June 8, 2023 • 44 mins
In this week’s episode of Katie’s Crib, pediatric dentists Dr. Jill and Michael Lasky shed light on the importance of teaching kids all about oral hygiene.
The doctors highlight what age children should be visiting the dentist, and the significant role parents play in setting a good example for their children's dental habits. The two also offer insight on other dental care topics, like how to communicate with children about dental appointments, and healthy snack options that prevent cavities (especially for children who don’t like fruits and veggies).
Finally, how do you transition your child out of the habit of using a pacifier? Continue listening for helpful suggestions!
Executive Producers: Sandie Bailey, Alex Alcheh, Lauren Hohman, Tyler Klang & Gabrielle Collins
Producer & Editor: Casby Bias
Associate Producer: Akiya McKnight
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Katie's Crib, a production of shondaland Audio in
partnership with iHeartRadio. What happens if the parent themselves is
super afraid and triggered by dentists? Like what happens when
you're the parent who I know hates the dentists, is terrified,
can't deal with the sounds? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
That's hard to be honest, because kids will come in
all the time with these preconceptions from their parents, and
they'll be like a cooperative patient for cleanings. They come
in for a filling and they're crying. I'm like, what's wrong? Like,
why are you upset? My mommy said I was can
get a shot and it's gonna hurt. I'm like, thanks, mom.
(00:44):
So sometimes the best thing is to not say anything
at all or asci the dentists first. How should I
prepare my child? The best thing is to not say
too much and give your child a fair start.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Welcome back everybody to Katie's Crib. I feel like I
am the most famous person in the world right now,
the fact that I have these two guests that we're
about to have on today. Because if you're a mom
in the valley, of Los Angeles. I'm talking to Studio City,
Sherman Oaks, to Luca Lake.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
There's a good.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Chance that your dentist is probably possibly doctor Jill and
doctor Michael Laski. There are guests today. If you're listening
and you are not in the Los Angeles area and
you have no idea who these two infamous dentists are,
you're gonna know and you're going to be so grateful.
(01:44):
I feel like having little kids. Everyone is constantly asking me, like,
when do they have to go to the dentist? How
do we get them to brush their teeth? How did
they get to floss? What happens when they have eight
thousand cavities? Because guess what, Albi had nine and had
to get put under. But we're going to get into
all that. Let me tell you a little bit about
doctor Jill and doctor Michael Laski. They are partners in
(02:06):
both business and life. Three years after meeting through their
mutual dental school professor, they were married and started practicing
together at the Laski Pediatric Dental Group. Doctor Jill and
Michael believe it's important to care for their young patients
and their families like they are part of their own
extended family. As parents to two boys, they believe everyone
(02:27):
who enters their pediatric dental office should not only receive
exceptional oral health care, but more importantly, be treated with kindness, compassion,
and respect. Their professional goals are to help young patients
develop confidence and treatment and to instill in them healthy
dental habits that last a lifetime. Their personal goals are
to make a positive impact on their community and create
a healthy work life balance. Doctor Jyllan MICHAELASKI, welcome to
(02:50):
Katie's PRIs. Oh my goodness, I am so excited. I
have wanted to do an episode about pediatric dentistry since
I started this thing. You're in season six. My son
had nine cavities by the age of four and a half,
(03:13):
so I want it to be known here that I
don't give him too much sugar. No, I'm kidding, it's not.
It's not about that. First and foremost, when does a
child first go to the dentist.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
First time a child shoulda the dentist is about when
they're one years old, because about that time they're starting
to walk, and that's when trauma happens.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's when falls happen.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
And honestly, it's really important for parents to have a
dental home, a place where they can go because pediatricians
are wonderful. They had learned so much in the four
years that they go to school, but they get about
five minutes about teeth, and the mouth leads a lot,
and it is scary and it is petrified, and you
(04:00):
do not want to be like scrambling trying to figure
out what to do when your baby's mouth is gushing blood.
So really that's one of the main reasons. Secondarily, I
think it's important to know how to take care of
their teeth, what's best for their nutrition because they're adding
more and more solids, but really feeling comfortable and having
a dental homeless keys, so about one is best at
(04:22):
least for the first child.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
The second child, you know, things becomes from more relaxed,
and the third twos by himself and a lot of.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Things to Parents have these misconceptions that if they push
then their kids are never going to want to brush
their teeth, And honestly, I give the example all the
time that I don't know about you, but my boys
are not liking their tushes cleaned. But you didn't leave
a dirty I tell parents it's all the same hole mouth.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Is a great way to look at it, right, It's
like we're not letting our kids walk around here with
not pristinely cleaned bottoms, correct, and we'd to let them
get away with not fully brushing, right, taking care of
their oral hygiene. That's a very great way to put it.
