Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids, Healthy Teeth!

There are a few basic things we as parents should teach our children about oral health.  Brush and floss your teeth after meals.  Avoid sugary foods. Don’t put things in your mouth or try to open things with your teeth.  Go to the dentist for regular check ups.  So if we all know these basic facts, why are childhood cavities the number 1 chronic childhood disease? Let’s examine these “basic rules” a bit further.

 Brush and floss your teeth after meals. Many parents do not realize this applies to infants as well.  Wipe your babies mouth with a wet cloth after feedings.  This will clean harmful bacteria and also introduce a habit of "brushing". As your child grows, encourage your little one to brush for 2 minutes.  Buy a minute timer or an hour glass to make brushing for 2 minutes fun, or lead by example by brushing for with your kids. 

          
How to Lead By Example: Carry "to go" brushes and floss in your diaper bag and use after meals.  Give tooth brushes as presents in Christmas stockings, Easter baskets and other special occasions.  

Avoid sugary foods. This includes fruit juices, especially in sippy cups. Encourage toddlers to drink water as much as possible and save milk and juice for meal times.  Follow this simple rule: If you wouldn’t want to find it in the back of your car in 6 days, don’t put it in the sippy cup. 
     
 How to Lead By Example:  Show your children that water is important by making it your #1 liquid of choice.  Ask for it when you're playing restaurant.  Buy special cups and call them "water bottles" instead of sippy cups. Make it clear that only water goes in them.

Chewing is for food, not for nails, pencils or opening things. Also, make a goal to wean pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups after age 1.  Transition to cups with spouts or straws to avoid spills and begin to teach young children how to drink out of open cups shortly after the first birthday. Thumb sucking is controversial, but absolutely no thumb sucking after your child looses her baby teeth.

How to Lead By Example: NEVER use your teeth to open something and if you do, loudly exclaim, “Oh my, that was such a bad example!”  Be strong when it comes to weaning your child from the pacifier or sucking his thumb.  Give your toddler an open cup full of water to help him practice until he can drink without spills.

Regular Check ups, starting no later than 6 months after the first tooth or by baby's first birthday. Use the dentist as a resource. She can answer questions like: How do I brush my fussy toddler’s teeth? How can I wean my child from the pacifier? How bad is thumb sucking, really?

How to Lead By Example: Make going to the dentist fun! Children usually leave a dentist office with at least a sticker, and many offices have flat screen tv’s on the ceiling.  Be sure to make yourself an appointment so your child can see how going to the dentist is a positive part of adult life.  If you dislike going to your dentist, ask around until you find a practice that is the right fit for your family. 

Keep these 4 simple lessons in mind. And as always, remember how you can lead by example.  Your children are watching, and copying, your every move!