As a parent, it's up to you to keep your child's attitude to good oral hygiene positive and to make sure that their teeth are as healthy as possible. As they get older though, kids have to learn to take charge of their own dental care. By the time they start walking, they can start learning the ABCs of brushing. If they learn while they are still impressionable, that brushing and flossing is fun, they are sure to develop good dental habits for a lifetime.



Choosing the right toothpaste is a good place to start. Children can be very sensitive to strong flavours, so it is a good idea to choose a mild-tasting toothpaste. Try some of that kid-friendly, kaleidoscope coloured pastes - some are even flecked with sparkles! A great idea would be to allow your child to pick out his/her own toothpaste when you go shopping. Use only a pea-shaped amount and make sure your little ones don't eat the whole tube. Remember that fluoridated pastes should be kept where kids can't get at them without your help.



Next, take your child shopping for a fancy kid-sized brush and let him or her pick one out. At home, set up a little stool so your child can look in the mirror "eye to eye" and reach the faucet without stretching.



Brushing takes time to learn so go easy! Good brushing takes at least three minutes, which may test a child's attention span, so work up to three minutes gradually. Try brushing along with the kids and make it a game. A nursery rhyme can also help. Here's one to try out:



- Up like a rocket

- Down like rain

- Back and forth like a choo choo train



By the time they're six or seven, children are old enough to brush twice a day on their own. If you've made it a high point in the day, they'll do it with pleasure!

Your child's first visit to our office should be scheduled between the ages of two and three. We can get to know each other, and make sure their dental development and oral health is on the right track. We will make sure that their first visit is a fun experience, with a ride in the "magic chair", kids movies playing in the room, video games in the reception, and a special prize at the end.



When you bring your child in, there are some things you should make sure to do and others to avoid. Below are some Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind.



The Do's


-Let us know about your child's special needs or medical problems before your appointment.

-Take your child along on a sibling or friend's appointment so they get comfortable with the dentist and the office.

-Play dentist for fun. Count your child's teeth as you shine a light on them and then let them check out yours.

-Read your child a book about going to the dentist for the first time. We can suggest one.

-Answer questions, but not in too much detail. Say we are going to look at your child's teeth and take some pictures with a special camera.

-Get an early start to avoid rushing and do act calm, cool and collected. Otherwise your child will suspect something is wrong.



The Don'ts


-Use bribery or threats and don't make the visit a very big deal. They'll know something is up.

-Use scary words like hurt, shot, pull or drill. We have a special comforting vocabulary for explaining dentistry to children.

-Expect perfect behaviour. If your child is afraid or shy, that's okay. If your child throws a tantrum, there's always another day.

-Make the dentist out to be a bad guy. It'll just guarantee more trouble at the next appointment.

A dental sealant is a thin plastic material used to protect the chewing surfaces of the teeth. It is generally applied to decay-prone surfaces of the teeth - usually the back molars and pre-molars of children. Sealants come in liquid form that quickly hardens to form a shield over these chewing surfaces.



Why Get Sealants?

Since the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are typically rough and uneven with small pits and grooves, this becomes the ideal place for cavities to start. Food and germs can get stuck in these uneven areas and stay there a long time because toothbrush bristles cannot always brush them away. Germs in the mouth change the sugar in food to acid which can start a cavity in the tooth. Sealants keep out the germs and food from these areas that cause tooth decay.




When Should Sealants Be Placed?

Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in - before decay has a chance to attack the teeth. Sealants also protect worn and sensitive surfaces on adult teeth since adults can still get decay.




How Are Sealants Put On?

First, the tooth is cleaned & dried thoroughly so the surface is easier for the sealant to bond to. The tooth is rinsed and dried once more and the sealant is then applied in liquid form and hardens in a few seconds with a special dental light. Freezing and drilling are not required.




Besides Sealants, Are There Other Ways To Prevent Tooth Decay?

Yes! The best way you can help prevent tooth decay is to brush with fluoride toothpaste, drink fluoridated water, and floss regularly. Sealants and fluoride used together provide the best defence against tooth decay.

Fluoride absorbs into the enamel of the teeth making them more resistant to acid producing bacteria.



It is available in various flavours and can be applied to the teeth either with a fluoride tray that gently rests in the mouth for 4 minutes or the hygienist can apply fluoride by painting it on the teeth, or through a fluoride rinse.



Even though scientific consensus has never linked water fluoridation to negative health effects, there's some concern that we could be getting too much fluoride. Like many other natural substances such as vitamins, salt and iron, very high concentrations of fluoride can be harmful. Too much fluoride, especially for children, can cause fluorosis, a harmless white mottling or flecking on teeth. Although fluorosis is not a health concern, it's probably a sign of ingesting too much fluoride. The most common reason is toothpaste swallowing. That's why it's important to monitor the amount of toothpaste young children use - a pea-sized squirt is all they need. Children under the age of three should not be using toothpaste that contains fluoride.



