Our students at Friends Christian Preschool learned the importance of dental care recently when our friends at Butler Pediatric Dentistry dropped by to share some important tips in a recent assembly.
In addition to receiving a free goodie bag which included a new toothbrush, flossers, and toothpaste, students also enjoyed a puppet show designed to teach them the ins and outs of dental care.
“We always try to make it fun for the kids,” says Maria, a registered dental assistant at Butler Dentistry. “The puppets make it fun for them to learn how to brush their teeth.”
Here’s a snapshot of what students learned:
- Brush for 2 minutes – Kids tend to race through the brushing routine, leaving food and plaque stuck to their teeth. Always brush for at least 2 minutes to make sure every tooth is brushed clean and gums are gently massaged.
- Brush teeth twice each day – At least once in the morning and once before bedtime is recommended. Kids can brush themselves in the morning, but as we mentioned, it’s a good idea for parents to help them before bedtime to ensure their teeth are clean.
- Brush in a circle, not back and forth – Without supervision, kids tend to brush left-to-right or back-and-forth. This technique not only fails to remove food between their teeth, but it can also leave their gums weak as well. By brushing in a circular motion, kids can keep their teeth food-free and their gums healthy all at the same time.
- Always floss your teeth before bedtime – This ensures kids don’t sleep all night with food on their teeth which can lead to severe tooth decay and painful cavities. Flossers are an easy way for kids to clean between their teeth before they jump into bed.
- Always remember to brush your back molars – As new, permanent teeth come in, sometimes older kids aren’t used to brushing all the way to the back. Parents should help them brush at night before they go to bed to make sure they’re really cleaning all of their teeth.
Eating Right
“If kids need a crunchy snack, dentists recommend celery, apples, and carrots rather than goldfish crackers or potato chips which can leave a mushy paste that sticks to their teeth,” says Maria. “Of course, kids love candy. So once in a while, it’s ok to have some chocolate which is better than caramel or other sticky candy that tends to remain on the tooth longer.”
Other great snacks for healthier teeth are yogurt and string cheese. “Stay away from gummy bears, or even dried fruit,” she says. “Those tend to stick to those teeth and are filled with sugar which creates plaque and leads to cavities.”
Water and milk are best for quenching your thirst. Stay away from soda and fruit juices (which have more sugar than you realize). “Parents can dilute fruit juices to help reduce the sugar content and still provide kids with a sweet beverage for dinner time if they want,” she says.
Of course, vegetables and fruit are always great for kids, even if they don’t always enjoy it: Broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.
No Fear
Another important topic covered in the presentation is about why you don’t need to be afraid of your Dentist. “Kids have all heard horror stories from friends or older siblings about getting shots in their mouth or having their teeth drilled into by the Dentist,” Maria says. “So, we try to set their minds at ease and let them know that Dentists are just there to check their teeth for cavities, take some pictures (X-Rays) of their teeth, and help them avoid painful procedures. We want students to know their Dentist is a friend, not someone to be scared of.”
Dentists recommend bringing kids in for a checkup as early as 1 year old. “This helps establish a relationship with the Dentist,” she says. “Early checkups can also catch problems before they get too painful, or expensive.”
See them as early as 1 yr. old to establish a relationship w/ dentist so we can catch problems early before it gets too expensive.
To learn more about how to care for your student’s teeth, be sure to drop by Butler Pediatric Dentistry at 801 E. Chapman in Fullerton or visit your family dentist for a checkup.
