Be Your Child's Dental Fairy Godmother

By Jaklin Bezik, DDS, MDS

Metro Dental Health

. http://metrodentalhealth.com/

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Be Your Child's Dental Fairy Godmother

In our desperate moments it sounds good to find someone else to make a difference; make the problem to go away; give us the answer to the questions of our life. It may be a fairy godmother, or a super hero that can protect us.

For our children, we parents are the first super heroes.

Your role as dental fairy godmother can be divided into the following stages

• Before pregnancy
• During pregnancy
• During childhood

Before Pregnancy

Your dentist can be a great help to improve your health and the health of your baby via treating existing conditions before your pregnancy. It is accepted practice of taking pre-natal vitamins to enhance the baby's development. Combined with your other exams and preventive cares you should have a complete evaluation of your mouth including x-rays and especially a periodontal evaluation and detection of any infection.

During Pregnancy

During pregnancy preventive care visits can prevent the periodontal problems that are related to hormonal changes and possible diseases. A healthy diet, good oral care, including your daily brushing and flossing, and possible additional visits to help you maintain the high level of plaque control, will help your health and your baby's development.

During Childhood

The first bacteria introduced to you baby's sterile oral cavity is from immediate family members. Keeping your own health will help everyone, including your child. Please keep up with your dental evaluations. Most likely you and your dentist decided to delay your routine x-rays until after pregnancy, so please schedule your dental visit as you are scheduling your child's vaccinations. The existing bacteria and infection in your mouth may affect your child.

There is no time better than the early child hood to develop the positive habits, such as brushing, rinsing and flossing. Given that it might sound pre-mature for the a three year old to floss, but those early ages are when you have the most impact on your child.

By you keeping your basic habits such as good hygiene techniques and your own personal health routine (including home care and preventive visits) that will make it develop as “second nature” for your child.

You are the most influencing person in the early years of your child's life, so use that influence effectively.