Yes, but…

photo credit : Stuart Isett for The New York Times

A Cavity by Any Other Name…

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, Baby Bottle Syndrome, Nursing Bottle Mouth, Early Childhood Caries (ECC); these are all terms for tooth decay in a child 6 years old or younger with:                   

• 1 or more decayed teeth
• Missing teeth (resulting from tooth decay)
• Filled surfaces in any primary (baby) tooth

Tooth decay in baby teeth leads to tooth decay in adult teeth. And it’s on the rise!                  

Priska Diaz, a fellow mompreneur and inventor of BARE™ air-free baby bottles, was shocked to learn of this trend and wrote the following article to help educate parents about the correct use of a baby bottle:                  

“There was a recent story in the New York Times about a 2 ½ year old who was admitted to Seattle Children’s Hospital and placed under general anesthesia to have 11 of his 20 baby teeth with cavities drilled and filled, in addition to having a root canal on a molar and two incisors extracted.¹ I found it utterly shocking that in this day and age, in a first world county such as the US, that this could happen.  So the question is how did it happen?  Dr. Vidhya Sampath explained, in an article written for Colorado Health² “Milk lactose and fruit juice contain sugars that support decay. The practice of putting a toddler to bed with a bottle of milk or fruit juice has caused the most devastating forms of tooth decay, called Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries, in infants and toddlers”.     

Not All Baby Bottles Are Alike

One of the problems that I discovered with vented bottles is that they require the baby to recline or lie on their back while feeding. This behavior encourages parents to give baby bottles to their babies at nap and bedtime. BARE™³ air-free baby bottles are revolutionary because they dispense milk regardless of your baby’s position. Now your child can sit up straight, bring the bottle to his/her mouth and begin feeding. This encourages “awake time” feedings instead of bedtime feedings. This benefit also supports development of self-feeding for faster/more successful weaning and seamless transition straw/open-cups. We are hopeful that with the advent of BARE™, parents will be encouraged to adopt better feeding habits for their children and thereby reduce the incidences of devastating tooth decay in toddlers.”               

Clean Your Baby’s Mouth After Every Feeding

 Starting your baby’s dental hygiene routine just after birth has several benefits:                 

• Prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria which causes tooth decay later on
• Helps establish good oral hygiene habits (it’s harder when they’re older!) for life
• Soothes sore gums during teething
• You can inspect their mouth and catch problems early
• Unlike breastfeeding, dads can do it too

Click here to learn how to clean a baby’s mouth. 
            

Toddler Twooth® Brushing

“To help get your child into the habit of brushing her/his teeth we recommend the use of Twooth^® Timer, another mom-invented product⁴. The Twooth^® Timer is a fun way to encourage your preschooler to brush teeth and establish a lifelong healthy habit.             

Bittylab’s Twooth® Timer Giveaway!

To support this movement, feel free to link to this article, post it, share it, etc. And you guessed right, the Twooth^® Timer is our choice of giveaway this month. Enter to win this fabulous and useful award-winning, mom-invented product, designed to help children achieve good dental health and have fun doing it! Recommended by dentists and dental hygienists for a lifetime of healthy smiles!”               

Click here, fill up the form and like “bittylab” & “TwoothTimer” pages to enter.     

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy      

1 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/health/rise-in-preschool-cavities-prompts-anesthesia-use.html?WT.mc_id=HL-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M244-ROS-0312-L1&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_c=182104
2 http://www.ourcoloradonews.com/health/preventative_health/good-nutrition-and-oral-health-go-hand-in-hand/article_d27055c0-6946-11e1-820b-001871e3ce6c.html
3 bittylab.com

for your toddler’s dental health!

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends weaning babies from a bottle between 12 and 14 months of age. Sippy cups are a wonderful tool for parents and babies to transition babies from a bottle to a cup. Transition being a key word here. Like any skill, once mastered it’s time to progress to the next one.

Sippy cups are coming under fire and with good reason. These cups, the “no-spill” kind, have a valve inside which prevents liquid from spilling out. While great for the furniture, these types of sippy cups are just like baby bottles – they require sucking to get the liquid.