And doctor Michael, when you first see a one year
(05:12):
old that might have one, two teeth, some I'm sure
come in with a lot more teeth, what does the
dental care look like for a little one?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Right? Okay, first off, so going back to the first visit,
usually the important thing is not cleaning their teeth at
age one. So, like you said, they may only have one, two,
four or five teeth. It's more important to have the
conversation with the parent as far as how to take
care of the teeth, what to expect, answer any questions,
what kind of toothpaste to use at that age. So
it's more of an informational visit than natural cleaning visit
(05:43):
of their teeth.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
For example, I had friends that use toothbrushes, friends that
used gaws or a washcloth, you know what I mean,
while they were in the bath, right, Instead of making
it a whole thing. Here's a really scary question, doctor
Joe Laski, since you brought it up first, what is
the ratio, say, of how many little ones come in
with knocked out teeth?
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Kids get bumped, They get bumped, even little ones. I
would say about fifty percent of kids have a gray
or yellow or discolored front tooth. I would definitely say that,
And I'd say large percent has little edges that are
the edges are chipped a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, and it didn't have to be like some big trauma.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
It could have just you know, playing with a sibling
or tottering around and bumped and it hit more their knee,
but their face hit it for a second. Yeah, there's
lots of little microtraumas along the way that can make
the teeth discolored and parents think that they're dead and
they're not necessarily dead.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Most of the time, they're just bruised.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
My son knocked his tooth in COVID on a he
fell off the couch, his tooth hit a fire truck
and wabam, that's the gray tooth. I'm so pumped. It's
loose right now. Yeah, and he's all upset He's like,
the tooth Fairy's good to know it's my grade tooth.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I'm like this, okay, it's okay, just brush it extra.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And I tell him that, oh yeah, I threaten that
tooth fairy like nobody's business. I'm like, she's coming soon.
You better check yourself. And then your name is brought
up in my household all the time because I lie constantly,
Like the doctor Lasky appointments coming up.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You're gonna read, oh for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, we're very popular. Yeah, between five and seven every night.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
We're very popular and very much brought up in everyone's back.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Exactly exactly how.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Often is it recommended that children visit the dentists? Is
it the same as adults? Is it like an every
six month thing?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yes, just like every six months.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
What is the best way for parents to understand that
consistency helps a child to brush their teeth? But I
aren't the parent, Okay, everyone needs to get honest with themselves.
I feel like the parents are the best role models
to their kids. Am I wrong? Like I feel like
we teach modeling all the time. So if your kids
see you flossing and they see you brushing before bed
(08:03):
and all that kind of stuff. So someone called my
husband he skips nights a lot. Sh Michael Angel just shocked.
I just outed my husband. He's so upset. But is
that true? Like parents listening, you better get your act together.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Modeling is a big thing, and kids see what their
parents do. So it's hard to say one thing and
do another. Do as they say, not do as I do.
And it's hard to expect your child to brush your
teeth twice a day if you're not doing it. Definitely,
and a lot of times at that age, parents might
brush with their child correct at the same time to
show them how to brush properly, and it gets a
child into brushing more.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Well. That being said, is that you mentioned is like
this is one time in life where quantity matters more
than quality. So it is more important for you to
make sure that you're brushing your kid's teeth for five
seconds every night than like two or three good brushes
a week. You're making connection right now in their little brains.
(09:03):
That like getting ready for bed, pajamas, bathroom, bath like
La Lata Lotti, all of that goes and brushing is
incorporated in that.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Right. This is a routine that you never leave behind
in their art night for us, if it helps anyone listening.
We literally have their toothpaste and toothbrushes all over our
house because I think it's such a pain in the butt.
I'm in a cow I'm in a ranch style house,
so it's long, and sometimes when we're getting out of
the house almost and someone's having a meltdown and I
(09:34):
just want to get them out, but their toothbrushes all
the way in their bathroom, you know, on the other
side of the house. I'm like, forget it. Look, these
are the ones that are at the kitchen sink. I mean,
I don't even know if that's disgusting that we're spittling
in there, but I just need to get it done,
you know, or it's in this other bathroom. Following up
to what you were talking about, Michael, rushing with them
modeling all of the routine themselves. What happens if the
(09:59):
parent them so elves is super afraid and triggered by dentists,
Like what happens when you're the parent who I know
hates the dentists, is terrified, can't deal with the sounds?
