LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
We've all heard the old joke: "How do you know that the toothbrush was invented in (insert your least favorite state here)? Because otherwise, it would be called a teethbrush!" The aim of this "dental" humor is often to poke fun at certain geographical areas, suggesting people from these areas only have a tooth because they don't know how to brush their teeth.
Thankfully, no one has to accept this outcome. We all have the opportunity to keep our teeth but it requires education and practice at performing good oral hygiene. The knowledge and experience necessary to maintain proper oral health should begin as a child and places a great responsibility on the parents. So let's take a look at some good habits to teach our kids.
Cavity Bugs
Believe it or not, cavities and gum disease are the result of a bacterial infection. Researchers have found these "bugs" are acquired early on in life from mothers during breast feeding and by sharing food with other family members. Some bacteria are good and do not harm the teeth while others have been identified in the formation of cavities and periodontal disease. It is important to remove the food debris and sugar from the teeth because they are food for these "bugs." So learning and practicing good tooth brushing techniques are paramount in the prevention of tooth decay or dental cavity formation.
Baby teeth matter
The twenty little white things in your kid's mouth aren't just a trial run for the real teeth that emerge in elementary school. Children's primary teeth are essential for the development of speech, chewing, and social acceptance. Dental infections of the baby teeth can lead to the need for dental treatment and have the potential to affect the development of permanent teeth. In addition, premature loss of a baby tooth can lead to crowding and shifting in later years. The bottom line is: children's teeth are not expendable.
Dental care should start early ... very early
Today, the ADA recommends that parents bring a child to their first "well baby" dental checkup when the first tooth erupts and no later than the first birthday. In most cases, this first visit will entail education for the parents, a quick peek in the mouth to screen for developing problems, and a gentle introduction for the child to the sights and sounds of the dental office.
Homework
As soon as that first tooth pops in, it's time to make oral hygiene part of the daily routine. Before age 2, gentle brushing with a miniature soft-bristled brush (usually available in the pharmacy's baby aisle) and water does the trick. After 2, when the child has the ability to spit, put a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush but ensure the child does not swallow the toothpaste. Once your child's adjacent teeth start to touch it's time to clean between them, either with floss or an inter-dental cleaner (available in the grown-up aisle). Parents should take the helm for oral hygiene until the child is roughly 5, and supervise for a while thereafter for quality control.
The key to having a healthy smile for a lifetime is development of good oral hygiene habits at an early age. So look for opportunities to help children learn how to take care of their teeth so we can keep those kids smiling throughout life!