admin – Dr. Ashcraft Pediatric

October 26, 2018

9 Ways to Make Brushing Fun!

You can start using a finger toothbrush or a baby toothbrush to brush your baby’s teeth.

It takes many years before children develop the fine motor coordination they need to do a good tooth brushing job. One dentist advises that parents brush their children’s teeth until the child can neatly write his or her own name. Other dentists suggest parents use their own judgment, but think about ages six, seven, or eight, as a time for kids to take on the job of keeping their teeth clean and healthy.

While brushing is usually a fun experience, your child may go through a cranky phase when he or she hates to brush. if this happens, try not to make tooth brushing a battleground. Be casual and lighthearted about it all, brushing your own teeth with great gusto and delight, so your child sees how much fun he or she is missing.
Remember that bedtime brushing is most important and, during the day, offer your
child lots of plain water after meals.

Here are some ways to make brushing fun and easy for parents and kids:

Brush with your child — Stand next to your child in front of the bathroom mirror and brush together. It’s a nice time together, and your child can mimic your brushing technique.
Cute toothbrushes — There are lots of great-looking children’s brushes available in stores. Be sure to choose a toothbrush that’s small enough for your child to hold comfortably, with a small, rounded head and very soft, polished bristles. You’ll probably have to replace toothbrushes every three to four months (more often for preschoolers who tend to chew while they brush!). For babies, a soft finger toothbrush is easy for you to use. Always replace your toothbrush after a cold.
Tasty toothpaste — For children under 4, choose a product formulated especially for children, like Baby Orajel Tooth and Gum Cleanser. It has a special mild flavor that babies and toddlers love, in Fruit or Apple-Banana. It’s also safe to swallow and non-abrasive. So tooth and gum care is easier and more fun.
Count as you brush — Count out loud as you brush each tooth: “Tooth number one is all clean! Tooth number two is all clean! Here comes tooth number three!” This is entertaining for your child, and a good way to practice counting.
Say Ahhhhh! — You can’t say “ahhh” with your mouth closed. As you brush his or her teeth, encourage your child to say “ahhh,” varying the pitch, tone, and rhythm to keep things interesting.
Bring a friend — At bedtime, kids may want to invite a favorite stuffed animal into the bathroom to watch as they brush.
Tell a toothy story — Kids love to hear favorite stories again and again. Try making up a special short story that you tell only during teeth-brushing time. It can be simple and silly, like this one: “Once there was a little girl (or boy) who had very, very dirty teeth! Oh no! said the little girl. What should I do? Boo hoo! Boo hoo! (At this point, your child can supply the sound effects.) Then all at once, a magic fairy appeared and said, I have a special treat for you! It’s a magic toothbrush! Hooray! said the little girl (boy). The magic toothbrush jumped up and brushed the dirty teeth just like this (you brush teeth), until they were as shiny as the stars in the sky. This made the little girl (boy) smile the biggest smile in the whole wide world — just like this smile right now. (Your child smiles a big smile at the mirror.) The end.”
Make a sticker poster — Hang a piece of bright construction paper on the bathroom wall. Each time your child has a thorough brushing, he or she can choose a sticker or star and put it on the poster. You can also have your child color in Thomas, Percy, James and Gordon on our Thomas & Friends “Brushing Chart”
Sing a toothy song — Make up a silly song to sing every time you brush. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. Try something like this, sung to the tune of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm:”

“Now we’re gonna brush your teeth! E-i-e-i-oh! And then they’re gonna be all clean. E-i-e-i-oh! With a brush, brush here and a brush, brush there, Here a brush, there a brush, everywhere a brush, brush, Now your teeth are nice and clean! E-i-e-i-oh!”

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018

American Academy of Pediatrics: No juice for babies, limited servings for children

Citing its relationship with dental decay, among other health-related concerns, the American Academy of Pediatrics in May released a policy statement recommending no fruit juice for children under 1 year.