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (10:12):
That's hard? Yeah, you're not because kids will come in
all the time with these preconceptions from their parents, and
they'll be like a cooperative patient for cleanings. They come
in for a filling and they're crying. I'm like, what's wrong?
Like why are you upset? My mommy said I was
gonna get a shot and it's gonna hurt. I'm like, thanks, mom,
(10:34):
So now you gotta undo all that without lying to
the child because they probably will be getting a shot possibly.
So sometimes the best thing is to not say anything
at all, or aci dentists first, how should I prepare
my child? But it's hard when a parent is scared
to not portray those fears onto your child. And sometimes
it's just a look. They don't have to say anything,
(10:54):
but that scared look on their faces like oh my
gosh with their eyes and the child consent. So it's
very difficult to be competent. It's the best thing is
to not say too much and give yourch other a
fair start.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Just don't say anything at all and let them they
don't know showing up that it's a bad thing. Correct, Correct,
it's a great pediatric dentist's office. They may get a toy,
you know, a cool toothbrush, or a flavorful bubblegum tasting
toothpaste ecrapting awesome. If a child needs work done in
(11:28):
their mouth. Follow up to that question, what do you
suggest is the way we tell them.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
I personally avoid the sea word cavity has a really
negative connotation, and you don't know if it's from an
older sibling somebody from school. So we kind of like
to say, like a little dirty spot, you're going to
come back for there different toothbrush. I mean again, like
what Michael mentioned, we're not lying to them, We're just
framing it in a way that seems a little bit
(11:56):
more gentle to them, doesn't seem a scary. Yeah, another toothblash,
Like usually if you found a cabinet xtra, that picture
you took was great, but there was a little more dirt.
So we're gonna sweep it out and then we're gonna
paint it and color it and draw something on it,
or you know, kind of make it that way. And
I just and then I tell the parents don't say
anything else. And then if they do ask at home.
(12:19):
Instead of lying, like Michael mentioned, you to say, let's
just ask doctor. Ask you, let's see what doctor Joel says,
or let the dental professionals explain it to your child
and then you're not putting your foot in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
This is gonna seem like a maybe, like a controversial question,
but it's in here, so somebody wanted to know the answer.
How do we know if the kid needs work done
that it's not like a scam.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Oh this has.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Never happened to me in my life because I've gone
to only like word of mouth, the most like reputable
doctor s dentist. But there are a lot of moms
listening who I'm sure go somewhere. Someone says, there's like
a million things. It's costs this much money, like this
something that is true that we need to be conscious about.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I always tell parents, if you want a second opinion,
buy means all means go. It's hard because you want
to trust the doctor, but as a lay person, you
don't know what's going on. Someone take taking your card
to the mechanic. So very often find cavities in between
the teeth on an X ray. They're not physible to
the naked eye. So you look in child's mouth, the mouth,
the teeth look perfectly white and clean. You don't see
(13:29):
any decay, any holes, any black spots, whatever, but there
could be eight, nine, ten cavities present. So I'll always
pull up the X rays and show the parent you
see this dark spot right here, and explain to them
what's going on, because it's definitely hard to absorb, understand,
or you know, relate to Oh my gosh, talk my
kid as a cavities all of a sudden at one time.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Especially if you didn't take the first time you gaint
X rays like he said.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Kind of like with everything in life, you need to
go with your instinct, go with your parent gut, and
then ask questions and you should have the right to
get those questions answered before anything is done.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Love this.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So that segues perfectly into my son's nine cavity between
all of his back teeth. How many cavities is too many?
What's a shocker because I was fucking shocked. Oh yeah,
I mean I've had one cavity in my whole life.
My husband's had a ton, which there is some genetics
that comes into play here. Can you explain why this happened?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So a lot of it is genetics. So to get
a cavity and eat three things, a tooth, a sugar source,
which is any carbohydrate, bread, fresh fruit, candy. It does
not make a difference. And you need the bacteria that
causes the cavities, and that's the part you can't control.
So if they have very high level of the cavity
causing bacteria, you'll get lots of cavites in your lifetime
or cavities. If you don't have the bacteria, you won't
(14:53):
get the cavities, and you can't control that, and you
don't know it ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
So I've never had a cavity fifty one, Oh my god. Okay,
so he had one. No, no, but it's not because I'm
not the best best brusher or flosster or had the
best diet of my whole life.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And this is a perfect example. Our younger son. The
toothbrush not his best friend. He's seventeen now, so it's
kicking in.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
But let me tell you about you're honest the time,
and let.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Me tell you never had a cat. So he has
mommy spit. And I always tell parents like this is
one time in life. It's always the sibling who does
has the best home care that gets all the cavities
and it's the one that barely brushes who does it?
