Back to School Smiles

Healthy Teeth Tips from Two Monterey County Pediatric Dentists

With summer fun wrapping up and school starting just around the corner, keeping all your ducks in a row can become a challenging task. Creating and staying consistent with a healthy oral hygiene routine is a must. Although it may feel like a tedious chore to your child, it is incredibly important for their overall health to keep their teeth happy. We are so fortunate to have wonderful pediatric dentists in our area, and I have enlisted the help of two of them to help us keep up to date on our healthy mouth routines.  

KM: We are so excited to spread the word about our local pediatric dentists. Please introduce yourself and your practice. 

DR. CARRAZANA: My name is Kritika Carrazana and I am a pediatric dentist. My practice, Moonflower Dentistry for Adults and Kids, is a little different in that it caters to all ages! When I transitioned to being a pediatric dentist after being a general dentist, I would constantly hear from parents, “I wish I could go here too!” and “I wish I had a dentist like this when I was a kid.” I thought to myself, why not?! My husband is a general dentist, so it seemed like a no-brainer to combine our love of providing high-quality dental care for patients under the same roof. This would allow kids to not have to go through the “transition” period of moving to an adult dentist and give adults the ability to have care that is catered to their needs, just like pediatric dentists do. 

DR. MILLER: My name is Matt Miller. I have been a pediatric dentist in Monterey since 2000.

KM: In a perfect world, what is the daily routine you would like kids (and parents) to do for healthy mouths?

DR. CARRAZANA: In a perfect world, everyone would brush for three minutes two times a day using a round-headed electric toothbrush with the appropriate amount of fluoridated toothpaste. This is a rice grain amount for ages up to three years, a garden pea size amount for ages three to six years, and after six years there’s no limit—just spit out the extra. No water should be put on the toothbrush or toothpaste and no rinsing afterwards! The small amount of toothpaste recommended for ages six and under is a safe amount to ingest and helps strengthen the adult teeth forming underneath. Nighttime brushing would occur after one is done with eating and drinking for the day. Parents should do nighttime brushing for kids until they are nine years old, as it is the most important and the most commonly neglected! Flossing would occur daily using a floss pick. Parents should be doing the flossing for children until they lose all of their baby teeth. It is easiest and most efficient to do this while they are lying down.

KM: Talk to me about sugar. Is it really that bad?

DR. MILLER: Refined sugar is like rocket fuel for dental plaque. The plaque easily metabolizes refined sugars, leaving an acidic environment that results in tooth decay. It can come in the form of candy, crackers, desserts, sticky fruit snacks, and cereal.

KM: For families preparing their children for their first visit, walk us through a pediatric dental wellness visit. 

DR. CARRAZANA: Depending on the age and tolerance of a child, the wellness visit style changes. For younger patients with dental anxiety, a knee-lap exam may be performed, where a medical-grade pillow is used on the laps of the parent/guardian and the doctor while the parent safely holds the child. The dentist will then brush the child’s teeth with a toothbrush with delicious toothpaste to scrub away any plaque. If any baby teeth touch one another, floss picks will be used to scrub the areas between the teeth. At the end of the appointment, a fluoride treatment will be applied to help strengthen any areas of decalcification! Older kiddos who can tolerate sitting in the dental chair by themselves will have a similar sequence of events and have a professional-grade cleaning similar to that of an adult. Whichever cleaning and checkup a child will get, they will have the wonderful dental team chair-side to help put their mind at ease and make the visit fun. All patients leave with a sparkling smile, stickers, and toys!

KM: Please share any tips you might have for nervous children before a dental appointment. 

DR. MILLER: The most important thing any parent can do for their child before any nerve-racking childhood experience is to do your best as a parent to not project any anxiety you may have. Show your confidence and generally your child will follow. 

KM: What should we be doing to keep our kids’ teeth healthy when we send them back to school?

DR. MILLER: When your child returns to school, think about a healthy breakfast and lunch full of fresh fruits, lean meats, and cheese. Avoid candy as a dessert. Be sure to set aside two minutes before leaving the house to brush and floss teeth before heading to school.

DR. CARRAZANA: Try to limit non-water drinks to mealtime, if at all. If your child loves sweets, then meet them halfway and make a designated “treat time” that does not last longer than an hour. 

A very special thanks to our knowledgeable pediatric dentists for looking out for our kiddos’ teeth and overall well-being. As we move into the new season, let’s set our kids up for a happy and healthy school year. Most importantly, don’t forget to smile!