It takes a
Village by Dr. John F. Miller DDS
Motherhood. What do I know about it, right? Very little I’m sure, but...I’ve had some great examples in my life. Naturally my own mother has had a major influence thus far; and presently my amazing wife as she is approaching her maternal 13-year mark. My wife of course is a woman, so we discuss everything that is on her mind. This happens most nights as we lie in bed gleaning every second of the only quiet moment we get to spend together. From these conversations I’ve gathered insight enough to describe the life of a Mother as a Shakespearean roller coaster. Tragedies, Comedies, smelly pre-teen boys. Our daughter is just months away from her teen years, and if the last few years are any indication of what’s to come we better buckle up. I feel like we are standing in line for a ride that we do not yet meet the height requirement for. But as we have learned over these last 12 and a half years, the best approach is to sit back and enjoy the ride. You see, with parenthood one should expect the unexpected because raising children, along with life in general, is a Comedy of Errors.
To prevent this transmission for as long as possible, make sure all items placed in the baby’s mouth are clean. This is especially important if the mother is prone to tooth decay and/or has active gum disease (a.k.a. periodontal disease). To be honest with the readers of 406 Women, I’m terrible at this. Me and mine share ice cream cones, straws, etc., but I try my best. Ultimately, colonization of these oral bacteria at some level or another is inevitable. Therefore, it is my opinion that you will wage a better fight by taking the approach that the best offense is a killer defense.
According to an old African proverb, it takes a village to raise a child. This village consists of relatives, neighbors, school teachers, coaches, employers, etc. We all know this is true and you’ll find yourself thinking of your unique individual villages this very moment. I think of the villagers that I make time to call upon when I have the chance to return to my hometown. The dental office was part of my village and you will be doing yourself and your children a great favor in making the dentist a consistent component of your family village. The remainder of this column will address contemporary dental care for children and the responsibility we have as parents in maintaining the oral health of our kids.
Infants on average are toothless for the first six months of their life. Their gums should still be cleansed with a soft toothbrush or a wipe of some sort. This functions to not only clean junior’s mouth but to initiate “healthy-habit” development. In addition, make sure the little one is present when you take care of your own mouth; make it a family event. Lennon, my youngest, watched me brush and floss Nayvee, Banksy, and Maxwell’s teeth every night. The result was a stubborn urge to have a toothbrush in her own toothless mouth. Now, as a 3-year-old beautiful bundle of happiness, she offers no resistance to my brushing of her teeth. In fact, she is upset when I’m done.
NEWBORNS
BABY TEETH STAGE (1 TO 6)
Babies are born devoid of the oral bacteria which cause tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. This bacteria can be transferred from mother to infant (Vertical Transmission), or even from sibling to infant (Horizontal Transmission).
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Somewhere between 6 months and 1 year a baby’s first tooth appears. Nature has provided us with this wonderful dress rehearsal that lasts until approximately 6 years of age. This is the chance as caregivers to miss cues, jumble lines, and ultimately
polish our technique and perfect our delivery. It is recommended that children be seen in the dental office at approximately 1 year of age. This initial appointment is important for the new mother to be educated in infant oral health care and again to aid in the child’s healthy-habits. During these visits the child’s teeth are not my main concern. We want to introduce a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere to the child. This typically involves chair rides, balloons, and a prize. If the child will allow me to look at the few teeth they might have, great! However, I do not force the issue if the child is not cooperative. Keeping this first visit a positive and fun experience is my main priority. At this appointment the mother will be instructed to brush their child’s teeth twice a day. In the morning after breakfast for two minutes, and immediately before bed for two minutes. In addition to brushing at night, flossing should be performed. As soon as the child can rinse without swallowing, a fluoride rinse should also be performed at night. As kids become more independent they will want to brush their own teeth. While this should be encouraged, no teeth brushing session should conclude without an adult performing a proper brushing. Mom will also learn that the most common cause of childhood tooth decay is putting the child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. If the child needs the comfort of the bottle, try and only use warm water. Also, if a snack is needed during the night, cheddar cheese has been shown to reduce tooth decay.