So I tell parents this is the first lesson in
their little lives that fair is not equal. Wow, sometimes
(15:42):
it's a lot out of your control. And then the
ones that have the bacteria have to work extra hard,
right to make sure that they don't have to fight it.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
And where does this bacteria picked up? Is it from
a fork?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
A kids?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah? What is it?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So there's different theories, But what I've been told is
that it's physically transferred from person to person like you
would catch a cold, and then once your body accepts
the bacteria, you're set for life. Not in my interpretation.
I don't know how much this is based on science,
But my interpretation is everyone might be exposed to it,
but certain people may not be able to reproduce it.
(16:20):
For example, all this child might come home sick with
the flu. Sometimes everyone gets sick. Sometimes only one of
the person the family gets sick, not every time every
person will get sick. So I think it's the same
kind of a concept where not everyone who is exposed
to it will then keep it and keep reproducing in
their body.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Yeah, but there are things that help fight it, But
there's a window of infectivity between zero and three where
you're more prone to actually acquiring the bacteria. So your child,
if they embraces what their jaw looks like, the shape
of their teeth, that's how.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Your genetics of the parents mix. But really you.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Can acquire the bacteria not only from a blood relative,
but from outside primary caregiver, from like you'd mentioned, blowing
on food, giving kisses.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Water bottles.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
So the best way to fight that is to make
sure the adults have taken care of all of their decay.
They don't have active decay in their mouth, because the
more active decay, then that higher the bacteria levels are.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Oh, active decay, that's gross.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
I know, I know this is a big one for
I think American Academy Pediatrics. Bottles in the bed or
like bottling and not brushing your teeth after Like is
that just like sugar on the teeth and it's bad news.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Bears everything at night sits.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So that's that's the longest time where you're not like
drinking water or talking or moving your tongue around. Right. So, ye,
breast milk formula, I mean it's sweet, so it has
a lot of bacteria.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Sugar in it, and bacteria got it.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
So it fits on your tongue and then the tongue
hits the back of the front teeth, and that's usually
where those first cavities happen for most kids.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
So let me tell you, guys, when alb got the nine,
the nice nine cavety sitch, and everyone joked about my
mother ing and the amount of sugar he'd had and
all that. Now, he definitely liked sugar, but not any
more or less than all the other kids, So whatever,
he got the shit end of the deal right exactly.
But our experience that I want to share with our
(18:38):
listeners because it was the best choice for us. I
have a lot of friends whose kids have had some cavities,
and the kids totally went and sat for it and
maybe did some laughing gas and we're cool. I showed up,
we tried, we sat, we started, and Albe literally flew
(18:59):
off the chain at just the taste of whatever lotion.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
Glodes the topical anesthetics, which was step one of one hundred,
sent him through the roof of like I don't like it.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Hot I got and just like losing his mind. Doctor
Laski was like, there's no way I'm going to be
able to do four today, and that he's ever coming
back here again in a month to do the other four.
He would be a perfect candidate to do this all
under anesthesion do it one time, and of course I
was like almost in tears and was terrified to put
(19:37):
my child under. And I have to say, I'm so
grateful that you held my hand because my son has
no recollection of it. I have the recollection of him
going under and being like that was really scary, and
just sitting and pacing outside of your office with another
mom whose kid had ten cavities, who was right before him,
and we were sort of holding each other's hands. But
(19:59):
what's the the gift was is that he does not
have any bad memory when we bring up your name,
he is no fear attached to that experience because to him,
he walked in, he fell asleep within a minute, and
he was up and it was over. You know, the
whole thing was an hour and we were home and
he was at school the next day. Who is a
(20:21):
candidate for something like this option versus no, you know what,
you're a different age. He was four and a half
when this happens, which is that's really little in my opinion,
when do you suggest something like this, When should a
parent advocate for something like this versus going the old
school route. What are your any advice here?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So if a child will sit in the chair and
be cooperative enough to get started, always trying the chair first,
just there's always a risk tantathesia and put in a
child to sleep, and most parents don't want to do it,
so it's never our first step go to. But for
some children who just absolutely can't do it, you don't
have any other choice. So the candidate is perfect, like
your son who like freaked out for the littlest thing,
(21:03):
and then you got to do like you said, step
one of one hundred, you know. And I'll try and
tell the parents, like, we can get through this. It's
not gonna be fun for anybody. You're gonna have to
hold your child down. You're gonna be crying at the
end because your child's crying. Yeah, everybody, I won't be
able to do a good job. So I'm trying to
rest with their kid and fill their teeth at the
same time and say great, we're done. Now I can
come back and do it round two or round three,
And then they want to get out of the car.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Nobody wants to do that. That sounds terrible. And my
son has censories like he can't. He freaks out when
you brush his hair. He's had a beasting and it
was like the world ended. It was phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
One of the reasons why I went to pediatrics was
because I really wanted to make sure that kids are
comfortable taking care of their bodies. Because what you the
habit you learn as a child will take you through
the rest of your life. So if you're not petrified
of going and that's why you gave your son the
gift of having his donal work a down whine who's asleep,
so then he won't be scared to take care of
(21:59):
his teeth later, So then things won't snowball, right, because
avoidance is that's when you have problems, mostly your teeth, right,
any other part of your body.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Is there anything else we can do to prevent yellow
adult teeth as baby teeth fall out? You mentioned on
your YouTube channel that parents should not use teeth whitening products.
