dental drama sm

Each night at my house there’s a show after dinner. I call it dental drama. As I approach my son’s mouth with the toothbrush, he closes it tight. I ply him with sparkly, watermelon-flavored toothpaste. Still, he resists. I threaten. He negotiates. After several minutes, he lets me brush. As I do, he sucks off the toothpaste, bites the toothbrush and gags for effect. With antics like this, it’s no surprise the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) reports more than half of children have cavities by second grade. If you have season tickets to the dental drama, read on for expert, show-stopping advice.


At-Home Hygiene

Kids need to brush at least twice a day and floss between teeth, and parent involvement is critical. “Most kids aren’t able to brush by themselves until they can tie their own shoes and cut food with a knife and fork,” says Dr. Rhea Haugseth, a pediatric dentist in Marietta, Ga., and President of the AAPD. “Before that, their motor skills and coordination aren’t up to the task.” Parents should expect to brush kids’ teeth until age 7 or 8, and to floss them until age 9 or 10.

Some kids resist brushing because they want to retain control. Others may be intimidated by the process itself. Your child may fear you’ll be rough with the toothbrush, or that they’ll choke on toothpaste and saliva. Go easy on the toothpaste and break brushing into segments so your child has time to calm down (and spit) in between. The fast and furious approach may be over-stimulating.

It’s best to brush kids’ teeth right after dinner, says Haugseth. Doing so removes food particles several hours before bedtime and keeps dental drama from interfering with your wind-down routine. Sing a song or use a timer, so your child knows how long brushing will last. If you make it a silly song, you may just steal the show.


Pre-Visit Prep

“We encourage parents to bring their child in for an initial dental visit when their first few teeth erupt, usually between 6 and 12 months of age,” says Dr. Chad Denman, DDS. Early dental exams help establish good oral health habits and familiarity with the dentist. Infants usually sit in a parent’s lap during the exam.

Like adults, kids fear the unknown. Explain what to expect using non-threatening, age-appropriate language. Avoid words like “needle” or “drill.” Your child’s imagination may run wild. Describe procedures in fun, familiar terms. Taking x-rays is “taking pictures of your teeth,” polishing teeth is “tooth washing.” The suction tube is a tiny vacuum for spit. Calling it a “spit sucker” turns drama into comedy.

Knowledge is powerful. Read Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist to teach kids the basics and Throw Your Tooth on the Roof to address loss of the primary teeth. Practice helps, too. Use a rotary toothbrush at home to familiarize your child with the sounds and sensations of dental equipment.

“The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude about the dentist,” says Dr. George Lynch, a pediatric dentist. Many moms and dads have unpleasant memories of their own childhood dental visits.

“I usually have to remind them that the world of dentistry has improved immensely,” says Lynch. Distasteful, chalky toothpaste and heavy-handed hygienists are things of the past. Let your child form opinions based on personal experience.


In the Office

Dental instruments and procedures can be frightening.

“Sometimes kids dislike the noise or vibration of the prophy—what we use to clean their teeth—or they fear the suction device,” says Dr. Neda Kalantar, a pediatric dentist. They may worry the instrument will hurt, or that their teeth or tongue will be sucked out.

Dentists and hygienists use the tell-show-do technique to ease kids’ fears, says Kalantar. They’re also incredibly patient. Expect the dentist to explain what she’ll do, show your child the instruments and materials she’ll use, and then—once your child knows what’s coming—gently do the work.

Procedures involving the drill are the most frightening, says Denman.

“The child has to breathe through his nose during the procedure, because of the water shooting out from the drill into the back of the throat. The tongue and cheek have to be held back by an assistant.”

The odor that develops when a tooth is cut can be unnerving, too. Enhance your child’s confidence by praising his brave, helpful behavior before and after treatment.

Consider your child’s dentist a health-care partner. To get the most out of your visit, come prepared with questions. If you have concerns about your child’s oral hygiene habits, thumb sucking or cavities, discuss them with the dentist in private. 


-----------------
Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D, is a personality psychologist and mom of two. She shares psychology lessons for life at heidiluedtke.com/blog.

Ask Ms. Lydia: What Questions Should I Ask When Looking for a Preschool?

Ask Ms. Lydia: What Questions Should I Ask When Looking for a Preschool?

Dear Ms. Lydia, My husband and I just recently moved to the San Diego area and need to find a preschool for our 3-year-old son. We are overwhelmed with all the choices. There are so many different . . .

Read more

Little Kids in Weddings: Tips for ring bearers and flower girls

Little Kids in Weddings: Tips for ring bearers and flower girls

My first memory: I’m 3, wearing the prettiest, fluffiest dress in the whole world. I’m holding hands with a yucky boy and carrying a wicker basket full of flowers. I’m beaming with anxious joy . . .

