Preparing Children for Oral Check-ups

With a little preparation, getting children ready for their first visit to an oral health care provider need not be an apprehensive experience, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association.
There are a number of specific actions parents can take to help a child enjoy a first visit to the dental hygienist and dentist.

First of all, talk about the appointment in a positive way. This starts at home with parents setting a good example by brushing and flossing together with their children every day. Parents who may have had negative oral health care experiences should not communicate those feelings or any anxiety to children, as that would make them fearful.

Using a toothbrush, parents can demonstrate to a child how teeth might be cleaned by a dental hygienist. They can also explain that there will be some noise involved and that the oral health care providers will be wearing masks and gloves to protect themselves and the child from germs. In addition, dental hygienists recommend that parents let their children watch them get their own teeth cleaned. The children will realize that it doesn't hurt their parents, and it will not hurt them.

ADHA says that most children should visit an oral health care provider for the first time at about age one and reminds parents that oral hygiene at home for children should begin at birth. This ritual should include thorough cleaning of the child's mouth and gums with either a gauze pad or infant washcloth after each feeding and before bedtime.

Once the baby's primary teeth appear, parents can use a small, soft-bristled infant toothbrush dampened with water to clean them gently. Later, by the age of two or three, parents can teach their children how to brush with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush. Parents should continue to help their children care for their teeth until age seven or eight, when they have developed enough manual dexterity to brush and floss alone.

By helping children learn oral hygiene early, parents can help to prevent cavities and other oral helath problems.





Discover the power of healthy smile at the National Museum of Dentistry!


Discover fascinating hands-on exhibitions, sing along to vintage toothpaste commercials, and celebrate the heritage and future of oral health care at the National Museum of Dentistry's historic location near Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The Museum is renowned for its collection of dental treasures from the legendary to the whimsical, from George Washington's not-so-wooden teeth to cartoon character toothbrushes featuring Fred Flintstone and Mickey Mouse. Learn how to keep your smile sparkling in the interactive MouthPower laboratory for kids, discover the wonders of saliva, and see how researchers may one day be able to grow new teeth. Call 410/706-0600 or visit http://www.dentalmuseum.org to find out more.




MouthPower
What is the secret to a healthy smile? Taking good care of your teeth! Explore Mouthie's online laboratory to learn about how to brush your teeth, what tobacco can do to your mouth, and how to make healthy food choices.
Go to: http://www.mouthpower.org



Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association gratefully acknowledges

Anupama Rao Tate DMD
Director of Outpatient Services
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, D.C.

for her professional literary contribution of the following:

Dental Health Tips!


How to care for your infant:

12+ months:

Good diet tips! Habits are learned at an early age so teach your child good ones!

  • No prolonged, repetitive or night time breastfeeding or bottle use that contains anything
    other than water
  • Wean from bottle by age one
  • No extended or repetitive use of a no-spill training (sippy) cup that contains
    anything other than water
  • Limit number of sugary snacks
  • Only sugar free snacks in between meals
  • Only plain milk or water between meals
  • Ensure that water filter does not remove fluoride

Increased risk of decay is associated with:

  • Past history of cavities
  • Family history of cavities, especially mother and siblings
  • Low socio-economic status and education status
  • Poor access to health care
  • Prematurity
  • Special health care needs
  • High frequency of sugar containing foods and drinks o
  • Inadequate fluoride
  • Poor oral hygiene


Keep your children safe:

  • Child proof the house
  • Keep electric cords out of reach
  • Encourage helmet use and "sport" mouth guards

Visit the ADHA website section KIDSTUFF please click here.

February
Is
Children’s Dental Health Month!

Your Registered Dental Hygienists recommend these tips:

  • Even before teeth begin to erupt, thoroughly clean your infant’s gums after each feeding with water a moistened washcloth or gauze pad to stimulate the gum tissue. When the baby’s teeth begin to erupt, brush them with a small, soft bristled toothbrush using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste
  • A small amount of fluoridated toothpaste will help to inhibit decay. Fluoride is also found in mouth rinses, community water supplies and in some foods.
  • At age two or three, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques. Remember though, you will need to follow up with brushing and gentle flossing until age seven or eight, when the child has the dexterity to do it alone.
  • Schedule regular oral health appointments starting around your child’s first birthday. Your oral health professional will check for cavities in the primary teeth and watch for developmental problems, as well as help to create a positive experience that may alleviate fear at future visits.
  • Allow and encourage your child to discuss any fears he or she might have about oral health visits but do not mention the words ‘hurt’ or‘pain’. Saying "it won’t hurt” instills the possibility of pain in the child’s thought process.
  • Determine if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated. If there is not fluoride in your water, discuss supplement options with your Registered Dental Hygienist.

Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association is delighted to include this section as a major resource for information to our site visitors and to our members who may find the free information contained herein useful in providing oral health care to children. Please click on any of the topics below to print out the various coloring pages and games or link to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research where you can visit their website, view and/or print out additional great information.

Milk Matters with Buddy Brush ( a dentally-oriented coloring book)

Decode Secret Message Game

Calcium is Amazing Game

Milk Matters Puzzle

Snack Smart for Healthy Teeth (good information about snacks)

NIH Kids' Pages

More Info from the Natl. Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research

The above link will take you to additional links within the NICDR website where you will find enormous amounts of information related to special care, dental diseases, current research and other informational resources.

To read and print out some very complete information regarding fluoride, please click on the following link to the Center for Disease Control where numerous fact sheets and Journal articles are provided.
National Center for Disease Control