Dental Health Month

What’s 5 Times More Common Than Asthma and 7 Times More Common Than Hayfever in Children?

Dental Disease.

Each and every day, parents wake their kids and try their best to get them ready for school.

Dressed? Check.

Backpack ready? Check.

Lunch?  Sure.

Breakfast? Absolutely.

Teeth brushed? Here’s hoping!

Tooth decay is an important concern for most parents. And, according to the Surgeon General, it’s the cause of 51 million lost school hours each year.

According to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, pediatric dental disease is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.

Dental and periodontal diseases have been linked to a hefty handful of major chronic conditions, such as heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes, strokes, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer’s, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sometimes it’s really hard to know how well our kids are taking care of their teeth, but with so much at stake, it’s worth it to get involved to make sure your child is prepared for a lifetime of oral health.

Here are some ways you can help make sure younger childrens’ teeth are brushed well enough:

•    Teach proper brushing technique, which is to brush gently in small circles, with the brush angled away from the child’s gums.

•    Once your child seems ready to brush, let him try!

•    After he brushes for about a minute (which will feel like a long time the first few times!) you take over the brushing.

•    While you’re brushing, give lots of praise and encouragement for the great brushing your child has done.

•    If your child is consistently missing a certain spot, try teaching her from another angle. Sometimes standing behind the child, cradling her head in your arm and letting her hold the brush while you provide hand-over-hand assistance will show your child how to make brushing work from a better angle.

•    When you think it’s time to let your child do the brushing on her own, let her take over the morning or evening routine, but keep the other routine the same, so you can ensure that missed spots aren’t overlooked for too long.

Before you know it, you’ll have a pro-brusher on your hands!

Stop the Nagging Cycle!

Looking for Ways to Help Kids Brush Better?

“Brush your teeth!” You say for the 5th or 10th or 28th time this week. Why do some kids need constant reminders to brush their teeth?

If you’re one of the many frustrated parents who finds yourself wondering that very thing fairly often, one of the major things to consider is whether your messages about the importance of good oral hygiene are geared toward the right audience.

Teaching Preschoolers About the Importance of Good Oral Care

Getting most preschoolers to brush their teeth regularly (and well) is as simple as finding ways to make it fun. Try different things, like putting a mirror low enough for your child to see himself while he brushes (kids love to look at themselves in the mirror!) or make up your own silly “brush your teeth” songs. If those ideas don’t seem like the ticket to getting your kiddo to take up the task of thorough, regular brushing, consider making brushing a fun game, or creating a sticker chart, which, once completed, promises a reward.

How to Discuss Oral Care with Younger Grade-Schoolers

By the time many children have entered grade school, they are much more comfortable with trips to the dentist’s office. This is very handy for teaching kids about the importance of brushing! Ask your dentist to talk about how good home-brushing and flossing habits can mean less time getting their teeth cleaned by the hygienists. Your family dentist is also one of your best allies in explaining how important brushing and flossing are to avoiding cavities.

Oral Care for Older Grade-Schoolers

As our children get a little older, it gets much harder to make sure they are taking good care of their hygiene in general. By approximately the age of 10 (depending on the child), children are far less willing to have their parents checking on their cleanliness. No more peeking in the shower to make sure they’re actually soaping up; way more moaning and complaining when you tell them to smile so you can check for plaque.

By those same ages, however, children DO understand the concept of responsibilities – at least better than younger children. If you are able to teach your older grade-schooler that it is his or her responsibility to keep teeth well brushed and flossed, you’re well on your way to ensuring that child’s good oral health.

If that child isn’t buying the “responsibility talk,” however, perhaps he or she would be more motivated by consequences. When used properly – by not being harsh or threatening things you would not deliver – consequences can be a good motivator for stubborn children. Figure out their currency. Is it video gaming? Watching TV? Going to a friend’s house? Tell him or her that the consequence for not brushing and flossing is losing that privilege they hold so dear. Then follow through – every time. Yes, it’s hard for both of you. But poor oral health is harder – for both of you!

Using the “Fear Factor” to Show Your Preteens the Necessity of Brushing and Flossing

If your preteen – or even young teen – is still slacking on his or her brushing and flossing, one of your best weapons is showing them evidence of the consequences of not taking responsibility for their oral health. Yes. That’s right. Google some really ugly pictures of tooth decay, print them out and get ready for a serious discussion about how your teen’s teeth could easily turn out that way if they can’t come to terms with a few minutes of brushing twice a day and once daily flossing.

As harsh as it sounds, this little dose of reality is all it takes for most preteens and young teens – who are highly concerned with their appearances! – to step up to the sink and get the job done right every day.

No matter the age of your child, there are ways to make sure they learn the importance of proper daily oral hygiene.

