From Birth to the Tweens: Good Dental Health Means Good Overall Health.
From a completely dependent newborn to a ferociously independent teenager, our roles as parents change drastically as our children grow. And as a result, we are constantly looking for ways to learn and evolve to keep our families healthy. As a dentist I am always discussing the importance of oral health, but did you know there's a well-established link between dental health and overall health? Yes it's true - ailments such as diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, and even premature and low birth-weight babies have all been linked to poor oral health. So looking after your teeth does more than just give you a nice smile, it helps to achieve optimal health.
As a mom with three children, I thought it would be helpful to focus on a few core issues at each stage of your child's dental development and how you can positively affect your children's health.
So here's the low down...
The Infant Years: clean your baby's gums and teeth with a wet wash cloth, infant toothbrush or baby tooth wipes after every meal or feeding. If you have difficulty finding these items, ask your dentist for some guidance. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice and reserve Sippy cups for water only to reduce the risk of cavities.
The optimal time to take your child for their initial screening is before one year of age. It's a perfect opportunity to check for cavities and determine the overall oral development. The screening we provide at Dental Works on Cornwall is about 15 minutes long and it gives us the opportunity to inform you about your child's dental health. We can let you know about any issues we find.
From 2-10: I understand the apprehension that parents sometimes feel when the topic of fluoride comes up. Many are concerned because of the media attention that water fluoridation has received recently. However, many dentists largely credit the use of fluoride treatments and fluoridated water with the drastic decline in tooth decay. Fluoride is naturally occurring and is found in well water in many communities. Once fluoride enters your mouth, it gets diluted in saliva. It then binds to the bacterial plaque stuck on your teeth and helps to protect your teeth by inhibiting bacterial growth and deterring tooth decay. However, if as a family you decide to eliminate fluoride from your drinking water, you need to be extra vigilant in the care of your children's teeth due to the increased risk of decay. Brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, flossing daily and avoiding sugary foods becomes essential to prevent decay, and sometimes, despite taking all these measures, cavities may still develop. As parents, we should start using a slight smear of fluoridated toothpaste at around age 2 and by 10 our children should be using a pea sized amount. No one needs a toothbrush overflowing with toothpaste, not even adults!
Tweens and Beyond: Make sure your son/daughter is using a mouth guard for any sport where there's a risk of dental trauma. By this time, most of the adult teeth are in and any developing bite problems can be identified. An orthodontic screening should be part of every dental check-up, but ask if you're concerned about the alignment of your child's teeth. Many children become more independent at this age which means you can't always know what they're eating, and you definitely can't make them brush and floss. Try an electric toothbrush and a fluoride mouth rinse and you will better your odds at preventing cavities.
Did you know that prevention is the most effective way to minimize extensive dental treatment for us all? As much as I love seeing my clients, making small changes TODAY can help keep your child's dental appointments to a minimum.
Have questions? Join us on Thursday, April 12th from 11am - 12pm for our monthly Kid's Corner. This month we will be focusing on: How to properly clean your child's teeth. Ask Dr. Piracha any questions you may have. She will also offer a COMPLIMENTARY oral screening for your child and provide one-on-one information on proper oral hygiene, discuss your child's dental health and advise you of any issues she may have found. We'll have coffee brewing for the parents while we chat and there will be healthy snacks, a colouring station as well as stickers for any older siblings that may come along.
Please email to register as space is limited. We hope to see you there!
Save Dr. Rafia Piracha is principle dentist at Dental Works on Cornwall. She has had the pleasure of providing dental care to local families for the past 13 years. Dr. Piracha has a particular interest in establishing a positive dental home for children and supporting parents through the sharing of information and an open dialogue.
Address:
Dental Works on Cornwall
1495 Cornwall Road, Unit 34
Oakville, ON L6J 0B2
Contact us today:
905-842-5051, info@dentalworksoakville.com
Web site: http://www.dentalworksoakville.com/
