Parents want the best for their children, and ensuring that their children have good dental care is an important part of keeping the family healthy.
February is National Children’s Dental Health month — a good time to reflect on your kids’ dental health. This month is a great reminder that children need to brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste in order to keep teeth healthy and bright. From ages 0-3, a smear of toothpaste — the size of a grain of rice — is all you need. Children at this age do not yet know how to rinse properly. But at age 3 you can start using a pea-size amount of toothpaste. There are many different flavors of toothpaste. Try to find one your child really likes, and then it will be easier for him to brush and for mom to supervise.
You will find a lot of mixed information on toothbrushing techniques, but the reality is that the technique does not matter as long as you are thoroughly brushing every surface of each tooth. Brush inside and outside of the teeth and, of course, the chewing surface of the back teeth — this is where the food tends to collect the most, so these are the surfaces most prone to cavities. Diet also plays an important role in kids’ dental health. Sticky sugar, such as gummy bears, dried fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and caramel are some of the foods that “stick” in your teeth, making those teeth more susceptible to cavities.
Ideally, parents should bring their children to the pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth comes in their mouth. Every child and family dynamic is different, so your dentist will help establish a customized routine that fits the parents’ lifestyle to ensure kids get the appropriate home healthcare. We talk to parents about what to expect with teething, we go over any habits children might have (like sleeping with a bottle and having sugary drinks in a sippy cup), we make dietary suggestions that would help keep the teeth healthy, and, most importantly, we listen to parents’ questions and concerns regarding their child’s dental health and welcome their children to their new dental home. We also go over what to do in case of a dental emergency and reassure them that we are always on call for any question or concern they might have. Our goal as pediatric dentists is to form strong partnerships with parents and children to ensure a healthy bright smile for life. Good oral health is a reflection of overall health, psychological health, and self-esteem.
Dr. Maria Georgaklis received her DMD and specialty training in pediatric dentistry from Tufts Dental School. She practices in Brookline, Massachusetts.
She is currently accepting new patients.
To schedule an appointment, she can be reached at 617-277-5200.