Sippy cups were invented for babies/toddlers who are too young and don’t have the manual dexterity to drink from a regular cup. They were not meant as a long term solution and that is one of the problems. Because of their convenience, many parents continue using sippy cups well after their child is capable of drinking from a regular cup. And a lot of these toddlers tote their sippy cups and suck on them throughout the day. Unless the cup is filled with water, their teeth are constantly being bathed in sugar which leads to Early Childhood Caries (aka baby bottle tooth decay).

Sippy Cups and Speech

In addition, speech therapists are finding prolonged use to cause speech impediments: “As a licensed practicing Speech Language Pathologist, I have observed the damaging impact on oral-motor musculature, swallowing patterns, dentition, and speech/articulation development as a result of chronic sippy cup use.  This is especially true with the “new” totally spill proof sippy cups that have a stopper and the only way to drink is to suck.  Maintaining a sucking pattern while drinking interferes with the development of adult swallow patterns and directly impacts on oral-motor muscle development, speech, and articulation development.  Sippy cups were/are meant to TRANSITION a child from bottle to regular cup.  A child is transitioned from a bottle at a certain age to encourage proper oral-motor musculature development and development of an adult swallow pattern.  In my opinion, chronic use of a pacifier, bottle, and/or sippy cup during this time FREQUENTLY results in oral-motor and/or speech disorders, malocclusion, and “tongue thrust” swallowing patterns.   I also agree that chronic use of a sippy cup may be one of several contributing factors for a particular child with speech/articulation delays.  Once a child has been identified as having oral-motor/speech/articulation deficits, removing pacifiers, sippy cups, and/or thumbs will at least contribute to increased rate of progress in therapy.  Many parents continue chronic use of sippy cups until age 3 to 4 (or later).  It is not the sippy cup that is the problem, but in how it is used, and how parents are not informed as to the dangers and risks of not using it properly: as a transitioning tool rather than as a ‘pacifier for the carpet or car’.” Lori Johnston, M.A., CCC-SLP; Licensed Speech Language Pathologist New Jersey.

Sippy Cup Tips

• Use milk or juice-filled sippy cups only at meals and snack times. NEVER put your baby to bed with one!
• In between meals and snacks, fill it only with water and avoid allowing your child to tote it around all day
• Switch to a straw or regular (open) cup as quickly as possible

Check These Out

Mom-invented, Bandettes™ personalize your kids’ cups and bottles while alerting others to allergies and preventing the spread of germs.

http://www.vivevita.com/products/bandette-sippy-cup-bottle-label





Kidzikoos™ are mom-invented to insulate bottles and sippy cups, preventing cold little fingers and water marks on furniture.

http://www.mykidzikoo.com/





The Reflo Smart Cup™ has an insert that controls the flow of beverage anywhere along the cup’s rim and at virtually any angle. A better alternative to traditional sippy cups.

https://reflo.net/index.shtml

Please note that I do not have any affiliation with nor do I receive any compensation from these companies.

Share Your Thoughts

Any tips or concerns about transitioning from a baby bottle to a cup? Have a favorite training cup? Let us know!

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy

For more information:
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/babycare.asp
http://www.aapd.org/media/pressreleases.asp?NEWS_ID=640
http://www.livestrong.com/article/153176-sippy-cups-tooth-problems/
http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2011/06/5-things-parents-should-know-about-starting-and-stopping-sippy-cups/
http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/baby_bottle_decay.htm

A growing concern over the chemical added to our foods, water, and dental care products has led people to seek natural alternatives. If you consider that our bodies are our ‘houses’ and our mouths are the ‘doors’, the connection between oral health and overall health makes complete sense! So how can you improve your oral health, and that of your children, in a natural way?

I reached out to Dr. Heather Manley, a Naturopathic Doctor and a mom. Dr. Heather, who in 2001 received her medical degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is a practicing physician whose primary interest is preventative healthcare for families. She wrote the following article to share her knowledge about homeopathic medicine and dental health:

We have all heard it – whether from the dentist, your doctor or even a friend at the park…. The mouth is the gateway for optimal health. From chewing your foods thoroughly, to brushing and flossing your teeth; taking daily care of your pearly whites will make a profound impact on how your everyday (and long-term) health will be.

Sometimes our bodies (and teeth) need a little extra support and in the early 1870s, Dr. William H. Schuessler, discovered some for us. He spent much time and research developing twelve simple mineral combinations, or salts, which he believed to be crucial to the health of the body. Although there are sixteen minerals needed in our diets, he choose twelve that he felt were lacking or that would aid our bodies in achieving stronger health. And of these twelve mineral cell salts, three were directed to the teeth.

