But there are ways to teach your kids about cavity prevention that are effective; and don’t underestimate the ability of even very young children to understand and learn. Here are some tips on how to get the point across about cavities.

Put on a very simple puppet show: Toddlers have a great sense of imagination and wonder, and they are more likely to listen to the message if it’s coming from a puppet than if you talk to them directly; even if it’s obvious it’s you doing the talking! Find a puppet that has oversized teeth, and let it do the teaching for you. The puppet can talk about (or even show them) examples of “good” and “bad” foods, and explain that eating too many sweets may eventually cause nasty holes in their teeth. The object is not to instill fear or dread: the purpose is to educate. So keep it as lighthearted as possible while still hitting on core truths.

Read lots of books about dental care: There are plenty of great picture books on the market that address good eating habits, cavity prevention, and even going to the dentist! So snuggle up with your little ones, and let them soak in knowledge in a non-threatening and loving context.

Pictures work for older kids too: Once your children have a mouthful of teeth, give them a visual picture of why it’s so important to brush and floss properly. The internet is a great resource for obtaining pictures of real teeth with both small and large cavities. Print out a picture of a molar and demonstrate (using a real toothbrush) how to properly brush for cavity prevention. Show them how brushing alone can’t possibly clean in those tight spaces between teeth and that’s why flossing is so important.

Kids are much more responsive to information like cavity prevention if they understand the “why’s” rather than just being told they “can’t.” Working with them rather than against them makes it more likely they’ll be receptive to info, then choose for themselves to moderate their sweet intake and take better care of their teeth: both now and into adulthood.

Be understanding: There are many reasons why a child might be afraid. Perhaps it’s the idea of having a part of his body “fall out” and not being able to have any control over it. He might be worried that it will hurt. If your child is fearful, snuggle up in a nice cozy chair and have a calm conversation about what exactly he’s worried about, and then address those concerns directly. Be careful not to demean or belittle his feelings: to him, this is very important and a real concern.

Explain what will happen: Every child likes to know the truth and likes to be told things straight. Many times fear is related to the “mystery” of an event, so do as much as you can to reveal that mystery. In most cases, losing a tooth doesn’t hurt; sometimes when a tooth is lost, there is a little blood: but it’s not serious; baby teeth have to come out when a child is growing up in order to make room for big teeth: it’s natural and normal; if you remember, tell your child what it was like for you to lose your first tooth and how you felt. There are plenty of picture books out there on the subject too: a book may be a great conversation starter.

Be wary of the fairy: Not all kids like the idea of a Tooth Fairy coming into their rooms at night! You don’t have to adopt the Tooth Fairy routine if your child is uncomfortable with it: find some other way to celebrate instead. Some kids don’t like the idea of the Tooth Fairy “taking” their teeth: many parents will keep a “tooth box” instead so their child can “visit” those lost teeth whenever he wants to.

Let the dentist help: If your child still struggles with fear, or if that first tooth is not coming out as easily as it should, visit your favorite Utah pediatric dentist like Stevenson Pediatric or a dentist in the state where you live. He and his staff are experts at helping kids relax and making the process go as smoothly and easily as possible.

Children’s reactions to life’s normal milestones like losing a first tooth are as varied as children themselves. So don’t assume that each of your kids will react the same way. Some kids wiggle away excitedly then get scared when the tooth is actually ready to come out, some are matter-of-fact about it, and yet others are just plain fearful. It’s all normal! Do everything you can to assuage any fears: chances are that after losing a few teeth, your child’s fears will be forgotten

If a Baby Tooth is Knocked Out:

• Contact a good Utah pediatric dentist such as Stevenson right away: we can help to lessen the pain and prevent infection
• Meanwhile, rinse the mouth with cool water and apply an ice pack to keep the swelling down
• You can look for the tooth and place it in cold water till you get to the dentist, but it’s not as crucial as a permanent tooth

If a Permanent Tooth is Knocked Out:

• Pick up the tooth by the crown (never by the roots), rinse, and place it in a baggie with cold water
• Firmly apply a clean damp washcloth to the affected area to stop the bleeding
• If possible, reinsert the tooth into the socket then call a Utah pediatric dentist immediately and take your child to the office immediately. If the accident occurs after hours, call the dentist’s emergency line for instructions

If you can find and save the tooth properly, chances are good that the dentist will be able to reinsert it.

If a Tooth is Broken:

Follow the above steps and contact the dentist immediately. Even a chip from a tooth can be replaced if you act fast, so remember that time is of the essence.

Prevention is always the best. If your child is engaged in sports, make sure he or she wears an appropriate mouth guard. If your child is over the age of 8, talk about what she should do if she hurts her mouth; and if you have toddlers at home, make sure your house is well child-proofed. Summer is a great time to be active, but it’s also the time when dental emergencies are likely to arise. Remember: if something happens, stay calm, act fast and contact Stevenson Pediatric right away.

For most kids, however, flossing is quite another matter: especially when they first start. It makes sense if you think about it; most kids don’t like having someone else’s hands that close to their mouths; it might make them feel “funny” having the stringy floss going so tightly between their teeth; and  from a child’s perspective, the health benefits are not as easily apparent with flossing as they are with brushing. So here are some tips for teaching your child to floss correctly and making the experience­­­­ — if not fun — at least more positive.

–Start young: A good time to start flossing your child’s teeth is at around age 2 1/2, when your toddler’s teeth have grown in enough to begin touching one another. You should floss your child’s teeth yourself until she is old enough to get the hang of it and has developed the necessary manual dexterity. Even so, it is wise for parents to supervise their child’s flossing technique until about the age of 10.