Read more

Tips to Foster a Child's Love of Reading

Tips to Foster a Child's Love of Reading

Get your child involved in books and foster a lifelong love of reading. Here are tips from PBS Kids:  Visit the local library often. Get kids their own library card. Attend storytimes a . . .

Read more

Silly Songs to Get Chores Done

Silly Songs to Get Chores Done

Sing it Clean: 8 Silly Songs to Get Chores DoneMotivating a preschooler to clean up can be as frustrating as herding cats. Instead of sending your toddler into a tailspin when playtime is over, enco . . .

Read more

Teach Math and Science to Preschoolers

Teach Math and Science to Preschoolers

What is the right age to start learning about math and science? You may be surprised to learn that your preschooler is ready to be introduced to more than rote counting and discussing the . . .

Read more

7 Tips for Dealing with Picky Eaters

7 Tips for Dealing with Picky Eaters

I don’t like Brussels spouts. Why does broccoli look like trees? Vegetables make me throw up. Why can’t we just order McDonald’s?We’ve all heard these phrases or something similar uttered by . . .

Read more

What Parents Should Know about Children's Oral Health Care

What Parents Should Know about Children's Oral Health Care

Like many areas of the body, a person’s mouth is teeming with bacteria, most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing . . .

Read more

How to Make the Most of the First Day of Preschool

How to Make the Most of the First Day of Preschool

My husband and I tried to prep our 3-year-old son Dylan, the best we could for his first day of preschool. We told him he’d be meeting all sorts of new people and making a bunch of new friends. “W . . .

Read more

Toys Your Child Can Learn and Play With

Toys Your Child Can Learn and Play With

Every parent knows that children learn most by playing. Through play, children learn how to explore their lives, peers and surroundings, how things work and the difference between success and failur . . .

Read more

10 Ideas to Help Children Read Outside of the Classroom

10 Ideas to Help Children Read Outside of the Classroom

“Learning how to read should not be confined to the classroom,” said Amy Jo Dowd, Ph.D., education research advisor for Save the Children.  “There are many fun ways that parents, communit . . .

Read more

How to Fund Your Child's Education

How to Fund Your Child's Education

While most of us realize that we will need to save money for our children’s college educations, we may need to figure out how to start funding our children’s education quite a few years earlier . . .

Read more

Make Play a Priority

Make Play a Priority

You’ve heard it time and time again, “The first five years of a child’s life are the most critical to their development.” This idea is not anything new, but recent research shows just how much . . .

Read more

8 Questions to Ask Yourself When Purchasing Holiday Toys

8 Questions to Ask Yourself When Purchasing Holiday Toys

Pediatric occupational therapists say items that focus on motor skill development, cognitive learning provide best value when it comes to kids The holiday season provides the opportunity to unabashed . . .

Read more

Asthma Medicines Increase the Risk of Cavities

Asthma Medicines Increase the Risk of Cavities

Did you know that your child’s asthma medicine can weaken healthy enamel, making teeth vulnerable to dental disease? “Caries” is the term that dentists use to describe dental disease. You an . . .

Read more

How to Make Reading Irresisitable to Boys

How to Make Reading Irresisitable to Boys

I want my son to love books, so I began reading to him when he was tiny. Despair descended when, at 6 months old, he was more interested in eating books than reading them. But I wiped off the drool . . .

Read more

How to Help Your Kindergartener Make a Smooth Transition into School

How to Help Your Kindergartener Make a Smooth Transition into School

Help your kindergartener score a smoother transition into school. Kicking Off Kindergarten For many parents, kindergarten signals a major milestone from the all-consuming baby and toddler years. . . .

Read more

The Privileges System for Children

The Privileges System for Children

It is possible to raise kind, well-mannered children with no yelling, no spanking, and no time-outs. When I created the Privileges System three years ago, my daughter needed boundaries… fast. I al . . .

Read more

Toothbrushing Tips for Kids

Toothbrushing Tips for Kids

Each night at my house there’s a show after dinner. I call it dental drama. As I approach my son’s mouth with the toothbrush, he closes it tight. I ply him with sparkly, watermelon-flavored toot . . .

Read more

Traveling with Food Allergies

Traveling with Food Allergies

Traveling can be extremely stressful for the 12 million Americans with food allergies and 3 million with celiac disease. In fact, most people with food allergies and sensitivities list traveling and . . .

Read more

8 Tips On Encouraging Your Kids To Be Close

8 Tips On Encouraging Your Kids To Be Close

Friendly Siblings–what’s the secret? We’ve all dreamed of them. Many of us have actually seen them. But how do we actually raise them? I’m talking about siblings who get along, those myster . . .

Read more

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!

Subscribe