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teeth >> Brushing: No fun, but must be done

Taking care of toddler teeth

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 3/1/2007

By Flowers Umble BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Convincing a reluctant toddler to open wide could take more strategic planning than peace negotiations.

You've tried the "Dora" and "Blues Clues" toothbrushes, pretended to brush the teeth of a favorite doll and extolled the virtues of bubble-gum flavored toothpaste.

And she's still not letting those white bristles anywhere near her mouth.

What's left to do?

Leaving those teeth alone is not an option, said Dr. H.L. Pope, a pediatric dentist with Virginia Dental and Anesthesia Associates in Fredericksburg.

"You will wrestle them to the ground to change their diaper," he said. "Would you rather deal with diaper rash or tooth decay?"

The latter, Pope said, often means surgery.

He has had to do root canals and pull teeth on toddlers and preschoolers. In many cases, Pope said, the surgery could be prevented.

He tells parents to bring their kids in for a visit when the child is a year old.

This serves two purposes: Pope can assess the child's teeth and he can teach parents how to take care of those teeth.

He goes over the basics: what, how often and how thoroughly.

He tells them, "Three times a day is great, two times is better than one and one is better than none."

For the child who doesn't want to have his teeth brushed, parents need to get creative.

Parenting Web sites offer a variety of ideas, such as letting children choose their toothbrushes to having them brush their dolls' teeth.

Sometimes, these ideas work.

Spotsylvania County toddler Isaac Ford, now 2, wasn't too eager to start brushing his teeth. His mom, Carrie, brought him to the store and showed him all the toothbrushes and toothpaste choices.

Isaac picked out his own, and now he happily brushes after every meal.

Sometimes, all the creativity in the world won't get that mouth open.

"It isn't always going to work, because everyone's different," Pope said.

Parents need to understand their kids' boundaries and work around them.

But they also need to make it clear that the teeth are going to get brushed. Establish a routine, and after a while, the child will grow more comfortable with it.

Pope understands that with all the other parenting chores, regularly brushing the teeth of a balky toddler can seem as hard as pulling teeth.

But it isn't. He's pulled toddler teeth and it's definitely better to force tooth-brushing, he said.

And it doesn't end with the toothbrush. Toddlers need flossing, too.

The teeth, especially those in the back, are close together, and "this is where we routinely find childhood tooth decay," he said.

And while some dentists say kids over 5 can brush their own teeth, Pope cautions parents.

"Would you eat off the dishes this child cleaned?" he asked. "Do you really think they're going to get their teeth that clean? You can't just send a 5-year old up there and expect clean teeth. You've got to be realistic."

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Clean your child's teeth at least twice a day. Bedtime is the most important time to brush. Change your child's toothbrush every two months and after the child has been sick. Don't let the child chew on the bristles. This bends them, making it difficult for the brush to clean plaque. If your child won't stop chewing on the bristles, offer another toothbrush that's just for play. When bringing the child to the dentist for the first time, it's OK to bring a comfort item such as a blanket or a favorite toy. If necessary, let your child go to sleep only with a bottle filled with water. Formula, milk or juice can cause tooth decay. Avoid chewable vitamins that list sugar as the main ingredient. --from the Academy of General Dentistry, agd.org GETTING READY FOR THE DENTIST The first visit doesn't have to be difficult, said pediatric dentist H.L. Pope. He suggests parents role-play the dentist visit ahead of time. They can also read books about dentists, he said. But most importantly, parents should lower their expectations. The toddler doesn't have to behave perfectly. And if the child cries, Pope can still look in and check out the teeth.

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Date published: 3/1/2007