Calcarea Fluorica (Calcium Fluoride)

The translucent outer layer of our teeth, enamel, is strong and hard and does a very important job of protecting our teeth from hot and cold temperatures and possible chemical exposures. However, consuming too many juices, soda pops, candies and acidic foods may break down the enamel. Symptoms of tooth enamel decay include: sensitive teeth when eating hot, cold sweet foods or drinks, smooth and shiny surfaces of teeth, and yellowish tint to the teeth.

Prevention: In addition to the Calcarea Fluorica, eliminate all soda pop, and limit juices ( replace with herbal teas and water infused with fresh lemons and oranges).

Calcarea Phosphorica (Calcium Phosphate)

Dentition is the development and formation of teeth. Many people will think of it during the teething phase in babies, however, poor oral hygiene can result in lack of luster, shape and strength of teeth.

Prevention: In addition to Calcarea Phosphorica, visit your dentist at least 2 times a year, brush and floss your teeth daily (use your Twooth® Timer to make sure you are brushing long enough), and eating whole colorful foods will keep your teeth strong and healthy.

Magnesia Phosphorica (Magnesium Phosphate )

When gum tissue begins receding, and the dentin – the underlying layer of the teeth – becomes exposed, teeth will become sensitive. There are many possible reasons for this: teeth grinding, brushing to hard, overuse tooth whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Prevention: In addition to Magnesia Phosphorica, have your dentist check for teeth grinding, replace a hard bristled toothbrush with a soft one and begin using desensitizing teeth cleaning products.

Mineral cell salts are simple to take, have barely any taste, and are ideal for children. Dosage for adults would be four tablets, 3 times a day and children one to two tablets 3 times a day. Due to work and school schedules, it is suggested to take the first dose at breakfast, the second at dinner and the third before bed.

Purchasing Cell Salts

Hyland’s makes the full range of cell salts and has a store locator on their website. Dr. Heather has a supplement shop and you can email her drheather@drheathernd.com with questions.

Be well,
Dr. Heather

Dr. Heather Manley is the author of Human Body Detectives, her children’s educational series of story-telling books, ebooks, and iphone/ipad apps.  She also promotes wellness and naturopathic healthcare on her website drheathernd.com. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii with her husband and two daughters, and is currently at work on the next Human Body Detectives adventure.

Follow drheather on twitter and facebook.

Share Your Thoughts

Questions? Comments? Post them in the comments below!

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy

My friend, Shara of Mommy Perks, is tired of spending money at the dentist. It seems that no matter how much effort and money she invests in her and her daughter’s mouths, they can’t seem to win their battle against tooth decay. Shara does all the right things. In fact, she probably takes better care of her teeth than many dentists! Her daughter would win awards for her dental hygiene routine. And yet they are plagued with dental health issues. Shara shares her story here:

Recently, I wrote a post about feeling judged by our child’s dentist. The truth is, I’ve always taken care of my children’s teeth. Tooth-care is not a new phenomenon in our home. All the same, my daughter seems to be experiencing tooth decay faster than a Hollywood marriage goes down in flames.

Two of my kids have NO cavities and one (who brushes & flosses the most!) has many! I would love for a dentist to sit down with us, personally assess our situation, and give me tips for how to improve my daughter’s impending decay. In the meantime I’ve decided to put into action the tips I’ve gotten from Twooth Timer (Antoinette) and other online sources. These tips might also help you; so feel free to use them. (I’ve put my tips in italics- Antoinette)

One dental hygienist told me that when kids snack all day long, tooth decay is more likely to occur. For that reason, they should be eating no more than three times per day. This is hard to manage if your kids are in Preschool or school, where they are given snacks, etc. (Every time you eat, plaque produces acid for at least 20 minutes after. Eating several times a day exposes teeth to more tooth decay producing acid than eating 3 times a day.)

Here is what I’ve been doing lately with my daughter’s teeth: she wakes up and I brush her teeth. She eats breakfast and I brush again. She goes to Preschool, gets a snack there, comes home and eats lunch. I brush and floss after lunch. If my kids get any afternoon snack (which we’ve been cutting down on) I brush her teeth again. I brush and floss again after dinner.