Doctor Jill, what do you think about that?
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Okay, so adult teeth are innately more yellow than baby teeth,
and it is so unfair baby teeth are like toilet
bow white, right, and that adult teeth are not. They
come in looking extra yellow because here you are, you
have white teeth. The contrast, right, so you have really
white and then you have something that looks yellow. The
(22:44):
yellow is gonna look even more yellow than adult.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I'm so glad I know this in advance.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
So then a full mouth of the same colored teeth
doesn't look as bad. And then also it depends, like
you know your your complexion. If you're a more fair skin,
they're gonna look more yellow. So unless you're going to
walk around with red lipstick on, I mean, it's going
to be hard to make the baby teeth look really white.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
But we should not be using whitening products on children's.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Well because it's not going to help because they're not
suffering from coffee steak all those kind of things that
would make the extremes extaint. So that's what the grittiness
of the whitening toothpastees. So that's not really what their
issue is.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Right, It just looks more yellow because that is what
they are, and it's standing next to white baby teeth exactly,
or gray baby teeth in my child's exactly, but.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I hope that's only one or two and that's right, right,
So it is really normal to have yellowish adult teeth,
but they look extra yellow because they're next to the
porcelain white teeth.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
You know, I've seen a lot of scooter incidents, trampoline incidents.
I mean, of my friends that I can think of,
I have four that have knocked out teeth, So I
know this is more common than we would like to admit.
Do you always pull the tooth? What's the deal? Can
we expect a little bit?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
So if it's a baby tooth that gets knocked completely out,
then it goes to the tooth fairy, right, You cannot
put it back in. Just leave it out. You're done,
that's it, and you just treat the after pain right
kind on mud if you need it, and everything should
be fine. If the tooth is displaced, so it's not
knocked out, but it's loose and like kind of push forward,
(24:27):
pulled backwards or something. And if it's a baby tooth,
then you want to call your dentist and come in
and usually we'll do as well, reposition the tooth, put
it back in the right spot, a little wire on it,
like graces to stabilize it like a cast. If you
were to break your arm, for example, and you leave
the splint on for three weeks, take it off and
the tooth solidifies and then usually heals and it should
be fine. It's always the possibility that the nerve can
(24:50):
die from that, but that secondary a little bit later
down the road. But you are able to save the
teeth if it's still in the mouth. Okay, permanent tooth.
If that gets knocked out, you want to put it
back into the socket. A S, A P. Every second
does count. So if you're at the baseball field or
wherever we happen to be, pick it up off the ground,
don't clean it too much, just stick it back in
(25:12):
the socket and then get straight to a dentist.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (25:16):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I don't know if I I don't know if I
could do that.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I get about the lake all right, when a patient
it was on a lake in Baker's Field, getting towed
behind a boat.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Mose little toob thing of the jiggy's and they're bouncing
around on the waves, not a wakeboard.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
It was like in a round on a tube on
a tube.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yah, yeah, behind.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Bouncing around her knee, hit her face and knocked out
her tooth. Her tooth landed on her lap in the lake,
the whole ake. So they had the tooth. They called
me right away. I said, put it in her mouth.
Just get it back into the socket. They did. They
drove all the way back to La from Baker's Field,
which is like.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
A few hours. This is not around the corner.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
And then I splintered the tooth to stabilize it. And
this was about four years ago, maybe even longer. And
that tooth is still in our mouth perfectly. Fine.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
What it will reroot itself like into your bone.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It will reattach the problem if you clean it too much.
