Another first

Today we had our first trip to the dentist! A pediatric dentist, recommended by our pediatrician.
This first visit is primarily to educate the parent(s), which I heartily needed. This is what I learned for any mommies out there who might be interested:

1. Best way to brush baby's teeth: sit on floor with baby's head in your lap; brush at the gum line at a 45 degree angle. Gums should briefly turn white to show you are using the right amount of pressure. Of course, the lap may not be ideal for everyone...not sure how this will change our routine, but it is the best "hands free" way for the parent doing the brushing to manipulate the cheeks and tongue out of the way when necessary.

2. First dental visit is recommended after 1 year old. We waited b/c she didn't have a lot of teeth then. She is still "behind the curve" as far as the number of teeth. But, I think....hey, less teeth exposed to junk!

3. Fluoride toothpaste IS acceptable. The demonstration toothbrush looked like the amount was even LESS than a pea....Dentist said it would still foam up and if swallowed, should not cause a stomachache or anything. Yeah! This rests my concerns since she really isn't into drinking that fluoridated water.

4. Two is a good age to start teaching spitting. Oh boy...

5. As soon as teeth touch each other, begin flossing. The lap method accomodates either "real floss" or the floss sticks. We're currently using the floss sticks. I floss and then she can chew on it. ha ha.

6. Dentist said AGE 9 is when children really first get the ability to brush "well" themselves.
Practice, of course, is encouraged before then. :)







7. Crowded baby teeth and a cross-bite can foreshadow the need for braces. The bite thing is sometimes caused by thumb-sucking or pacifier-use. So far so good!

8. Gummy things....vitamins, candy, etc....are VERY bad!! Our vitamins are Flinstones, so no worries.

9. Two times a day brushing is fine...the first can even be the child as long as the parent does a really good brushing before bedtime.

Since she did so well with the lap visit, in 6 months she'll graduate to the "real cleaning" in the big chair. Oooh. Dentist said she had "nice adjective" teeth...I don't remember...beautiful, wonderful, something like that. I am just pleased to know she inherited her maternal teeth! :) (sorry, daddy)

"I had fun dentist" has now been added to her list of sentences. And of course, choosing a toy from the treasure chest was the highlight. Her choice? A purple silly band....more of a bracelet...it had no particular shape. (Whew, she is all girl...)

Me? I would have chosen the bathtub frog! :) Maybe next time........