–Give her choices: As with most things, kids are likely to take to something more willingly if they’ve been allowed to be part of the decision-making process. Pre-threaded floss, appropriate for young children, comes in all kinds of pretty colors and tasty flavors: let her choose the one SHE wants you to use. When she gets a little bigger, let her choose from the wide selection of child-targeted self-flossers engineered for small hands.

–Be an example: If you want your child to floss, you need to be a regular flosser too. Example is everything! Demonstrate on yourself first then show her how it’s done.  Show her how to hold the floss, then teach her to use a gentle back and forth motion between teeth and an up and down motion on the front of the teeth to clean at the gum line. Let her try it herself, of course, but you need to remain in charge of “cleaning up” after her and making sure the job was done right. Follow up the flossing with a thorough brushing, and you will have taught your child the fundamentals of sound oral hygiene habits.

If you don’t think you can teach your child the proper techniques for flossing, or if you’re still not sure how to go about it, make sure to discuss the topic with your pediatric dentist during your next visit. When you partner with an excellent Utah pediatric dentist like Stevenson Pediatric, you will have plenty of support in teaching your child the right way to floss, floss, floss.

1. Dairy products: this should come as no great surprise since milk and other dairy foods have long been prized as an outstanding source of calcium. Added calcium helps prevent tooth decay in growing children: so bring on the skim milk, yogurt, cheese and other good stuff! Calcium isn’t tied to fat level, so for optimum health choose skim products whenever possible.
2. Leafy greens: Broccoli has calcium? You bet! So do certain nuts such as almonds and Brazil nuts. If your child struggles with the taste of broccoli, try serving it covered in melted cheese for even more calcium and a much more palatable flavor.
3. Whole wheat bread: Though whole-wheat bread and other whole grains have the carbohydrates that can lead to tooth decay, they are an important source of B vitamins and iron which are essential to maintaining strong and healthy gums. Choose whole grains whenever possible: just be sure your child is brushing twice a day, every day!
4. Fiber-rich raw foods: Chomping on raw carrots, celery, and apples is a nutritious way to snack and it is also good for teeth. Eating these foods massages the gums, stimulating circulation; they also have high water content which serve to clean teeth. The increased salivation that comes from eating these types of foods neutralizes harmful acids inside the mouth too.
5. Lean meat, fish, and poultry: These good old-fashioned staples for protein are also important sources of magnesium and zinc which promote healthy teeth.

Of course, eating beneficial foods is great but it’s never a substitute for sound oral hygiene habits like twice-daily brushing and flossing. For optimum dental health, make sure you take your child to a Utah pediatric dentist like Stevenson Pediatric for twice-yearly checkups and cleanings.

The bacteria that naturally live in our mouths thrive on carbohydrate-rich foods that get left behind on our teeth after we eat. These sugars are broken down by the bacteria and cavity-causing acids are created as a by-product. Because soda and candy are nothing BUT sugar, they have been designated as Public Enemies Number One and Two: but bacteria don’t differentiate between carbohydrates that contain simple sugars like sweets or complex ones like fruit. They thrive on both; and therefore, all carbohydrates are potentially harmful to your child’s dental health.

Here is a list of 10 surprising foods that may cause tooth decay in your children:

1. Peanut butter
2. Raisins
3. Spaghetti
4. Fruit
5. Cereal (even with no sugar added)
6. Nuts
7. All-natural juices
8. Baby formula
9. Crackers
10. Chips

Most of these foods are nutritionally important, and therefore parents should not cut them out entirely: indeed, carbohydrates of all types are an important source of energy.

What should parents do?

1. Moderation in all things: make sure you child eats a balanced diet that is not weighed too heavily toward carbohydrates
2. Make sure your child brushes and flosses at least twice a day, preferably after every meal, and especially after consuming sugary snacks
3. Make twice-yearly visits to a good Utah pediatric dentist such as Stevenson Pediatric who specializes in caring exclusively for children’s teeth.

Your parents were right: too much candy and soda is bad; but don’t forget about the other culprits as well!

Choose a Great Pediatric Dentist

The first step is to opt for a pediatric dentist over a general family dentist. There really are some key differences between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist; but the one that makes a huge difference in helping your child get excited to go is the atmosphere in the office.  A pediatric dentist’s office is completely kid-centric: after all, treating children is all they do!

From the decorations on the walls to the child-sized furniture to the games to the kid-savvy staff, it’s a fun place to visit. Before her scheduled visit, take your child to see the pediatric dentist’s office so she won’t have a fear of the unknown: once she sees other kids there her age, she’ll be more excited to go when it’s time. For Beehive State parents, Dr. Nathan Stevenson of Stevenson Pediatric is a Utah pediatric dentist who provides excellent treatment in a fun and safe environment. Choosing pediatric dentistry over family dentistry is a great first step to help your child develop a positive attitude toward going to the dentist.

Do Some Play-Acting

Many children are sensitive about having anyone “poke around” in their mouths, and this can make them reticent about going to the dentist no matter how fun the environment may be. Reading children’s books about what happens at dental visits and engaging in a little play-acting beforehand will go a long way toward easing your child’s fears. Open wide and let her “play dentist” by counting your teeth! Then you do the same to her. Let her ask questions and answer them honestly. It is extremely important to maintain a positive attitude toward the dentist even if you happen to have some fears of your own. When it comes to your child, going to the pediatric dentist and having the opportunity of getting her teeth super-clean in a fun atmosphere should always be a reason to get excited!

Making your child feel comfortable when they visit the dentist is a huge reason to take your child to a Pediatric Dentist instead of a regular dentist.   Stevenson Pediatric Dentist excels at making children feel comfortable visiting the dentist.  In fact, most of our patients look forward to their next visit.