These days, kids can be seen before they even get their teeth. While I opted out for taking my kids at 6 months, I don’t think a parent should wait forever either. I’ve seen a four-year old suffer from baby bottle tooth decay to the point that his speech was affected and he had to get false teeth to speak properly. Yes that’s right, a four-year old with false teeth.
1) Talk to your Pediatrician. While your Dr. is NOT a dentist, they can probably spot things in your kids mouth you might not notice. If they say you should make an appointment, there’s probably a reason. Most doctors will say that you can go anytime, but many of them will tell you in confidence that it might not be totally necessary to rush straight to the dentist as long as you’re taking care of your kids teeth.
2) Do your Research. While your personal dentist might be able to take care of your kids, what does his office look like? What is his staff like? Just because you know and like him doesn’t mean your kids will. I’m a big fan of finding pediatric dentists. They know kids and work with them on a regular basis. Instead of saying ”open wide” they might say “roar like a tiger!” My kids get loaded with stickers, balloons, and a gift from the prize box after every visit. The women at the office are all soft mannered and fantastic. They even got my two-year old who to open up and let them clean his teeth. This is amazing since I sometimes have to flip him upside down to sneak the brush in. They let my kids touch the spinning tooth cleaner and they giggle in delight because it tickles. This office even lets them wear sunglasses so the light doesn’t hurt their eyes.
3) Think about your words and get prepared. Don’t say, “You have to go to the dentist” – say “You get to go to the dentist!” Do some roleplay and pretend to be the dentist. Have them lay back on the bed while you brush their teeth. Don’t be overly dramatic about it, make it gentle, fun and quick. You want to do this because it will give the kids confidence that this will be a pleasant experience. I’m sure many of you don’t associate dentists as “fun”, but for now my kids do and that makes it so much easier when it’s time for a checkup.
4) Your kids will make you look like a liar. I don’t care if you brush their teeth twice a day and floss just as much. If you miss one day, that’s going to be the answer the dentist will hear. If you have a child like my youngest who fights me every time I bring up brushing his teeth, he will easily open for both the assistant and the dentist. While this may make me slightly insane, I’m happy for the second reason. If they’re good for the dentist, then at least they can do their job. Don’t get your hopes up that they’ll be that good for you at home though.
5) Genetics play a major part. I felt like crying when I found out my middle son had two cavities. He was two years old. It was a punch in the stomach. The dentist saw just how upset I was and almost laughed at me. She asked me, “Do you do the same routine for him as you do for your daughter?’ Of course I did, and her teeth are perfect. We got the fillings, and made some changes and up until today (he’s 4) he hasn’t had another cavity. This one was hiding back by a molar and we’ll get it fixed in a few days. This little guy takes better care of his teeth than probably everyone else in the house at this point. He loves his spin brush, and I help get the back teeth daily. There’s just nothing I can really do. My youngest amazingly had no cavities even though I’m lucky to get the toothbrush inside his mouth.
The one thing you might question that I really want to touch base on is filling your kids teeth. The biggest reason I hear for not doing it is “oh they’ll fall out anyway.” Baby teeth are easier for cavities to grow in, and the longer you wait the more damage they can do. Plus, kids might lose their teeth at 6, but they might not lose them until they’re 8. My 6.5 year old doesn’t have a wiggly tooth in her mouth (and she’s furious about it). So if you’ve got a two-year old with cavities do you really want to make them just deal with it for 4 or more years? I’m not sure if you’ve ever had a toothache – but it’s not pleasant. Yes, it costs money, but your kids don’t have the luxury to make the choice.
