Pediatric Dental Hygiene Tips

Here are some of the tips that I remember from Dr. Hishaw, the pediatric dentist who spoke to our group on 10/26/09.

1. Try to get your child(ren) off the bottle by 12 months and onto a sippy cup. A sippy cup with a soft silicone cap is okay.
2. Try to get your child(ren) out of the habit of taking a bottle/sippy cup to bed, unless it’s water.
3. Limit juice to 4-5 oz a day and give them during meal times, not as a snack. Straws are also good because the juice will bypass the teeth.
4. Swab your child’s mouths after each bottle or breastfeeding session with a cloth or spiffy dental wipe (I have samples for those who didn’t get one)
5. Take your child to the dentist by 12 months of age.
6. A dentist can help detect other problems that a child my have. Some medical conditions manifest themselves in the mouth.
7. When brushing the teeth, make sure to get the tongue and roof of the mouth as well. You want to reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. The more you can reduce the bacteria in the mouth when your child is young the less likely they will have large bacteria counts when they are adults.
8. Saliva is good for the mouth. It reduces the ph levels. So if your child is a mouth breather rather than a nose breather, it may be an indication that they could have more teeth issues and you should be extra vigilant with oral hygiene.
9. If your child doesn’t have large gaps between their teeth, especially between the molars, then you definitely need to be flossing. There are “fun flossers” you can buy at Walmart or Target which you can use.
10. If your child doesn’t have large gaps between their teeth, then it’s probably a good indication that they will need braces when they are older.
11. Tucson water is not fluoridated so you should discuss with your child’s dentist whether or not you need to supplement with fluoride tablets, or nursery water.
12. Around age 2.5 you can start to introduce fluoride toothpaste. But just put a little smear on the toothbrush, not a pea sized amount.
13. Change toothbrushes 4 times a year. If you see any kind of fraying then change it out because it can damage the gums.
14. Gummy vitamins are not good for the teeth. Consider changing to a different type that dissolves in the mouth (like Flintstones). And, it stands to reason that other sticky foods are not good either, like all gummy candy, dried fruit, etc.
15. Dr. Hishaw just opened a new office in Rita Ranch. This office will take a larger number of dental plans than her practice near the church. I was so impressed by her and her presentation that I’m going to make the hour drive to send Jordan there twice a year.