Smiles Are Forever

There’s nothin’ sweeter than a healthy, toothy grin.

We asked Dr. Montsérrat Bouvier, mom to 12-year old Sofia and 5-year old twins Ariana and Jordi, a few questions about taking care of our children’s pearly whites.

What is the recommended age to start bringing your child to the Dentist?
By the first birthday. This first visit would be mostly of a preventive nature to review diet, toothbrushing, thumbsucking, etc., and getting an initial exam of the child’s dentition and bone structure.

How often should I book visits for them?
Ideally, you should book a visit every 6 months to catch any problems at their onset. Regular visits help the child get acclimatized to the dental office environment and feel comfortable with the doctor.

What is a realistic age to expect my child to brush her teeth on her own?
Brushing and flossing should be supervised up until 7 to 8 years of age. Dr. Montserrat lets her kids do it on their own once a day and supervises at bedtime.

Is kids’ toothpaste effective? It tastes so sweet.
Fluoridated toothpaste is not recommended for use up to the age of 3 (until they can adequately spit it out as excess fluoride ingestion can be detrimental to the formation of the permanent teeth). Use either plain water or non-fluoridated toothpaste until then. 

Do you recommend automatic toothbrushes or the regular kind?
Both are fine as long as soft bristles are used and thrown out when they are frayed. Involve the kids and get them to choose one with a character they like, helps with those fussy brushers!

Can permanent teeth decay before they even grow in?
Permanent teeth cannot decay before they erupt. It’s a simple mathematical equation: tooth decay = sugar + bugs (microorganisms living in mouth). The only things that can alter permanent teeth as they develop inside the jawbone is excess fluoride, medications (like antibiotics), poor diet, health issues.

What is your position on juice?
Moderation is key. Most juices are merely water and sugar with little if no nutritional value. In my home, juice boxes are non-existent and all juice is diluted with water.

What about gum?
Of course only sugarless gum should be used. It can actually stimulate salivary flow which helps in cleansing teeth (not as good as toothbrushing but a good adjunct). Just make sure they don’t swallow it! The other issue with constant gum chewing, which should be discouraged for anyone, is possible damage to the jaw joints and wearing down of the teeth.

Some kids are afraid of going to the dentist. What can parents do to help in that area?
The most important thing is not to project any fears you have (no matter what your own dentist issues are) and to choose your words carefully. Saying “Don’t worry, it’s not going to HURT”, gets interpreted as “What? Should it hurt?” Say things like “he/she will count your teeth, will clean them with a special toothbrush, you’ll sit in this really cool chair that goes up and down, they have a special treasure box where you can get a treat at the end…” instead.

As a mom and a dentist, do you have any extra tips for us?
Regular dental visits, healthy varied diet low in sugar and processed foods, supervised brushing at night time and daily flossing of all teeth that touch next to each other. Often, there are issues with kids who don’t want to brush their teeth. Do it together as a family (monkey see, monkey do), get them to pick their toothbrush with their favourite character, if the toothpaste makes them gag then forget about it, sing a silly song while brushing, anything to diminish the power struggle.

Now that’s something we can get our teeth into.

Tested by Andrea T., Ottawa