The amount of fluoride added to your city or town water supply is carefully monitored; it's much lower than the level of fluoride that naturally occurs in some drinking water. It's important to remember that more than 300 million people in more than forty countries have enjoyed the health benefits of fluoride for decades.



Ensuring your child uses fluoride toothpastes and receives fluoride treatments will help develop and maintain healthy teeth and bones.

Studies show that one in four people will suffer a mouth injury during their lifetime. Although contact sports like hockey and boxing account for many of these injuries, an alarmingly high percentage of them occur during non-contact sports like bike riding, soccer, volleyball and basketball.



Athletes who wear mouthguards have 60 percent fewer injuries to their teeth. They can even reduce the risk of concussion or neck injury. So, if your child is involved in sports, it is recommended that he/she wear a protective mouth guard to prevent traumatic injuries to the teeth. Athletic mouth guards are custom fitted and easily fabricated at the dental office. Talk to your dentist before involving your child in a sports activity that could increase the risk of injury.



A mouthguard should be custom fit so that it's comfortable and will not interfere with breathing or talking. They work by spreading the hard impact of a sharp bump or collision over the entire mouth and jaw. Upper and lower teeth are prevented from banging into each other and will ensure teeth don't plow into sensitive gums or lips. Beware of commercial mouthguards. They are less effective and can interfere with speech and breathing.

When a bottle containing a sugar-sweetened liquid like apple juice is given to a baby at bedtime, the result is one of the worst things we see - a young child with black, rotted teeth.



Decay starts when harmful bacteria on teeth makes acid from the sugar in our food and drink. This acid destroys the hard surfaces on teeth, causing cavities. Each time your child drinks a liquid containing sugar, acid attacks the teeth for at least twenty minutes before saliva finally washes it out. But during sleep, the sugar in a baby bottle has a lot more time to attack the enamel of the child's teeth and cause irreversible damage.



The first sign of the problem is when you notice that the upper baby teeth appear discoloured or pitted. This decay can cause your child severe pain and make the first visit to our office an uncomfortable one. Make sure you avoid such risks by giving your baby a water bottle at bedtime as opposed to a sugary liquid. It will make your baby's tomorrows a lot brighter.

Bringing your children in for regular dental checkups may be your primary defense against ongoing speech impediments. As vocal patterns develop, early childhood speech problems can emerge rapidly and as oral care providers, we are often the first health care professionals to hear about a speech problem.



The most common speech impediment is lisping and is relatively simple to correct. This inability to produce the S, Z, SH and J sounds can be caused by the tongue, rather than the front teeth, cutting off an S sound. Prolonged thumb-sucking or finger sucking can create an open bite resulting in a lisp. Long-term thumb-sucking might also leave large gaps between teeth and can be the basis for the condition called tongue thrusting. This is actually reverse swallowing and will eventually lead to improper tooth alignment, possibly affecting speech. Lisping can also be the result of a narrow palate which does not allow enough room for the tongue to pronounce some sounds.



Cleft palate, a condition present at birth, also dramatically affects a child's speech and usually requires oral surgery. In some cases we may provide a plastic plate to cover the opening in the roof of the mouth, allowing the patient to develop normal speech patterns.



Keep your ears open to your child's speech patterns early on and see us as soon as possible if you have any concerns.

Toothache

The pain of a toothache can be sharp and piercing, or more generalized and throbbing. This pain usually occurs due to tooth decay. If your child develops a toothache, you should know that the pain will likely become worse instead of better.


TIP : For temporary relief, hold a warm cloth against your child's cheek. If the area around the tooth is swollen, you can also use a cool compress intermittently.



Chipped or Broken Tooth

The best way to manage tooth fractures is to prevent them. For sports, or active play, your child should wear a professionally fitted mouthguard for protection.


TIP : If a tooth does get chipped or broken, use warm water and try to rinse out as much dirt as possible.



Knocked Out Tooth

It is essential that treatment is sought immediately to ensure the best chance of saving a permanent tooth.


TIP : First, remain calm and have your child bite on some gauze or a clean cloth to stop any bleeding. Gently rinse the tooth then remove the gauze and try to place the tooth back in place. Hold it there while you rush your child to us. If that's not possible, put the tooth in a container of milk, and bring it and your child immediately to our office.




In all dental emergencies it is crucial that your child gets to our office as quickly as possible. We can evaluate the extent of the injury, and make necessary repairs quickly and safely.