So there's this is getting very technical and dental related,
but there's fibers on the tooth that hold the tooth
in the bone. You can disturb those fibers and the
tooth will attach to the bone improperly. We'll just say,
and then you want to keep those fibers. It will
attach the best way and it can function normally later
(26:37):
in life.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Wow, and teeth the front and back kind of only
goes in one way, and if it's in the mouth,
we can always adjust it and tweak it if it
doesn't look like it's in right. But it's important to
get it back in the mouth so the pH and
everything stays as best as possible.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
The exact timing can be off. Butt If the tooth
is out of the mouth for like five minutes, it
has a much worse chance of surviving than I'm in
one minute, and if it's twenty minutes, it's almost a goner.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Why don't we know this?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
We should people know about the milk because that has
a similar pH.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
There are saliva, but I mean, if you're like a
soccer field or whoever, no one's not milk in their bag,
so it's better to try to get it back in
the mouth.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
What are some healthy snacks for cavity prevention? I would
love to know some options if there are any. And
then also what if they're lactose intolerant or they don't
like fruits and vegetables. Okay, it's so insane.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Do you want to try and stay away from snacks
that are chewy and sticky, that linger on the teeth,
gummies that just means sugar on the teeth for a
longer period of time, and even facts you may not
think of for example, like goldfish crackers, they form a
pace of your saliva. They get stuck in the grooves
of your teeth. So I'll have kids come in, I'll say, oh,
did you just see crackers like goldfish crackers? And I
(27:54):
can kind of guess what they just ache. It just
stays in the grooves of the teeth.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
And then if you're a gang brand like, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
They canna make it better, right, Yeah, organic sugar is.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Still sugar is still a card.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Sure sure, sure Nuts.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Are good because it's fat and protein. So if they
can eat nuts, that is helpful.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Fresh fruit is the most ideal freeze dried is necks
sometimes kids like those. The dried fruit is by far
our least favorite.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
They have amazing dairy free options of yogurt packets now believable.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yes, So if you're kind of like snacking things, it's
better to have like a puff a cheerio, a booty
of bomba like the dissolved veggie stick.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Those dissolved more than what Michael mentioned about, like.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
A cracker, and wash it down with water, not lemonade
or apple juice.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
What about the passes the thumb sucking. Both my kids
are thumb suckers. I'm so grateful that my kids can
self soothe like crazy, and they are incredible sleepers, and
I've so just sort of accepted they're screwed. They're gonna
need braces anyway. So that's what that is. And he's
(29:08):
only gonna quit probably when he starts having sleepovers and
he's like embarrassed. But do you recommend to people to
like try to get them to quit at a certain age?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Pass fire, thumb, a levee. Anything that's in the mouth
for an extended period of time that you're sucking on
can cause disortions of the teeth and jaws, all right.
Typically can be any combination of three things. Teeth get
pushed up vertically so you have like an open bier,
and then teeth get pulled out horizontally, which is like
the buck tooth kind of appearance, or can cause the
(29:39):
nearness of the upper jaw where the top teeth gets
squeezed and pushed in. Okay, suck great. The vertical caparte
component will self correct at any age where they stop
at two, four or five. It does not make a difference.
Take away the object that teeth will just grow back
down like with gravity, and that part will self correct.
The other two parts will be correct with braces. Everything
(29:59):
is correct the bull You're not causing any permanent damage
by sucking your thumb or a passifire for an extended
period of time. Therefore, I always say to my patients,
let it continue and it will stop when the child's ready.
On average, passified child will stop around fourish and the
thumbsucker will stop around eight.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Okay, so now I'm gonna self discussed.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
So both our kids who are pacifier babies, our older
son read the book at four years and one month
because we're like, our birthdays are one month apart.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
So for my birthday president he found a sleep all
night without the pacifier.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
One thing to backtrack for fingers thumbs, I mean, they
need you as a parent, so you're not cutting their
fingers off, so you know, so that's gonna that's gonna
die when it You're like, you'll grizzle out when it does.
But for an external objectic of pacifier or levy or something,
you can take it away. So we let we kind
of limited for our kids at certain times as they
(30:54):
got older to the quote unquote needing it kind of
the car for sleep they didn't need to have it
walking around the house with it hanging out of their head,
and you don't want it to interrupt their speech development.
