbrush every night to be sure it's wet. Your job is done, right? Wrong. Your child could be conscientiously brushing and flossing daily and still not be getting his teeth clean. To check, use special disclosing tablets you can get from your dentist, says John Brown, D.D.S., a dentist in private practice in Claremont, California, and past president of the Academy of General Dentistry. Have your child chew the tablet after he brushes. If the brushing job hasn't been adequate and some plaque remains, those spots will be stained red temporarily. And you'll know that you (or your child) need to brush his teeth more thoroughly. You should also control how much toothpaste your child squeezes out onto the toothbrush, says Cynthia Fong, a registered dental hygienist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of General and Hospital Dentistry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/New Jersey Dental School in Newark. A pea-size amount is just right, she says. ''If you use too little toothpaste, your child doesn't get its full anti-cavity value, and if you use too much, your child will wind up swallowing a good deal of the toothpaste,'' warns Fong. She also suggests that you keep toothpaste out of the reach of children who might be tempted to eat it. Although it doesn't happen often, getting too much fluoride by swallowing or eating toothpaste can cause tooth mottling. |
Preventing Tooth Decay
Eat less often. There's a reason many dentists recommend limiting between-meal snacks. Whenever your child eats, the teeth are bathed in food particles and sugars that can cause decay. ''The more often food comes in contact with teeth, the more chance there is for decay,'' explains Dr. Matranga. If your child brushes after each snack, the damage is limited.
Pick snack foods carefully. Some snacks are worse for teeth than others, notes Dr. Kuttler. Dentists say the best choices are cheese, air-popped popcorn and raw vegetables. Fresh fruit is also acceptable, according to sugar content,'' Dr. Kuttler says, and juice can also be harmful. This doesn't mean you have to deny your child these foods or drinks, but your child should only eat or drink them when he can brush afterward, advises Dr. Kuttler. Grasp at straws. If your child does drink soda or juice, she can minimize the potential tooth damage by drinking from a straw. The straw directs the beverage past the teeth, so they aren't ''bathed'' in sugars. ''A straw limits the time the drink is in contact with the teeth,'' says Dr. Kuttler. ''So less damage is done.''
Rinse with water. After your child has had a snack or a meal, have him swish plain water in his mouth. ''This removes some of the loose food particles and sugar,'' says Fong. Brushing is better, notes Fong, but when a toothbrush isn't available, swishing is better than nothing.
Supply sugarless gum. Gum is another option: Chewing on sugarless gum for about 20 minutes can help clean teeth, says John Brown, D.D.S., a dentist in private practice in Claremont, California, and past president of the Academy of General Dentistry. ''Chewing gum stimulates saliva flow, and saliva helps clear debris and plaque-forming substances from the teeth,'' explains Dr. Brown.
Set a good example. If your child sees you brushing and flossing your teeth and choosing snacks that are healthy for your teeth, it's more likely that she will do the same. ''Good tooth care is a learned behavior,'' says Dr. Kuttler. ''If parents put a high value on their own dental health, their children are much more likely to want to do the same.''