“We know that excessive fruit juice can lead to excessive weight gain and tooth decay,” said co-author of the statement Steven A. Abrams, M.D., in a news release.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations say juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 12 months of age and that it should be given in limited amounts to children 1-18. The group also said, citing recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, that toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime or from bottles or easily transportable, covered cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day.

Dr. Valerie Peckosh, a pediatric dentist in Iowa and a member of the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention, applauded the statement, calling it a “strong message that fruit juice is not a necessary or even a desirable part of a healthy diet for young children.”

“We still have a lot of parents who think fruit juice is a health food and that their children need it,” said Dr. Peckosh. “Dentists may want to familiarize themselves with the new statement so they can counsel families on the appropriate use of fruit juices.”

The ADA encourages dentists to stay abreast of the latest science-based nutrition recommendations and nutrition related screening, counseling and referral techniques. It also encourages collaborations with dietitians and other nutrition experts to raise interprofessional awareness about the relationship between diet, nutrition and oral health, according to an ADA House of Delegates resolution (Res. 60H-2016).

Dentists can refer patients to MouthHealthy.org, ADA’s consumer website, for up-to-date and evidenced-based information about nutrition.

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018

Sip and Snack All Day? Risk Decay!

Do you sip soft drinks or other sugary drinks (even coffee or tea with milk and sugar) all day at your desk?
Do you use breath mints or eat candy often?
Instead of eating meals, do you snack all day?
Do you often grab a soda, sports or energy drink when you are tired?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be increasing your chances of developing cavities.

What and how often you eat can affect your teeth

Certain eating patterns and food choices can lead to tooth erosion and cavities. A steady supply of sugary foods and drinks, including sports drinks, sodas and energy drinks, can damage your teeth. Even snacking on healthy foods like oranges and dried fruit all day long can increase your risk of erosion and cavities. Here’s why:

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. When you do not remove plaque from your teeth every day, it builds up. The bacteria in plaque create acid from eating the sugars found in what you eat and drink. This acid attacks enamel, the hard surface of the tooth. The acid stays on the enamel for up to 20 minutes after you are finished eating and drinking. Eventually, the enamel can wear away from these acids and cavities can start to form. Cavities do not go away on their own and must be treated by a dentist.

When you have sugary foods or drinks many times a day or over a long time, it exposes the enamel of your teeth to acid attacks throughout the day. This raises your risk of tooth erosion and getting cavities.

Read food and drink labels so you can choose options that are low in sugar.

A healthy diet keeps your mouth healthy

Eating a well-balanced diet may improve your chances of avoiding diseases like heart disease, type II diabetes, and oral diseases, like cavities.

For teeth to be healthy, they need vitamins, protein, calcium, and phosphorous – and you can get them all from a healthy diet.

A healthy diet is one that:

includes a variety of whole fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, like brown rice and oatmeal.
adds different protein sources such as lean meats, beans, eggs, poultry, fish, cheese and Greek yogurt.
is low in saturated fats, trans fats, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
is well-balanced and based on eating foods in amounts according to your specific height, age, weight, gender and activity level.

You cannot and should not remove all sugar from your diet. Many foods and drinks – like apples, carrots, and milk – naturally contain sugars and have key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that your body needs. Avoiding foods that contain a lot of sugar but few other nutrients will lower your chance of developing cavities and have other health benefits, too!

Lower your risk of cavities

Avoid sugary drinks when possible. Many sports and energy drinks as well as sodas and sweetened teas all have a lot of sugar. Even fruit juices that are “100% juice” are high in sugar.
Limit snacks between meals. Choose foods that are low in sugar and fat, like an apple or handful of almonds. Try to follow-up with a glass of water. This can help rinse bits of food in your mouth, but it does NOT replace brushing and flossing regularly.
If you have sugary foods and drinks, have them with meals. Saliva increases during meals which helps weaken acid and rinse bits of food from your mouth.
Chew sugarless gum that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Chewing gum after meals has been shown to increase saliva and can help reduce cavities.
Drink water. Drinking tap water with fluoride (FLOOR-eyed) can help prevent cavities.
See your dentist regularly.