So our first son had what Michael mentioned where the
upper teeth up shorter, and once we took the past
fire up four, it grew down and self corrected.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And our younger son didn't read the book and he had.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
His classic second child, Yeah, five.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
And three quarters, so he was about to enter kindergarten
at that age.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
I'm like, you need to be responsible. It was his baba.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
You need to be responsible for your ba ba, and
she couldn't find it one day, so I'm like, we're
it's over. David, Like, if it was that important to you.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
You wouldn't have lost it five and three quarters. But yeah,
it up.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
But the funny thing is that he was looking.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
We used to keep it like in the drying rock
and the sink, and his older brother, rather two and
a half years apart, was like, oh I saw one
in the kitchen sink. And David goes running forth the
next morning and can't find it, and then he calls
me at work get everything to not want to run
the drug store to buy another passifier because he's this
is Bobby.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
We got all done the same thing, but you did
if you stayed strong.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
That's one thing with parents.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
You asked about the advice, So it's the family's decision
if they want to pull. If they walk in and
say too, we're taking it away, I'm not going to
say no. But the only thing I say is that
every single person is taking care for the child, All
of the child's primary caregiver doesn't need to be on
the same page, because it.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Is really confusing.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
If grandma watches the kids for X hours of the
day and the kids work it, they know Grandma lets
me still have the pacifier, and then mom comes home,
you're going to get a vicious cycle.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I remember one of the girls I used to nanny
for before I was able to pay my bills just
from acting. But I used to be zip for a
girl and when she her parents decided, like, you know,
it's time, we're going to be done with her woo
bee or whatever she called it, I don't know, and
we all went to Disneyland and she took all of
her pacifiers and put them in a ziplock baggie and
walked up to Minnie Mouse and she had to say
(33:00):
bye and then for the next three and I just said, no,
you remember, you gave them.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
She's like, where are they?
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Where are they?
Speaker 1 (33:05):
And You're like, we gave them ultimnymiles. She's going to
give them to another little boy or a little girl
who needs them, is going to take care of them.
And it was a rough couple of days, but she
made it through.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
Exactly flossing not doing it over.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I mean, I lost twice a day. I love flossing
my children. Who in hell is able to floss their
kid's teeth once a day? Who is doing that? And
give them all the awards? Like, are really doing this?
Do you actually have clients who's four year olds and
five year olds are flossing daily?
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Probably not, to be honest, Are they telling me that
they are? Maybe? Sure, I'm sure, I'm I'm sure I'm
being told that.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
And I have the numb chucks, I have all the
things that Amazon provides.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
But it's hard. However, it's one of those things where
if you're flossing h if a child's fossing at H four,
they'll be flossing at h twenty four. So you want
to establish those habits early but it's a difficult habit
to do and get into. So what a lot of
times I'll tell parents is just start with the front teeth.
Do the easy ones. You're not going to run a
marathon on day one, so just floss like the top
(34:26):
four front teeth first and just do those and then
introduce more later down the road, and then eventually you
can get to everything. But if you take little steps,
it's definitely much more manageable.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
On the same subject, water pick versus dental floss.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
The water Pick brand has the American Dental Association sealed
that there's been research where they're just as effective as
traditional flossing, and a water pick we have found helps
last specially we start getting hardware in the mouth, like
braces or those visiliine buttons things some kids that could
be fun. And spitting out in the sink is novel,
(35:04):
and I think that might be the coolest thing ever.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
And they can spit on the mirror, and.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
You know, all the above, and then some it's like
way too much all at once. Earlier you mentioned like
some people use goss, some people use toothbrushes, you know,
and brushing their kids teeth.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
It's all the above.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
Is correct, because every child is different, and one child
for one month this feels great and then the next
month they hate that again. So you need to have
a lot of tools in a toolbox and you're caring
for your kid's teeth.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Any other dental hygiene tips for parents who are listening
that I have left out?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah, so for the real little ones. Right, So your
two year old that doesn't want to brush, and I've
heard Jill say this. I saw this for me, so they'll.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Give you credit.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
There's nothing magical about the bathroom, right, So you don't
have to be in the bathroom to brush your child's teeth.
They first of all, they can't spit the toothpaste out.
They're just too young, right, So you don't have to
be near the sink. You can do it on the couch,
in the kitchen, in the bedroom. So just find a
comfortable spot to brush their teeth instead of making it
a fight to be in the bathroom. The other thing
I recommend is put their head in your lap. So
(36:09):
sit on the floor of the couch the bed, lie
your child down with their head ling in your lap.
It almost mimics how a dentist would work. You can
see better. If necessary, you can take the lips and
kind of pull them out of the way with your
other hand, if you just have a better visually versus
facing your child and like stabbing at them with a
toothbrush or standing on the side of them and rushing
(36:29):
from the side because you can't see the back teeth
if you're brushing from the side right and their heads
bobbing around and moving, So get their head stable, look
straight into the mouth. And it still may only be
five or ten seconds of brushing time that they'll give you,
there'll be a better five or ten seconds than in
the other positions.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
And I also think like two toothbrushes because when you're
around at eighteen months to three, like I do it
myself everything. So let them suck and brush their back
teeth and gnaw on it. And when they gnaw on
the toothbrush, they're gonna wipe the food from the back
molars where the flat part where you chew your food.
