Dr. Rachel Gagen is a pediatric resident and a member of the MCG Child Advocacy Group at the MCG Children's Medical Center. Special

You're never fully dressed without a smile

Kid Doc

It's that time of year when the kids go back to school, and families work to get back to a routine. There never seems to be enough time to get it all done, and sometimes dental hygiene is the last thing on your list. It's important, however, to include tooth brushing in your kids' routines.

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Our children follow our example, so make brushing together before bed a family activity. Let them see you floss and brush. Remind your kids that keeping their teeth and gums healthy allows them to eat. For instance, let them list the foods they would miss the most if they didn't have any teeth. Also remind them that teeth help them to speak, and have them practice saying "healthy teeth" to see how useful teeth are. Show them pictures of their beautiful, clean smiles!

Snack time is another opportunity to keep your kids' teeth healthy. Fruits such as oranges, bananas, apples, pears and strawberries are sweet treats that are much better for your child's growing body and teeth. Raisins and other dried fruits are also good snacks but stick to teeth and can cause decay. So encourage brushing afterwards.

I always try to explain to my patients and their parents not just what I recommend for their health, but why. Brushing three times a day is good advice, but without any incentives, it's just more advice that doesn't get followed. So let's find reasons that appeal to each age group and to their parents to keep their pearly-whites pearly white.

Babies

WHAT: Even before you see that first tooth, it's important to wipe your baby's gums after each feeding with a soft clean cloth.

WHY: Your baby enjoys every minute spent with you. This is a good bonding experience and it will cut down on cavities down the road!

Children younger than 8 with teeth

WHAT: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean teeth after eating. Toothpaste is not as important for younger kids who usually swallow the paste (which could lead to dental fluorosis or permanent spots on the teeth). More important is establishing good brushing habits. Help your children learn to brush by having them stand with their backs to your chest and both facing the mirror. Supervise brushing until you are confident your children have the manual dexterity to do it on their own. Start flossing when your children's teeth are touching one another and you can't brush in between them.

WHY: Tell your children that brushing means when they go to the dentist (recommended every year starting at age 1), they'll get a high-five! Brushing helps prevent toothaches and the heartaches of getting fillings.

Children older than 8

WHAT: Brush, brush, brush. Pack a toothbrush and a travel-size tube of paste in your children's lunchboxes. Give rewards (an extra five minutes of TV, an extra bedtime story) if your children brush without your reminder. Brushing before bed is essential to prevent the extra decay that can go on at night.

WHY: Ask your children to think of their favorite movie stars or singers: Do they have food between their teeth? Or have them look at pictures of their heroes: Do they have nice smiles? A healthy, happy smile makes you both look and feel better!

For web-surfing parents and kids, there are games on these sites that teach and inspire good dental hygiene:

www.adha.org/kidstuff/games.htm

www.toothfairy.org

animatedtooth.com/kids-world.colgatepalmolive.com/

www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/wisdomtooth/

Dr. Rachel Gagen is a pediatric resident and a member of the MCG Child Advocacy Group at the MCG Children's Medical Center.

--From the Tuesday, September 28, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle