All About Dental

[hquek]

I just brought my 2 to the School Dental Service at HPB (next to SGH). The dentists there were extremely patient and nice.


It was my 2 y/o’s first time at the dentist. But to their credit, he didn’t cry, nor did he dislike the place.

Best of all is that the charge was only $9 (for consultation and polishing - no cavities).

[thebusybee]

hquek


I’m thinking of bringing my 22 mth DS to see dentist soon. (Read somewhere first dentist visit should be around 2YO)

Do you have details of the School Dental Service? Just call them to make appointment will do? How long is the waiting time?

TIA

[hquek]

You can call them to make appointment 64353782.


I can’t remember when I booked mine but a notice say it’s good to book 2 months ahead. That said, just try and see if something fits your timing.

22m/o seems a bit young, just make sure he know how to arrrhhhh (keep his mouth open) else could be wasted trip (?). The dentist was very patient in teaching my younger ds how to brush his teeth properly.

[thebusybee]

Hi Parents,


Can you share the most effective way/s to teach young toddler to brush teeth correctly?

My 22 mth son likes to 'brush' teeth - rather enjoy sucking the sweet edible toothpaste and biting the bristles which make the brush uneven. That worries me as it's merely going through the motion only.

I tried brush for him but i think he feels painful (maybe I used too much force to brush :nunchuk: )

I'm trying to get it right before he gets tooth decay soon as he eats many types of food already, and I can sometimes see veg stuck in between his teeth.


All methods are welcome!

:please:

p.s. I've yet to teach him gargle with water.

[thebusybee]

hquek:

You can call them to make appointment 64353782.


I can't remember when I booked mine but a notice say it's good to book 2 months ahead. That said, just try and see if something fits your timing.

22m/o seems a bit young, just make sure he know how to arrrhhhh (keep his mouth open) else could be wasted trip (?). The dentist was very patient in teaching my younger ds how to brush his teeth properly.

Thanks for the number, will call to check.

If it takes 2 months for appointment, then it'll be just nice when he turns 2 then.....

He can say arrhhh every morn when the CC assistant checking his throat after taking temp.... but i dun think can open mouth for long..

How old exactly is your son ? He understands the dentist's instruction ?

[hquek]

hi busybee,


Gargling will come later, just need to make sure they don’t drink the water.

Dentist said for their age group, just need to scrub sideways, and then for the frontal teeth (in/out - cos the space limited). Important to get the right age toothbrush, and soft bristles.

[mintcc]

thebusybee:

Hi Parents,


My 22 mth son likes to 'brush' teeth - rather enjoy sucking the sweet edible toothpaste and biting the bristles which make the brush uneven. That worries me as it's merely going through the motion only.

I tried brush for him but i think he feels painful (maybe I used too much force to brush :nunchuk: )

hianz, my almost four year old still hve that problem. Watching youtube video about brushing teeth helps for a while when he 2-3 though.

But now he have gone back to sucking the toothbrush in his mouth and refuse to upgrade to other children's tooth paste. Now I probably manage to convinve him to let me brush his teeth like twice a week. Wondering if getting an electical tooth brush will help?

[schellen]

mincy:

Wondering if getting an electical tooth brush will help?

It is not recommended for young children to use electric toothbrushes. They will go through stages where their teeth will have gaps and unevenness due to having milk teeth and permanent teeth at the same time. If you look closely at the brush head of an electric toothbrush, you'll notice that the bristles are all evenly spaced and of even height. (If you look at non-electric Oral B Stages series, you'll understand what I mean.) This is the case even for children's electric toothbrushes. Also, the motor of the brush will usually be at one speed only.

My DD was bugging me for one at Watson's cos she saw the Disney Princess and Wall-E versions. Luckily, I spied the samples of adult ones on display and took one down to show her. I turned it on and it went, \"BZZZZZZZ\" and the head spun round very quickly. She was intimidated by it and never asked me again. LOL (Personally, I have used them before as an adult but never liked them.)

[clarabella]

thebusybee:

Hi Parents,


Can you share the most effective way/s to teach young toddler to brush teeth correctly?

My 22 mth son likes to 'brush' teeth - rather enjoy sucking the sweet edible toothpaste and biting the bristles which make the brush uneven. That worries me as it's merely going through the motion only.

I tried brush for him but i think he feels painful (maybe I used too much force to brush :nunchuk: )

I'm trying to get it right before he gets tooth decay soon as he eats many types of food already, and I can sometimes see veg stuck in between his teeth.


All methods are welcome!

:please:

p.s. I've yet to teach him gargle with water.

Hiya thebusybee
My kids found it great fun, when they were about your son's age, to brush MY teeth. It's messy, of course, but for us it helped to reinforce the 'how to brush correctly' lessons.
It's also good to get a nice dentist to show them how - sometimes the message is stronger coming from authority!

It's quite natural for them to play with the toothbrush at this age. Perhaps you can try brushing his teeth together with him. My dentist friend showed me how to quickly brush, one side/row at a time, when kiddo opens his mouth to brush on his own.

If it's painful for him when you brush, check your toothbrush. Is it too big/wide? Or are the bristles not soft enough? My kids didn't do well on the Oxxl-x brushes when very young, esp stage 1, so we used narrower and much softer ones.

One thing you may want to note. My dentist advises not to brush immediately after a meal, as acidic foods soften tooth enamel. If you brush immediately, it expedites the acid's eroding effect on the teeth. Just get him to rinse out his mouth first. Wait about forty-five minutes/an hour before you brush.

As for gargling/rinsing and spitting out, I just show my kids how I do it, with great exaggerated motions. They especially liked to be asked to pretend they're the Merlion

[thebusybee]

Hi clarabella,


Thanks for the tips.

My son enjoys brushing teeth with me, he’s starting to do a bit of the brushing motion but i find it not effective. I’d exaggerate the expression ‘Eeeee’ and say ‘brush brush’ for him to follow, he’ll just go left, right then back to sucking, biting again, haiz.

I’ve just changed to the thinner type of toothbrush (found out the OralB one’s too broad). The baby ones are too soft as the bristles got out of shape easily. Any recommendation of which brand’s best?

I doubt he can take instruction or learn from the dentist at this age…

I ever do quick brush for him and still doubt the effectiveness, as mentioned food does stuck to his teeth, ever saw vegetable at his lower front tooth and gotta force brush him, ended up struggling and dislike me brushing for him.

Will take note about not to brush immediately after meal…

Actually I know i’m not doing the right order too… he’ll brush teeth, go to bed then…milk…'cause he fall asleep easier after milk… guess i gotta change this habit soon…

Very good on the Merlion part, I’ll show him this spitting statue one of these days.

The painful part - i guess i have ‘heavy’ hands, now trying my best to brush lightly. My thinking - brush harder more effective, haha! i forgot he’s still ‘tender’.