If you’re looking for other ways to support your children’s oral health, consider adding oral care probiotics to your child’s brushing and flossing routines. EvoraKids Wild Very Berry probiotic chews are specifically formulated to meet the oral health needs of children. For children ages 11 and up, EvoraPlus probiotic mints not only meet those needs – they also freshen breath. If your preteen or teen has that infamous teenager bad breath, they might really need the extra boost!

Children and Gum Disease

Think Periodontal Disease is Just for Adults?

You brush your children’s teeth every day, and then you take them to the dentist for cleanings and to check for tooth decay. You expect the dentist may point out teeth that are crowding, or poor brushing habits. But what about periodontal disease?

Yes, your children can have periodontal disease. In fact, some studies indicate that nearly all children have gingivitis – the very first stage of periodontal disease.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

Keep alert for these signs of periodontal disease. If you notice any of these symptoms between dental appointments, you may wish to schedule an appointment to have your child assessed.

Bad Breath

Does your child’s breath stink? It might mean something… Sometimes children have bad breath because they don’t brush thoroughly, or because they don’t floss. It could be a sign of strep throat or a sinus infection. Or it could be a sign of periodontal disease. If your child has persistent bad breath, you need to have him or her examined by a dentist to determine the cause.

Bleeding Gums

Gums that bleed while brushing (when there are no loose teeth in the mouth) are an indication of gum inflammation. Children should not have gum inflammation.

Puffy Gums

Swollen or puffy gums are another symptom of periodontal disease, or its predecessor, gingivitis. You may also notice that puffy or swollen gums are red.

Receding Gums

Receding gums, or gums that are pulling away from teeth, can expose the roots of the teeth. This is very dangerous for the teeth and can lead to the loss of permanent teeth.

It’s important to understand that there are many considerations for childrens’ oral health. When it comes to your kids’ mouths, it’s not just about tooth decay. Be alert for symptoms of periodontal disease, and if you notice any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to contact your dentist.

Here’s another great video to inspire your little ones to do their best when brushing their teeth.

We’re always looking for great ways to inspire kids to take good care of their teeth, so we were super excited to stumble across this new video created by Uplift Comics.

See, as most parents know, there’s no one way to teach your kids to do anything. In fact, the best way to teach your children to do things is to show them a variety of ways to do something, and then repeat yourself often. We also know that kids tend to learn well when things are set to music, which is what makes video clips so great.

Enjoy!

Click here to watch now!

Sesame Street Play Shows How to Protect Teeth From Decay

In Sesame Street tradition, this video shows Bert worrying and attempting to rally those around him, while the show just goes on. In this case, the show is about brushing your teeth, and how to protect them from decay.

Share this gem with your kids to help them understand what decay is, and what they can do to prevent it.

Good News For the Tooth Fairy

Tackling the Sweet Tooth Head On

If you’re one of the many parents who has wondered if there is anything you can do to cure your child’s sweet tooth, the news is good: yes, you can!

Let’s start with the basics – having a sweet tooth is just a figure of speech. Teeth, themselves, do not prefer any particular types of food. Studies have actually shown that children form their food preferences based on the foods offered to them by their parents.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help your little ones not develop that nagging sweet tooth that could lead to REAL tooth problems down the road!

Limit Sweets

It may sound like a simple tip, but really think about it. How often do you offer your kids sweets? Once a day? Several times each day? Many parents and caregivers still use foods as a reward. Even schools use food rewards, offering kids ice cream parties for completing tasks!

Ideally, we should only indulge in sweets once a week. No matter how old you are or how old your children are, this is a good rule to establish and follow.  It’s good to keep this rule in mind when something out of the ordinary is on the week’s schedule – like that in-school ice cream party, or an upcoming family get-together. Teaching children that the exception follows the rule of only one sweet per week will really help keep those sugar cravings at bay.

Model Behavior

Regardless of the temptations in your personal life, be true to your commitment to cut out sweets. It’s a great step to take toward a lifetime of better health and once you get used to eating fewer sugary snacks, you’ll probably start feeling much better.

Teach Your Children About Food

Bring your children to the supermarkets and let them see that stores are filled to the brim with foods that are both unhealthy and healthy, and that making the healthy choices is really up to us. The grocery store is also a fantastic place to talk with your children about eating a diverse array of foods to keep our bodies healthy.

Cooking Is a Great Place to Start

Since kids love to help, a great place to get them involved in making good food choices – and in curbing those sweet-tooth tendencies – is to recruit them in the kitchen. They can help with food prep, measuring and reading recipes in the kitchen. They can also help prep the table for a meal and – perhaps even more importantly for tired moms and dads – they can get involved in post-meal clean up.

