As with other things in life, good dental hygiene begins with Mom

Dental Hygiene Month

As with other things in life, good dental hygiene begins with Mom

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- All mothers care about their child's health and the health of their teeth. But that care can manifest itself in very different ways.

Jennifer Flores' 7-month-old boy recently cut his first tooth, and she makes sure to wipe the tooth with a washcloth to clean it. "Dental health's a big concern for us," said Flores, 30, of Forest Grove , Ore. "That's why we don't send him to bed with a bottle. Even now, we dilute his juice, because it's got too much sugar in it."

However, Flores has been told by her dentist not to bother bringing her son in for his first checkup until he's 3 years old, about two years past the date recommended by the American Dental Hygienists Association.

"I was surprised, but he told me they can't really keep their mouths open properly until then," she said.

Dawna McLain has three kids, ages 4, 2, and 9 months, and she used a little rubber fingertip brush on their gums even before their first baby teeth erupted.

Personal experience has made her serious about oral hygiene.

"My husband and I, we both have bad teeth," said McLain, 30, of Lincoln City , Ore. "My mom has bad teeth. In my opinion, start them early and get them used to good habits."

She said she limits the amount of sugar her kids consume, steering them toward snacks such as fruits. The kids drink milk, water or watered-down juice, and they don't take their sippy cups to bed.

All her kids, even the youngest, brush their teeth. She helps them out.

McLain hasn't taught the kids how to floss, something she means to do soon. She also hasn't taken any of them to the dentist for their first checkup yet.

"We're doing good to get them to sit still in the stroller," McLain said. "I'd try to get them to sit in the dentist's chair, and they wouldn't know what to do."

Priscilla Sattergren has a 15-month-old boy, and she, too, started with the fingertip brush before even the first tooth had arrived.

"He brushes his own teeth now," said Sattergren, 27, of Salem , Ore. "He loves it."

The boy doesn't use toothpaste, and Sattergren gives him a hand. "I want to make sure he does a good job and doesn't miss any spots," she said.

She hasn't decided when to take him to the dentist. She's going to speak with her family physician about it and go when the doctor says it's appropriate.

Sattergren also makes sure the boy eats lots of fruits and vegetables, drinks lots of water and limited amounts of pure juice.

"I try to make sure he's making good choices now," she said.