by Elizabeth from Illinois
I was in orthodontic appliances for seven years as a kid, and I had to be very thorough in cleaning my teeth to avoid all the extra nooks and crannies getting icky.
As a result of my diligence (or, if I’m truly honest, my mother’s insistence) in using my waterpik and brushing often, when my braces finally came off my teeth were straight and looked and felt healthy.
My childhood dental experiences have shaped my parenting.
When I was little, I wasn’t really scared of the dentist thankfully! My mom made sure I never missed a cleaning, she would put the little reminder postcard on the fridge at home. Of course I wanted to help my son have a good experience too and not be scared when it was time for his first cleaning. So when it was time for my son’s first dentist appointment, I talked with him about what he might expect, based on the things I remembered the most - the very interesting tools and the sounds they make, how the chair goes back, and moves up and down, and of course the best part, the goodie bag you get to take home. I talked about how clean and smooth my teeth felt right after a cleaning, and reassured him that all he had to do was open his mouth and relax.
I was hoping he could feel prepared and confident even though it would be a new experience for him. Fortunately for us both, it worked! At the office when they called his name, he walked right in and found the “number 3” on the room they directed us into. Then as soon as he sat down and got the “paper necklace,” he opened his mouth wide as it would go. He was ready even before the dentist was! We had a smooth first visit and cleaning, and he was so proud of his brand new toothbrush in his very own goodie bag he got to take home. I think because my mom made going to the dentist feel important but also kind of fun, it helped me not feel afraid of my regular cleanings or when I needed work done, and I wanted my son to have good experiences too. Instead of scaring him into brushing by talking about cavities all the time, I want to focus more on how proud he will feel, to show the dentist how well he’s been taking care of his teeth, the next time we visit.
Brushing together and apart - we do both!
We often brush together, but not always. Sometimes when I’m done helping him brush his, he will say, “Mommy, you still need to brush your teeth!” He also loves to take turns helping me check my teeth when I’m done brushing, just like I do for him, telling me when to say “ahh” and when to spit. As much as it tickles, or even when I get poked in the gums, I do let him when he asks. It helps me have some perspective on what it’s like to have someone else brush your teeth, and puts him in charge which of course he loves.
Role modeling is important.
As I said, we don’t always brush at the same time, so I try to make it a point to tell him when I am doing my brushing or flossing. Just mentioning that I need to brush before I put on my shoes, or I’ll talk about how I like the way the toothpaste tastes, and how clean my teeth feel when I’m all done.
I make my son's dental hygiene a priority.
Most 3-year-olds, I think, don't always love having their teeth brushed. I used to be more lenient when he was smaller, but now we don’t skip it anymore. Especially after finding out he had a couple of small cavities. It’s important to me that he understands that everyone needs help getting back on track sometimes. So we talk about how the dentist told us we should be flossing every day, to help prevent cavities by getting all the food out from in between our teeth, and that’s why we do it, even when we don’t feel like it. And even though mommy used to not make him brush every single time, we learned that our teeth can get sick if we aren’t brushing twice a day. And we want to keep our teeth clean, just like we wash our hands to keep them clean, to keep our bodies healthy. And when our teeth are healthy, we can enjoy the foods we like.
Even though it sometimes feels difficult to keep finding new ways to make taking care of our teeth fun and exciting, I try to change up the routine whenever he really starts resisting. Singing songs (especially from his favorite characters), or using a new toothbrush, different flavor of toothpaste, or having him pick what color flosser to use, all seem to help us keep the energy positive while we try to stay on top of keeping his teeth clean. And I always try to make a big deal about how many teeth he has, when he does finally open his mouth to let me brush, counting them. And when we’re done, “WOW! Look, they're all so clean!”
About Elizabeth. . .
I’m Elizabeth, mom to one very lively and curious kiddo and a growing number of plants in Chicago, IL. When I’m not pretending to be a volcano, painting rocks, or going on a park adventure with my little, I like to journal, read, knit, and sleep – in complete silence, preferably. I hope to help other parents by sharing about my experiences and what I’ve learned, because being a parent is hard, and we’re all learning as we go along.
Elizabeth shares her experiences with dental care as a parent. Are you interested in learning more? You can find dental care and other popular parenting topics at www.wichealth.org. Our website is just one of the benefits of being part of the WIC community. We encourage you to check out one of over 50 lessons today. Head to wichealth.org and browse for topics that interest you. We can't wait to see you there!