Time to Start Preparing For Fall!

Get Your Back to School Groove On!

This week marks the final days of July, which can only mean one thing: Let the back-to-school preparations begin!

Getting Back on Schedule

In the month ahead, it’s a good idea to get your children back on a regular sleeping schedule, gradually putting them to bed a little earlier each night and waking them a little earlier each morning. If you begin this process several weeks before school begins, your children should transition more smoothly into the back-to-school schedule, and those first few weeks of going to bed early enough to wake on time for school shouldn’t be such a struggle.

Cement Your Routines

If your child has gotten into some bad habits during the summer – like waiting for a late breakfast, not getting dressed right after she wakes or even not keeping her room as clean as you would like her to – now is the time to get her back on track. Helping your child understand what your expectations of her are and helping her live up to those expectations will go a long way toward making your home life more peaceful as you ease back into your school rhythm.

Now is also a great time to ensure you have your child’s transportation plans for school in place. If you drive your child to school, make sure pick up and drop off times and locations haven’t changed.

Keep an Eye on Tooth Brushing Habits

When you’re suddenly rushing around get ready for bed at night or prepped for school in the morning, it can be easy to forget simple things. Just ask teachers how often kids end up at school with breakfast on their faces or their hair unbrushed! As you readjust your children’s schedule to better accommodate the demands of the school year, be sure that good oral care doesn’t fall to the wayside. Make sure your kids are brushing twice a day, flossing and, for good measure, using oral care probiotics. EvoraKids oral care probiotics can reach into the cracks and crevices of teeth untouched by brushing and flossing. These beneficial bacteria support tooth health and support the unique oral health needs of kids.

The Anatomy of a Smile

Getting to Know Your Teeth

Helping children get to know their teeth is one of the many ways to get them actively involved in taking good care of their own teeth.

Teach children these terms and their meanings, and as you teach them to brush, talk about what teeth (or parts of the teeth) they are now brushing. Not only does this help children take responsibility for their teeth, it also helps them understand whether they are addressing all of the teeth and tooth surfaces when they are brushing on their own.

Crown – The part of the tooth you see.

Cusps – The rounded high parts of the back teeth.

Enamel – The hard white outer covering of the tooth.

Root – You can’t see the roots of our teeth, but they do the very important job of holding teeth in the jawbone.

Dentin – You also can’t see a tooth’s dentin, which is the bone-like substance inside the tooth.

Pulp – The pulp is like a house for the nerves and blood vessels at the center of the crown and root.

Our teeth are shaped differently based on the jobs they do.

Incisors – The eight incisors in the front of the mouth (your four front teeth in both the upper and lower jaw). These teeth are meant for biting, and have sharp, chisel-shaped crowns that cut food.

Cuspids – We have four cuspid teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. These teeth flank the front incisors, and are used to tear food.

Premolars (bicuspid teeth) – These four teeth are the neighbors for the four cuspids. They are used to crush and tear food.

Molars – These teeth come in sets of threes at the very back of the mouth. Their wide surfaces grind food.

Help your kids get to know their teeth, so they can embrace brushing for a healthy smile!

Don’t Stress!

Your Anxiety Helps Create Your Children’s Fears of the Dentist

It’s not unusual for children to be afraid of a visit to the dentist, even if it’s their first time in the dentist’s chair. Maybe they learn to be afraid because they sense our anxiety that it might not be a pleasant experience. Maybe one of their preschool buddies had more than their share of cavities and was all-too-willing to tell the tales of the dentist’s chair. Or maybe they are just fearful of the unknown.

One thing is for sure – when your child is afraid of something (like a trip to the dentist), it’s up to you to be the good influence who shows your kiddo that there’s nothing to fear.

Easing Your Child’s Fears of the Dentist

Be a good example. If you skip dental appointments or make a fuss about getting a cleaning or filling when you need one, your child will pick up on your anxieties. Since children – just like adults – need dental cleanings every six months, keeping a good outlook on trips to the dentist will go a long way toward future success. Changing your mind about the dentist will go a long way toward easing your overall stress, too. Regular cleanings are one of the best ways to make dental visits completely uneventful.

Don’t force it. If your kiddo is stressed about visiting the dentist, go easy on how much you expect to be accomplished at the visit. Try to get your child to relax in the chair, check out the equipment and see that nothing bad is happening to the other patients.

Take home care seriously. Children who brush twice daily and floss once daily are far less likely to have problems with their teeth and gums. If your children want their trips to the dentist to not include treating cavities, remind them of the importance of thorough brushing and daily flossing. Adding an oral care probiotic like EvoraKids also supports tooth health and may help kids feel a little more confident about their trips to the dentist.