I’ve been told that using fluoride too often can have the opposite effect on teeth and cause them to break down (a Doctor told me this). Therefore, it’s best to use fluoride only at night and for all of the other brushings, use a fluoride-free paste that’s sweetened with Xylitol (not sugar). I found FOUR such toothpastes for kids:

1. Melaleuca Koala brand (you can only buy this if you are a member of the club)
2. Green Beaver Green Apple Toothpaste (this is the one I purchased and we all really like it)
3. Aquafresh Training Gel for kids
4. Orajel Training Gel for kids

I found both the Aquafresh and Orajel at Walmart for around $2.

We floss with Glide by Oral-B. In my opinion, this is the best and easiest floss to use. It’s coated and does not get stuck inside our teeth leaving strands of floss behind (gross).

Twooth Timer wrote a blog post after Halloween about kids brushing BEFORE and AFTER eating sweets. She stated that brushing beforehand, using the Xylitol paste, would stop the sugar from sitting on the teeth, eating away at the enamel. Therefore, if I know my kids are going to eat a lot of sweets (for a birthday party, let’s say), I brush their teeth before and after: BOTH. (Brushing before reduces the amount of plaque that is present when sugar is introduced. Less plaque = less acid = less potential for tooth decay. Xylitol is also available in candies and gum and have the same benefits! Look for ‘sweetened with 100% xylitol.’)

We are completely cutting out sweets like fruit roll-ups and gummies because they stick to the teeth and are extremely difficult to remove – even when brushing. (Raisins/dried fruits are sticky too. Best to eat them at home when teeth can be brushed.)

We limit juice in our home and almost never drink soda pop (a few times per year, at most). Even Capri Suns (naturally flavored) contain a high content of sugar so we limit those as well (one per day, per child).

Any time my daughter eats nuts or popcorn I floss right after in order to remove kernels, nut pieces and so on. This flossing is in addition to the lunch time and bed time flossing that we do.

My daughter sucks her thumb at night and tends to leave her thumb in unless I pull it out. I’ve been making a point to pull it out every night, right after she falls asleep. I’m not sure why I’m doing this but something tells me that thumb-sucking is probably not affecting her tooth decay in a positive way. I’m not taking any chances so I remove the thumb within minutes of her falling to sleep. (Thumb sucking/pacifiers after the age of 5 can cause orthodontic problems.)

I read that cheese is good for the teeth as well as raw vegetables, as the cheese coats the teeth with a cavity barrier and the raw vegetables act as a natural brushing tool. My kids have always loved cheese so I don’t have to push that but I have been pushing the raw vegetables more often in order to benefit their teeth. (Cheese neutralizes the acid produced by plaque. Great to include in school lunches when they can’t brush after eating!)

The dental hygienist gave me some dental wipes, also, and told me that I can put those in my purse to use at restaurants after eating. I noticed that they are sweetened with Xylitol just like the toothpaste we are using during the day. They are safe enough to use on babies, according to the packaging. They come in various flavors like grape and apple.

My daughter didn’t care for the wipes and informed me that she went to Preschool and told her friend that dental wipes are POISONOUS. LOL. I told her that was not true and she replied, “I know. But I told her they were.” Haha. Naughty girl.

Twooth Timer also told me about Oral Probiotics and encouraged me to look into that. I located a more affordable brand on the CVS website: 60 Evora chews for $19.99 + shipping. I’m not sure why the dentist never mentioned this but I’m glad that Twooth Timer did! My box should be arriving any day now and we’ll begin using the chews right away.

Wrapping up

We don’t yet know if this will stop the decay on my daughter’s teeth. Studies do indicate that there’s a genetic link to tooth decay and that would not surprise me; my own teeth are very well taken care of yet… I continue to get decay. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do! The men in our home have few, if any, cavities – however, my daughter and I can’t seem to stop the pitfall that has become our mouths.

I keep trying, though. I keep trying.

It’s my hope that dentists and hygienists will someday chat one-on-one with patients to find out their personal stories. How can they help us?

