NEW MOMS

I am back it has been quite busy lately but I have been meaning to post so here it is...

A good way to instill good oral hygiene habits in your children is to start early. Even as early as infancy. It is also a good idea to clean your child's gums after you feed him/her/them (Octomom). This not only feels good to the child, but it will stimulate their gums, remove food/plaque/ debris, and get them used to you brushing there teeth. Stores now have little gauze like pads that slip right over your finger for this very purpose, but you don't need to waste your money on that (you 'll spend plenty of it on diapers...) instead take a soft wash cloth, soak it in water and gently massage the gums.

When your child's teeth begin to erupt go ahead and brush them with a small, soft toothbrush and a dab a children's toothpaste(a pea size amount).

Around ages 2-3 yrs old they will likely want to brush their teeth, go ahead and teach them but always get in there yourself after they brush to make sure they didn't miss any teeth. Children don't often have the dexterity to brush on their own until about age 8 , so this is really important to do.(some adults lack the dexterity too )

TIP: A great way to check if they are getting all the plaque off is to get a rubber tip stimulator. You can sweep this along the margin of the gum line and across the tooth surface; if white stuff (plaque) comes off it is a pretty safe bet you need to brush their teeth after they do because they are not getting it all off . OR you can wait till they become cavities :(

What is a rubber tip stimulator?

Well they actually used to put this on the other end of our toothbrush when we were younger but they have seemed to disappear. For some odd reason these are very hard to find but still very practical. Most dental office still hand them out for free but you can also get them online if you can't find them in stores.

All I Want For Easter is My Two Front Teeth...

OK, so I know it is "All I want for CHRISTMAS...." but it is closer to Easter so I substituted. :)
Anyways, today we are learning about eruption patterns... for those MOMS and DADS who have little ones at home. A common concern or question parents have is about when to expect their kids first teeth and when do they start to fall out. So I have pasted eruption patterns of first, the "baby teeth" aka milk teeth,primary teeth, deciduous teeth, then the permanent teeth eruption pattern . This shows teeth when they start to erupt but keep in mind every child is different and sometimes may get theirs early or later than others. If you have a concern, ask your dental professional. Sometimes you may want to have a space maintainer placed to allow room for the incoming permanent tooth to come in that may prevent braces in the future or less time in braces. Also when it comes to wisdom teeth, its a crap shoot. Some people get them, some people don't, and some may only have one or two or three wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the wild card of teeth. They come in all different sizes from tiny to large and some people may have room enough for them to grow in but most don't. (to be frank, it is much easier to keep clean and prevent any further decay, if you have them taken out ...if that is the option. I mean, think about it, isn't it hard enough to floss those second molars. Can you imagine a third set and trying to get that toothbrush head back there, gee whiz!)
Children will have 20 teeth usually by age twelve if not sooner. Don't freak out if there is spacing this is good, it allows room for the permanent teeth to come in. (baby teeth act like a guide,kindof, to the permanent teeth so if their close together it is a good indicator the permanent teeth might be crowded and need braces in the future.)
Adults- if all four wisdom teeth are present you will have 32!yikes, that's alot of teeth (not including exceptions)
Exceptions to the rule...Some people may have congenitally missing teeth or the opposite; they may even have extra teeth.

Tip: Always speak well about the dentist to your child(well, in general is not a bad idea either:). Don't use fear to instill good brushing habits, such as" Do you want the dentist to pull your teeth out? You better brush your teeth, then." Although, your intentions may be good this instills fear of the dentist and will make it harder for the child to trust the dentist when in the chair,or to even get them there. INSTEAD, bring them to your cleaning appointment and let them watch as the hygienist or dentist cleans their teeth. They will usually explain it to your child so they can understand. Set up their first visit around two or three years of age if not sooner. The first visit will be a ride in the chair and "counting teeth" (exam) and a polish if possible, to help them get comfortable and excited to visit the dentist. Most dental offices have a treasure box for them to choose a toy after they are all done.

Movies to avoid prior weeks coming up to your dental visit : Finding Nemo, Little Shop of Horrors ... If you have any more please feel free to comment ...


Stay tuned for more helpful parenting dental tips...

Below is a fun link for your kids to learn and play about teeth
http://www.adha.org/kidstuff/links.htm