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Getting Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth
by
Armin Brott
www.mrdad.com
Dear Mr. Dad: Our five-year old refuses to
brush his teeth-almost every night my wife and I end up screaming at him
(and each other) and he ends up in tears. We're thinking about bagging
the whole idea. Does he really need to be brushing his teeth at this
age? If so, what can we do to make the process a little less miserable
for all of us (and our neighbors, who probably think we're torturing our
son)?
A: Okay, here's something you probably didn't know:
dental caries (better known as tooth decay or cavities) is a disease,
not just a hole in a tooth. Actually, it's the single most common
chronic childhood disease-far more common than asthma and obesity,
according to the California Dental Association. And to make matters
worse, tooth decay is contagious, just like the measles, the flu, and
small pox. The bacteria that cause decay can be passed from one person
to another by kissing or sharing drinking cups or silverware.
Pain and suffering due to untreated tooth decay can lead to problems in
eating, speaking and paying attention in school. In other words,
cavities hurt. And having them filled hurts too. (New laser treatments
are promising to make cavities and fillings pain free. But don't tell
mention that to your child.)
One way to avoid cavities is to make sure your child brushes twice a
day, every day with a soft brush. This comes directly from the top, the
ADA. Unfortunately, until your child is about six years old, he won't
have the coordination to brush his teeth on his own. He can get the
process started, but you'll need to give his mouth a once-over to make
sure the job gets done right.
As your child gets older, show him how to brush with a fluoride
toothpaste and floss on his own. There are all kinds of flavored flosses
out there that you can buy to make to task less onerous. You also might
want to pick up some disclosing tablets or drops at your local pharmacy.
You may remember these tablets from grade school. When you chew them or
swish the drops around any unbrushed spots on the teeth will show up
red. Use the tablets or drops every day for the first week that your
child is brushing solo. Then cut back to once or twice a week.
If your child refuses to brush, you've got a few options.
1. Sticks. Taking away some privileges or treats until
the teeth start gleaming.
2. Carrots. Incentives and rewards for doing the job
right. This is generally more successful then punishment.
3.
Scare tactics. Caring for your teeth and gums does more than
improve your smile and your breath. The bacteria that cause tooth decay
can get into the bloodstream, where they increase the risk of ulcers,
pneumonia, digestive problems, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This
is absolutely true.
4. Gum and candy. Yep. But not just any kind. It has to be
sugar free and sweetened with xylitol, a natural sweetener that keeps
bacteria from sticking to teeth. Chewing gum with xylitol for five
minutes after each meal has been shown to reduce cavities.
5. Sealants. About 80 percent of cavities in kids are on the
tops of their molars, and studies have shown that sealing these teeth
with a special kind of resin is extremely successful in preventing
cavities.
About the author:
Armin Brott's bestselling
books have helped
millions of men around the world become the fathers they want to be-and
their children need them to be. His most recent is Fathering Your
School-Age Child. Armin has been a guest on
hundreds of radio and
television shows, writes a nationally syndicated column, "Ask Mr.
Dad," and hosts a weekly radio show. He and his family live in Oakland,
California. You can contact him at
armin@mrdad.com.
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