What does the latest research indicate? What can we do to protect our mouths? What types of oral bacteria exist and how does each one affect the male or female? What foods are best to eat and worst to eat? What toothpastes are most effective (don’t tell us the ones that offer the most free samples to the dentists, please – tell us the ones that actually show, in research, to be best)? How many times per day can we safely brush and floss? If sipping from a bottle during sleep time causes tooth decay for babies, why isn’t the Dental Association recommending that parents take kids to the dentist soon after birth – to teach them the proper care? Why wait until the child is older, long after bottle decay has already set in (for those who bottle feed)? (The ADA and AAPD have stated the first dental visit should be between the first tooth and first birthday. The problem is that pediatricians, who should be informing the parents about dental hygiene and dental visits, aren’t passing on the information. I found an article that states only 17% of pediatricians tell parents to take their baby to a dentist by age 1. Moms I’ve talked to told me their pediatrician doesn’t give them any information about oral care and tell them to take their kids to the dentist at 3 years old. It’s the AAP that’s falling down on the job!)

I could go on and on but I’ll stop for now. You get my point. We need to be trained and taught and educated. Perhaps not all parents give a hoot about such things but some of us most certainly do. I’d love to sit down with a dentist and learn all I possibly can about how to help my daughter and what choices to make.

In the meantime I’ll continue to do my own research and apply what I learn…hoping all the while for the best.

Share Your Thoughts

If you have had a similar experience or know of a solution, please post a comment! Your ideas could not only help Shara but other moms as well.

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy 

With 41 million trick-or-treaters hitting the streets the potential for dental disasters is coming to a peak! Americans will spend nearly $2 billion on candy this Halloween which accounts for part of the annual 50 million tons of sugar consumed by kids on a global basis! Are your teeth hurting yet?! What can parents do to help keep their kids’ teeth healthy without spoiling Halloween fun?

Trick-or-Treat Twooth Tips

• Buy Halloween candy as close to the 31^st as possible so there’ll be less time for temptation and consider buying stickers or other non-candy treats for the trick-or-treaters.
• Eat a good meal before trick-or-treating so they’ll eat less candy.
• Brush teeth before and after eating candy. Brushing before reduces the amount of plaque that uses the sugar to produce acid (that causes tooth decay). Brushing after gets rid of the sugar on the teeth from the candy.
• When you’re going through your child’s trick or treat bag, throw out candy that he/she doesn’t like as well as sticky candy like caramel or taffy and hard candies. Your goal is to have candies that can be consumed quickly (less sugar exposure) and won’t damage braces, sealants, or fillings.
• Decide on how much candy will be eaten and for how long. You can limit it to a couple/few pieces a day (with a meal or snack) and get rid of the remaining candy after a week or so. Or allow your child to eat a set amount (as determined by the parent) in one go and then get rid of it.

What to Do with Excess Candy (yes, there is such a thing as excess candy)

Besides bringing it to the office, which may not be appreciated by co-workers on a diet, you can take it to a dental office participating in the Halloween Candy Buyback Program. The candy is “bought” at a scheduled event with cash, coupons, toothbrushes or ‘creative exchanges’ and then sent to Operation Gratitude or other Military support troops. There’s a dentist search on the Halloween Candy Buyback Program website to find a local participating dental office.

Check These Out

Twoothy T™ Temporary Tattoos are a fun and healthy alternative to candy! Way cooler than stickers, they’re long lasting, easy to apply & easy to remove. 100% safe FDA approved inks. 24 tattoos/package.

http://twoothtimer.com/twoothy_t_tattoos.html

Xylitol candy and gum satisfies a sweet tooth while also keeping it healthy! Xylitol is made from the cellulose of birch tree bark and actually helps prevent tooth decay. It’s available at health food stores and online, just make sure it’s 100% xylitol – no other added sugars or sweeteners.

Learn more about xylitol…



Learn how to make your own Spooky Twooth®. Visit our Facebook page for instructions and then upload photos of your decorated Twooth® Timer!

Share Your Thoughts

Use our comment box below to share comments or tips. We love hearing from you!

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy

In the rush to get ready for school, most kids don’t spend enough time brushing their teeth. Poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth decay, the #1 most common chronic childhood disease. Over 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illness! Tooth decay is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever… but it is preventable!

