Caring for your Child's Teeth
With bags full of Halloween sweets in the cupboard, it is time to talk teeth! After my last visit to the dentist where they tried to take 18, I REPEAT, 18 x-rays and upon my refusal ensured me that the radiation exposure would be harmless, I was determined to dig deeper into alternative oral health solutions for myself and my family, and I wanted to start with the basics: BRUSHING!
When to Start Brushing?
A common question for parents is when to start brushing their child's teeth. Is it prior to even having teeth? Should you use toothpaste? A toothbrush?
Dr. Sears recommends starting the habit with your child from an early age: at 6-7 months old. Even using a little gauze on your finger to lightly brush the gums or a toothpaste-free toothbrush for your toddler and letting them watch you brush is beneficial. The goal here is to create a habit and to get your child used to the idea of brushing.
What Brush is Best?
Choose a brush that is BPA free and preferably made from recycled materials. Additionally, for young babies and toddlers, offer them a soft bristle, like silicon.
Toothpaste or No Toothpaste
Dr. Sears says toothpaste isn't necessary until age 2 - 3, until the child understands that they shouldn't swallow the toothpaste. Using a dry brush or just a brush run under water is sufficient until that time.
What kind?
Pick a paste that doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate, and make sure your mouth rinse is alcohol-free. Also, especially for younger children, choose a toothpaste that doesn't contain Fluoride.
Earth's Best Toddler Toothpaste and Brush
Uncle Harry's Toothpaste
Dr. Sharp Strawberry Cream Kids Toothpaste
Best Ways to Avoid Cavities
-> Breastfeed
-> Avoid Sticky Foods
-> Don't let baby sleep with milk or juice
-> Eat lots of dark, leafy greens
Fluoride or No-Fluoride
Have you ever looked at your toothpaste as a possible toxin? Did you know that while we have been told by the media and mainstream dental product corporations that fluoride in our toothpaste prevents tooth decay and is not harmful, that in reality fluoride ingestion has been linked to several scary illnesses? Did you know that it also has not been directly linked to better oral health? For more information on this subject, please read this article by Dr. Marvin, DDS.
Other Eco-Friendly Dental Practices
Turn off the Tap!
Don't run the tap while you are brushing your teeth. Simply turning off the tap for the duration of your brushing can save almost 100 glasses of water per day!
Ask Your Dentist to Go Digital
Digital x-rays offer have 75-90% less radiation than the traditional ones while eliminating the need for toxic x-ray fixer solutions and lead foils.
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