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Today, we are going to hear from Dr. Tracy Iverson, one of the best dentists in San Francisco! Dr. Iverson shares a practice with her husband, Dr. Todd Iverson in a beautiful downtown office. They have a lovely staff and are very friendly and most importantly, they are gentle, easy going dentists and they do beautiful work! I highly recommend them! Go to http://iversonandsyers.com for more about Dr. Iverson.
Here, at Responsible Family, we are curious about being responsible, so let's see what dentist have to say about taking are of our teeth and the choppers of our little ones.
Good morning Dr. Iverson. Thank you so much for joining us today.We really
appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule, having
both the dental practice and a young son who is getting into
everything, at 18 months old! First off, can you give us any
pointers with regard to taking care of children's teeth? When do
we need to start brushing their little teeth? Flossing?
The most important objective is to introduce the toothbrush and toothrushing as early as possible. Make it fun! When your baby is first teething (4 to 7 months of age) and wants to put everything in her mouth, give her a little toothbrush with a big fat handle and let her bite on it. Let her sit on the floor with her toothbrush while you brush your teeth at the sink. Make a big deal about toothbrushing time and do it the same way every morning and night so she knows exactly what to expect. Over time, she will model your behavior. There is no need to use any toothpaste at this stage. Wait until she is about one year old and then add just a tiny tad to the brush. This is to get used to the toothpaste flavor and for a little extra flouride. Don't expect her to actually "brush" her own teeth but do get her used to letting you brush them for her. One trick! My son loves the electric toothbrush and can't get enough of it!
How old should my child be for the first trip to the dentist and
why? How do I find a good pediatric dentist?
There is some debate about when to take your child for his first visit. I have heard everything from 'when he gets his first tooth' to 'two years of age'. This is a question to ask your chosen pediatric dentist. If you are looking for a good pediatric dentist, the best thing to do is to ask other parents for referrals. If that is not an option, call your local dental society and get a few names. It is just fine to check out the offices before you make an appointment just to see if you like the environment, feel the place is clean and has a friendly staff. If you aren't at ease in the office, your child won't be either. Remember, the first few dental appointments are just as much about allowing your child to feel comfortable at the dentist's office as they are about having his teeth checked. We are trying to establish a lifetime of oral health and healthy habits, among them routine visits to the dental office so try and make his first visits fun and interesting. Chose a pediatric dentist who makes the visit a treat! Adults who don't take care of their teeth were children who were frightened of the dentist!
Why is dental care so important during pregnancy?
Many pregnant women don't realize how much more vulnerable their gums are during pregnancy. If you have never been prone to gingivitis or periodontitis before, you may be during pregnancy. Brush and floss twice a day and have your teeth cleaned during your second trimester. If you require dental care, your dentist may want to check with your ObGyn regarding x-rays and the anesthetic being used during the procedure. In our office we avoid any x-rays while a woman is pregnant unless it is truly an emergency and has been okayed by her doctor.
My personal experience with brushing my toddler's teeth has not
been very easy. She really does not let me get in there for more
than a few seconds at a time and I don't know if I am doing a very
thorough job. Do you have any suggestions?
I love the electric toothbrush and I think kids do too. Plus, you just have to hold the toothbrush to the teeth and gums and the vibration does the rest, you don't have to do the brushing back and forth motion that your child may not tolerate. The key here is to start introducing this activity early (when she is teething is not too early!), let her see you brush your own teeth and then brush hers after she plays with the toothbrush on her own for a little while.
Are electric toothbrushes better than manual ones? Is there a
particular electric brush system that is "the best"?
For most people, an electric toothbrush is more thorough. It does a better job brushing the 'nooks and crannies' and the timer on the handle motivates people to brush longer. Our office has chosen to promote the Oral B system and our patients have been very pleased with it. Amongst our patients who use it we have noticed a marked improvement in dental hygeine.
As a mom, I don't always have time to brush my teeth for the whole
2 minute recommendation. I try, but with a toddler, it just
doesn't always happen. So, I am wondering, what should I
concentrate on while brushing my teeth? What is the 2 minute
recommendation for?
If you start by making 'toothbrushing time' a regular morning and nighttime event where your toddler sits on the floor and 'brushes' her own teeth with her toothbrush while you brush yours, you may (hopefully) keep her entertained long enough to finish! The two minutes is recommended because that seems to be as long as it takes most people to truly clean the plaque from their teeth and gums.
Do you have any secrets for getting rid of tooth stains from coffee
and tea? Any other beautiful teeth secrets? ;)
Coffee and tea sipping throught the day is actually quite damaging to teeth and not just because of the stains! We all know snacking throughout the day is bad for our teeth but few of us realize that's what coffe and tea sipping is! Coffee is a carbohydrate and tea (if you drink it with sugar or milk) is also. Carbohydrate is the food the bacteria in your mouth need in order to make cavities! If you are a snacker or a sipper, you should brush after and if you can't, try chewing sugarless gum. As far as the stains, brushing and having your routine dental cleaning will help. Bleaching is particularly effective at removing coffee and tea stains.
Lastly, can you tell us the most important aspects of responsible
dental care for children and adults?
For children, I cannot overemphasize the need to make dental hygiene and dental visits a fun and integrated part of the child's life. As I stated previously, as a parent your goal is to create a lifetime of good oral habits and an attitude for optimal health. For adults and for children, brush twice a day, don't miss routine dental cleanings and take the advice of your dentist!
Okay Dr. Iverson, thank you so much for your time! We will all
have healthier smiles now because of the wonderful information you
have shared with us! If anyone is looking for a great dentist in
San Francisco, please visit Dr. Iverson's website at http://iversonandsyers.com .
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