Twooth Kare Tips 4 Kids

Teaching your kids good dental hygiene habits early on will not only ensure their oral health, reducing dental bills, but also their overall health! Help them get an A+ on their next dental report card by:

1. Let your child choose his or her own toothbrush as long as it’s the proper size and soft bristled, it makes for a more enthusiastic brusher! Replace a toothbrush when it’s worn, bristles splayed, or after an illness and never share a toothbrush.




2. Kids are sensitive to strong flavors and usually dislike adult toothpaste. Finding a flavor of children’s toothpaste they like will be trial & error but worth it in the long run.
3. Using a 2 minute tooth brushing timer, like the Twooth® Timer, will help to keep track of the time and make sure they’re brushing for the recommended two minutes.
4. Pack a nutritious lunch & snack. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and cheese are great choices. Cheese, like aged Cheddar, Swiss, and Monterey Jack, is especially good for teeth because it neutralizes acids. Avoid fruit juices & sodas because they are very acidic and erode tooth enamel. Also avoid foods that are sticky or chewy because they will cling to the tooth surface, allowing the bacteria in plaque to produce more acid.




5. It’s unlikely that kids can brush their teeth after lunch. But a quick trip to the water fountain to rinse their mouths is almost as good!




6. Floss picks make flossing easier for kids and come in fun flavors. Find one they like and the battle is almost won! If you can’t get your kids to floss twice a day, make sure they floss before going to bed.




7. Setting a good example.

Make a Dental Checkup Part of Your Back-to-School Checklist

Regular dental checkups (every 6 months) will make sure their smiles are healthy. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, regular checkups actually save money in the long run! A dentist will not only clean your child’s teeth but also check for any problems. Caught early they can be quickly fixed, with little or no pain, and prevent a big bill. And it will prevent your child from missing school due to dental-related illness! If they’re not in school, they’re not learning.

Remember: a healthy mouth = a healthy body!

May this be a wonderful school year for your children!

Share Your Tips

If you have a back-to-school tip that could help another parent or caregiver, please share it! If you have a question or comment, please feel free to post that as well.

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy

In 2010 we spent:

• $43 Billion on children’s clothing
• over $21 Billion on children’s toys
• $19 Billion on candy

and yet 16 Million children in the United States aren’t getting the dental care they should.

Other than family & friends, new moms turn to their pediatricians and parenting magazines for information. Unfortunately both resources are failing mothers miserably! 

Babies Typically See a Pediatrician Before a Dentist

On average, pediatricians see a child 8 times more often than a dentist does. So a pediatrician should be the primary resource for moms to learn about preventive health for their babies, right? However, pediatricians are not adequately educating mothers on:

• infant dental hygiene
• baby bottle tooth decay
• when to schedule the first dental visit (between the 1st tooth and 1st year)

The fact that tooth decay is on the rise in U.S. pre-schoolers is evidence of this. According to a report, only 17% of pediatricians think that children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday (the recommended age according to the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry). Is it any wonder that new moms don’t know this?

Parenting Magazines Promote Happy, Healthy Kids

But really they focus on the latest kids’ fashions and baby gear because of advertising dollars. This is fun for moms but also needs to be balanced with informative articles since pediatricians don’t seem to be getting the job done. With tooth decay being the most common chronic childhood disease, this issue should be addressed on a regular ongoing basis. Teaching moms about preventive dental care will not only save money on dental bills, it will also improve the child’s health because oral health affects overall health!

“Dental health isn’t just about teeth, it’s about chronic health issues and the problems in life they can cause,” according to Margaret McKean, a Lake Tahoe School District nurse. These ‘issues’ and ‘problems’ include:

• 51 million lost school hours each year because of dental-related illness
• higher risk of decay in permanent teeth
• poor physical development, especially height & weight
• speech impediments
• poor self-esteem
• death

Can you look at this picture and still say that clothes, toys, and candy are more important than a child’s smile?

The number of children born with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is on the rise. ASD is the third most common developmental disability in the U.S. and occurs more often in boys than girls. The symptoms and severity differ with each child and can be very challenging for a parent or caregiver.

Autistic kids may have more dental problems because of medications, diet, injurious behaviors, etc. so it is important to develop a dental hygiene routine as early as possible, preferably when they’re babies.

The following are suggestions compiled from a variety of sources. You’ll have to adapt them to your child’s abilities. And remember to praise your child and yourself for every small victory!

