The Secret of Getting Your Kids to Brush their Teeth

In our home some mornings are a juggle trying to get out of the house! Between getting ready for work, feeding and dressing two active toddlers for school - who has time to brush their teeth? Now that they are old enough to run when they see me coming with the tooth brush my husband and I realized it was time to create a better system to keep their teeth clean and cavity free…and us sane!

Start Early: Begin brushing before teeth grown in

Even before the new teeth start to pop in the mouth parents can get babies used to getting their mouths brushed. A moist cloth or a soft finger toothbrush can be used to clean a baby’s gums or tongue after every feeding. No toothpaste is needed at this stage. Once the teeth start to grow in you can transition to a toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste.

Toothbrushes come is many shapes and sizes, look for toothbrushes with small heads that are soft bristled.

Pick the right sized toothbrush, one size does not fit all.

If you walk by the dental aisle at your local supermarket you may become overwhelmed by the large selection of toothbrushes. Hard, medium or soft bristles? Electric or manual toothbrushes? The key to selecting a toothbrush for a toddler or child depends on the age. It’s better to select a toothbrush (whether electric or manual) with a smallhead, this make brushing more comfortable for your little one. As your child grows, the size of the toothbrush head can also grow. Bristles should be soft (or ultra-soft) so as to not damage a child’s delicate gums.  Kids often will struggle with tooth brushing if they do not like the taste of the tooth paste, so try different fluoride toothpaste until you find the right one! Once kids are older a pea size amount (not a ribbon!) of tooth paste should be used and wipe out the excess toothpaste with a towel or cloth.

Make it fun: Sing a song while brushing

Sesame Street’s Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me has many songs such as Elmo's Brushy Brush sone to make brushing fun. 

         

When kids are 2 to 3 years old they may start to exert their independence by wanting to dress or brush their own teeth or even refuse to brush at all.  Don’t let brushing become a power struggle! Turn things around by turning brushing into a game by singing a song or reciting the ABC’s  Have older kids listen to a song while they brush for the recommended 2 minutes twice a day.

Brush their teeth for them until age 7 to 8 years

   

Parents should brush their children’s teeth until they are 7 to 8 years for 2 minutes a

   day in the morning and at bedtime.

Did you know that children don’t have the manual dexterity to brush their teeth

    effectively until they are 7 to 8 years of age? 

    Parents should allow their kids to practice brushing their teeth so they learn. But they

    need to follow up by brushing before or after.

Model good behavior: brush and floss as a family

A parent is a child’s first teacher and one of the most influential. The behaviors we instill in our kids through childhood routines carry over into adulthood. When a parent shows their kids that they take care of their own teeth by daily brushing and flossing they are more likely to have a positive influence on their child’s future oral health.

The key to successfully implementing any new routine is consistency. Once your kids realize they are not getting out of it you will avoid a lot of the tears and arguments over brushing. And hopefully avoid the cavities too!!!

All About Fluoride From Pediatric Dental Specialists

Scientific research in the United States on Fluoride has been ongoing for over 60 years.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in well water, streams and lakes to one extent or another.

In the early 50’s, fluoride was found to be beneficial for developing permanent teeth in children. Children in communities that had higher amounts (around 1 part per million [1ppm] of water) showed lower or no cavities, whereas, children in communities with very little fluoride in the water had a higher incidence of tooth decay. Fluoride has been closely studied since then.

The proper (optimal-1PPM) amount of fluoride is deemed to be beneficial and amounts over 1.4 may cause an enamel condition called mild Fluorosis.

Some areas of the country such as Colorado and Texas have higher concentration of naturally occurring fluoride and children may get the “chalky” white spots or even some brown staining. There is a different condition that looks the same as Fluorosis but is Enamel Hypoplasia (Incomplete development of enamel).

Fluoride may be given systemically (supplements or drinking water with fluoride) or topically, such as at dental visits or toothpaste with fluoride.

Supplementation is provided by prescription by a physician or dentist after an assessment of how much fluoride may already be ingested, is completed.

In our practice, supplementation by fluoride tabs is generally discontinued after age 8. Of course the need for supplementation, its use and disuse is prescribed by the treating dentist on a case-by-case basis.

In 2007, the Metropolitan Water Company has fluoridated the drinking water so that clients from Los Angeles south to San Diego benefit form the use of fluoridated drinking water (Tap).



Frequently asked questions about fluoride:
1. Is fluoride good for my teeth, or bad for my teeth?

The proper amount of fluoride has been found to be beneficial for developing permanent teeth (in children).

2. When I was younger my dentist told me to use fluoride, do I still need to use it as a teen? As an adult?

No harmful effects will occur if we drink fluoridated water as a teen or as an adult.

3. How much fluoride should I be using each day?

The optimal amount of fluoride is 1part per million of water with 10-15 oz of water ingestion per day for children 5 and under and approximately 20-30 oz. for children 5-10 years old.

4. Many toothpaste says that fluoride is an ingredient, is this enough or do I still need a rinse in addition to brushing and flossing?

It is recommended that starting at age 2, a fluoridated toothpaste (a smear or pea-size amount) be placed by the supervising adult be used twice daily for oral hygiene. Unless prescribed by a dental professional, No other over-the-counter (OTC) fluoride rinse needs to be done.

5. Are there any at-home remedies (such as baking soda and peroxide) that I can use instead of fluoride?

There is no substitute for fluoride. The use of baking soda or peroxide is generally not recommended for children unless recommended by the treating dentist.

6. I’ve heard that fluoride can actually stain teeth or leave behind spots. Is this true? How can I avoid staining my teeth but still keep them healthy? If my teeth become stained or spotted, how can I fix this?

Fluoride will not spot teeth nor produce brown spots unless it is ingested in excessive amounts for a prolonged period of time and only on developing teeth. Staining of teeth may be caused by different factors. See the dentist for a diagnosis and treatment.

7. Should I drink water with fluoride or without? How much fluoride should there be in the water I drink? How can I tell if there is enough fluoride in my water?

If no supplementation has been prescribed by the pediatrician or dentist, drinking fluoridated water is recommended for children. No harmful effects have been noted for adults who drink fluoridated water.

8. Do you recommend fluoride for all your patients? Should certain people avoid using fluoride?

Ingestion of fluoride is recommended for the proper development of permanent teeth and topical (on surfaces of erupted teeth) fluoride for children and adult patients who may be susceptible to tooth decay or who have sensitivity of the roots of teeth. There is no known allergy to fluoride and it will not be harmful for people who ingest the recommended amount of it.

9. Is it best to use over-the-counter fluoride or to have a prescription? If I use over-the-counter fluoride, what brand do you recommend?

Fluoride is prescribed by a physician or dentist and is not sold over the counter in therapeutic dosages. There are over the counter products, such as many toothpastes that have fluoride in them but will always be at lower levels than the prescribed fluoride. For children over 2 years old, a fluoridated toothpaste under supervision of a responsible caretaker may be given. Only a “smear” or “pea-size” amount should be placed on the toothbrush.