Reasons to Smile

By Amy Crelly

It’s not on most parents’ radar, but tooth decay—not diabetes—is the most common chronic childhood ailment in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s five times more common than asthma! The good news? A little prevention can go a very long way. Of course, teaching kids good habits can be tricky, and every age and stage has its challenges. That’s why we’ve gathered these practical tips—from some of Greater Sacramento’s most trusted pediatric dentists—to help you protect those precious pearlies, from their first baby smile to senior portrait day.

Happy Babies
  “It's a good idea to schedule your child's first dental visit by age 1,” says Dr. Kimberly Fong of Kids Care Dental Group in Elk Grove. This preventive measure protects baby’s health first and foremost, but it also adds up to big savings for parents. In fact, parents who are proactive in this way save about 40 percent on dental care costs, over a five year period, compared to moms and dads who procrastinate scheduling that first visit.

Care at home is crucial too. The enamel on baby teeth is thin, so cavities can develop quickly, especially when little ones drift off after nursing. Before putting baby down, “Gently swab the teeth clean with cotton or a wipe specifically designed for this purpose,” advises Dr. Warren McWilliams, with Kids Care Dental Group. He suggests Spiffies Toothwipes, which are soaked in sweet-tasting, bacteria-fighting xylitol.

Teething Toddlers
Start brushing those baby teeth just as soon as they erupt (and flossing between any that touch). Aside from that advice, virtually every dental doc we talked with had this advice: Put the sippy cups away! “Bacteria produce acid for 20 minutes after each sip of milk or juice—even if it’s watered down,” explains Dr. Erin Carson with Kids Care Dental in Elk Grove. “More acid equals more cavities.”

First5SacDental.org

First 5 Sacramento is giving local kids and parents something  to smile about! Their new website, First5SacDental.org, connects families and educators with all kinds of great resources, including Cover the Kids Insurance (get info on low-cost dental, health and vision coverage), and serves up info on community-wide efforts to help keep little kids' smiles healthy as can be (from water flouridation to five new dental clinics), plus fact sheets, parent check-lists, tip sheets and resources to make mom and dad's job that much easier.

The Tooth Fairy Years
Until they can tie their own shoes or write in cursive, kids lack the dexterity to properly brush on their own, and still they’ll need mom or dad to see that they learn good habits. The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry clocked kids' average brushing time (for ages 3-5) at just 28 seconds when unsupervised. It's about 35 seconds for ages 6-8 and 47 seconds for kids 9-11. The minimum time dentists say we need to brush in order to get those plaque-causing "bugs" off our chompers? Two minutes! (No wonder an estimated 40% of kids have at least one cavity or filling before age 5.)

The most important time to have kids brush and floss is just before they hit the hay. “While kids sleep, protective saliva is at its lowest levels,” explains Dr. Mark Macaoay, with Kids Care Dental Group in Sacramento. He also recommends using a fluoride rinse at bedtime after brushing and flossing.

Sealants offer yet another, more lasting, measure of protection, says Dr. David J. Crippen, DDS at Capital Pediatric Dentistry in midtown Sacramento. Sealants have been shown to prevent dental decay by as much as 70 percent, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report.

In addition to needing cavity protection, kids at this stage often grind their teeth. In fact, more than half of all children grind their teeth (usually in their sleep). “Most kids grow out of it,” says Dr. Cynthia L. Weideman, D.D.S. with Weideman Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Citrus Heights and Smile Island Pediatric and Adult Dental Group in Rocklin. Just keeping kids hydrated can help. “Make sure that your child drinks plenty of water,” Dr. Cindy advises. “Neutralizing the salt content in the body has been shown to decrease the habit at night.” Who knew?

Protecting Tweens & Teens
OMG! Between sodas, snacks, Starbucks, and late-night studying/texting sessions, teens can get into some sticky habits even while their orthodontists urge them to take extra care. So encourage them to keep drinking lots of water, and if your kids like gum, “Choose a brand that is sweetened with xylitol, a type of sugar that helps prevent cavities,” says Dr. Ryan Grandpre at Kids Care Dental Group – Greenback in Sacramento. Chewing xylitol gum 3-5 times per day has been shown to prevent tooth decay by more than 50 percent, in fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Journal.

For more great tips from Greater Sacramento's dental health pros and local parents, check out our archives and this month's online exclusives.