• Start by wiping the teeth and gums with damp gauze or a finger toothbrush.
• If your child is extremely sensitive, start by touching his lips or inside his mouth for a few seconds twice or more a day. Build up to brushing.
• For older kids that tend to bite down, it’s suggested to guide their hand and use their finger to perform the task.
• Brushing their teeth doesn’t have to be done in a bathroom. Do it wherever your child is most comfortable & cooperative.
• Use the “tell, show, do” method.
• Create a picture book of you & your child having fun brushing and read it together every day. Do the same with flossing. Click here to download instructions on how to make one.
• Avoid fluoride toothpastes for kids that can’t spit it out, especially if you live in an area with fluoridated water.
• If your child objects to toothpaste, try a mouth rinse like Act.
• Once your child has accepted brushing, start with flossing.
• One grandmother, a retired dental hygienist, had great success getting her autistic granddaughter to use the new Sonicare For Kids electric toothbrush. It does an excellent job of cleaning teeth if they can stand the “tickle”.

Every ASD child is unique and through trial & error and perseverance you’ll find a way to establish a dental hygiene routine. An occupational therapist can also be a tremendous help.

ASD & DDS

A trip to the dentist can be an ordeal for any child but even more so for an ASD child! Because of side effects from medications, damaging oral habits (clenching, grinding teeth, etc.) diet, dental hygiene issues, and very often difficulty accessing dental care, an autistic child may need to see a dentist more often.

Finding a dentist, pediatric or general, who has experience with autistic children can be very difficult! Friends and medical professionals are good resources for referrals. Another good one is the Autism Speaks Family Services Resource Guide . For a list of pediatric dentists check the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry .

Prep Work

If you’re going to be taking your child to a new dentist, it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation to check out the dental office without your child. This will give you an opportunity to discuss your child’s skills and challenges with the dentist & the staff. This will also give you a good idea as to whether or not this is the right dental office for your child. You want them to understand your child’s individual needs so they can tailor the treatment to suit your child’s abilities rather than disabilities. This would also be a good time to pick up the paperwork so you can have it completed for the actual appointment.

Ask them if it’s possible to have an ‘orientation’ visit with your child before the actual appointment to meet the dentist & staff. Ideally, the staff will let him sit in the dental chair if he’s willing. A dental office that is experienced with ASD kids will want to familiarize your child with the office, staff, and equipment so that the actual visit will be less stressful.

Pre-visit

Things you can do to help prepare your child for his dental appointment:

• Reading a book or watching a video about going to the dentist.
• Buy a disposable dental mouth mirror from the pharmacy and practice looking into your child’s mouth.
• Some dentists may let you borrow some “tools” to let your child become accustomed to them.

The Appointment

Hopefully you will have scheduled an appointment for the quietist part of the day, preferably in a private exam room. And you’ll have all the paperwork filled out ahead of time. Some tips to help ease anxiety:

• Bring a favorite toy or music.
• Wearing a weighted x-ray vest may be comforting.
• Headphones with music can help block noise.
• Sunglasses can help reduce harsh lights.
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) reduces anxiety and provides a degree of analgesia, amnesia, and reduction in the gag reflex.

Check These Out

Personal Child Stories offers custom-written, hand crafted books. We write stories based on the child’s needs: positive behavior-modification books (biting, hitting, aggression, sibling rivalry, etc), sequencing for ASD, social stories, sibling books, new baby stories, potty training books, counting, name recognition, ABC’s, colors, explaining a medical condition or divorce and much more.

http://personalchildstories.com/

A Trip to the Dentist through Pinatta’s View
Things look a little different when you’re a small child! Filmed from just 40 inches high, children can come along on a trip to the real dentist’s office and see from Emily’s point of view exactly what things look like. They’ll meet the dentist and hygienist, see the tools they use, ride in the dentist’s chair and get excited about going to their own dentist appointment! VHS & DVD.

http://www.pinatta.com/



Smile Wide, Look Inside offers a glimpse into Nicole’s fun (yes, fun!) and informative trip to the dental office. She learns about the various tools that will be used to clean, polish and examine her teeth. Young children, and their parents too, will benefit from this story that effectively relieves the fear and anxiety of an impending visit to the dentist. Written by a mom & dental hygienist, available in English & Spanish.

http://www.abcdepress.com/smli_english.htm

Please note that I do not have any affiliation with nor do I receive any compensation from these companies.

Many thanks to Shara Lawrence-Weiss of Personal Child Stories for creating the free step-by-step instructions on making your own sequence cards. Click here to download.

Share Your Tips

If you have a tip that could help another parent or caregiver of an ASD child, please share it! If you have a question or comment, please feel free to post that as well.

Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy

For more information:
Building Bridges – Part 2: Understanding and Guiding the Dental Patient with Autism by Ann-Marie DePalma, RDH, Med, FAADH and Karen A. Raposa, RDH, MBA RDH Magazine August 2010
http://www.kccdhn.org/stories/storyReader$147?print-friendly=true
http://hubpages.com/hub/Autism-And-The-Necessity-of-Dental-Hygiene

I recently read an article about the Tooth Fairy Poll which tracks the going rate for lost teeth. Apparently the “Tooth Fairy Index (TFI)” closely follows the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or vice versa. According to Ann Johnson, director of community affairs for Delta Dental of Minnesota, the 2010 Tooth Fairy Poll average reflected “the stable increase we’re seeing in other areas of the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 17.2% during the same time period. The Tooth Fairy may be another indicator that the economy is on pace for a steady recovery.”

Being The Twooth Fairy, I get to meet all sorts of dental celebrities including the Tooth Fairy! So I thought I would go straight to the source to find out how the economy affects her business and she graciously gave me an interview.

Does the economy affect how much money you leave for a tooth?

Only inflation has affected how much I leave for a tooth! Once upon a time I only left small coins like shiny new nickels and dimes! Nowadays I’m more generous. I leave several quarters or one and two dollar coins and sometimes even real paper money! A shiny first lost tooth might receive $5.00. But believe me, those $20 dollar bills come straight from the ATM machines and the kid’s parents, not from this Tooth Fairy! By the way, I also accept I.O.U. notes for kids that LOSE their LOST tooth or have sent it off to preserve for stem cells!

Do you leave more money for molars than incisors?

Nope, it doesn’t matter if the tooth is a chewer or a cutter! But I like to leave a bit more for the very FIRST lost tooth.

I’ve heard that you only take clean teeth, is that true?

I certainly do “prefer” real clean, white teeth with no cavities for sure! But honestly, I don’t reject any real teeth. But don’t paint a kernel of corn white because it’s not nice to trick or fool the Tooth Fairy!

What do you do if you find a dirty tooth?

Well I brush it off with toothpaste of course! And then I recycle them by grinding them into sparkly fine fairy dust.

I read somewhere that you leave notes encouraging kids to brush & floss. What do these notes say?

Occasionally I must leave a wee note reminding children to take better care of their precious first teeth, since the second set of permanent teeth must last them a lifetime. Nasty plaque bacteria or “Sugarbugs” can really do a lot of damage … if not brushed and flossed off.

To fight “Sugarbugs” please brush after every meal if possible. Brush and ~ floss~ at bedtime before your sweet trip to dreamland!

You have a tough job flying around the world every night! What can parents do to make it easier for you?

To make my job easier parents can place the tooth inside the pocket of a Tooth Fairy Pillow and leave it on a night table NEXT to the child’s bed. Not under the pillow under their head! I don’t wish to wake children up from their sleep especially since if they really SEE me…my magic disappears!!! Praying for good weather helps too since I don’t usually forget to come but sometimes get delayed in stormy weather conditions.

Good-bye, gotta FLY! Thanks for this sweet interview.

Tooth Fairy

You can learn more about the Tooth Fairy on her website http://www.toothfairycyberspace.com/ and follow her on Twitter @toothfairycyber.

Check These Out

The Tooth Fairy offers sweet Tooth Fairy Pillows that can be personalized with your child’s name! They measure 6”x8” and come in 70 different designs for boys & girls. USA only.

www.toothfairycyberspace.com/pillows.html





The Twooth® Pocket Pal not only helps remind kids to “brush for two minutes & floss twice a day” but his vest pocket holds a lost tooth, providing easy access for the Tooth Fairy. Ideal for a boy or a girl! 13” tall, made of soft, cuddly polyester fabric.

http://twoothtimer.com/Twooth_Pocket_Pal.html







Wishing you a lifetime of healthy smiles,
Antoinette aka The Twooth Fairy