But the gun line is usually where the kids miss
(37:06):
because they're not gonna put the toothbrush half on their
teeth and half on their guns. And that's when you
can take a finger if they don't want to.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
They pierce their lips.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
You can still move your pointer finger and wipe the
plack out from the gun line, and they can keep
their lip their mouth closed, but you can still like wipe,
like you get something off their face, do that scratching motion.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Because my kids chew on their toothbrushes so much, I'm
going through toothbrush. I've never seen toothbrushes this mangled within.
I want to say there's a two week to three
week shelf life. I should be buying them in bulk
because it's just ridiculous. And at first I had the
ones with all the bells and whistles and the lighting
(37:48):
up and this that and the other thing, and now
we go through them so much. Do you recommend a
electric toothbrush for little ones or just the regular baby
bristle like Crayola has them those ones? What do you recommend?
Speaker 2 (38:02):
I usually recommend whatever the child wants to use, So
one day it might be electric, next day it might
be the fingerbrush. Do you just have to go with
the flow. I wouldn't spend fifty dollars on a sonic
hare toothbrush for a two year old, the little ten
or eleven dollars one in the drug store. That's fine
to use, but you just have to go with the flow.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
It's unbelievable. What's the general rule on the fluoride? No
fluoride while we're here, Jill.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
That's interesting topic.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
So the American Academy Pediatric Dentistry says, as soon as
there is a tooth that you should be having a
little smear.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
It's a little small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Speaker 4 (38:42):
So in where we practice, Los Angeles is fluoridated, so
the children are swallowing fluoride, so they're getting the benefits
of the fluoride, meaning incorporated the water in the water,
and they're they're getting their developing teeth and bones. Because
for us, we brush our teeth, we brush with floride.
We spit it out so it's all stays topical, it
(39:04):
all stays like lotion.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
But for little ones, because they're swallowing, it's like they're
swallowing a pill.
Speaker 4 (39:09):
So in our practice, unless a child really is a
high risk for decay, we recommend fluoride free until they
can spit because they're still getting the benefits of the
swallow fluoride just from living in Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
So while I have you with my two year old,
and obviously she's at risk because her brother is mister
cavity man. Should she be with fluoride? She can't spit yet,
but she doesn't like it. She likes the Spry toothpaste.
And when I try to give her a little bit
of fluoride, I try to, like, how about a few
times this week we do fluoride? She's done like it,
(39:45):
don't like it.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
You don't know where she's gonna fall. My sister had
a mouthful of cavities. Like I said, I never had any,
just because their slaving doesn't mean it the same. And
also depends if the two year old has those second molars,
and it depends if they're spacing between the molars.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Ah, So if there's no spacing in the molars, do
you run a little bit more high risk for bacteria
growing in there? And it's spreading to two teeth. Guys,
we've learned so much today. I'm ready to go to
dental school.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
But can't you your question mark? You can maybe mix
the two A dab of fluoride toothpaste on the bottom
with the spry on top. Hide it. Try that.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
See it's like those veggies, right, that's right, the veggies,
the spinach in the shape exactly exact, strawberries and blueberries
and pineapple, and you're like, I swear there's no green
in here. There's no green in here. Okay. So questions
we ask everybody if you can even remember was there
anything on your baby shower if you had one or
(40:45):
two or a sprinkle registry item that you couldn't live without.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I know that is it was a long time ago,
registrate thing.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
I think we'll play bouncy things all.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
They can sit, I think the sit yeah, the same thing.
So I could take a shower, and I think they could. Yes,
So I could.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Actually watch them that little chair bounce, the little chair
thing right exact.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
Yeah, that's amazing. Baby Bjorn has one that's sick.
Speaker 3 (41:17):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
So I think that was definitely something because they were
one place and if there was somewhat entertainment, I could
watch them so good.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
What advice would you like to give to your children
as they get closer to their what when is their
next birthdays? How old are they turning?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Eighteen and twenty one?
Speaker 4 (41:37):
I know, yes, I can't well, yeah, eighteen Seember milestone birthdays.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
That's right, they'll be yeah, year corrects.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Huge milestone birthdays. Is there any thought on what advice
you would give to them?
Speaker 3 (41:54):
I think don't be ow so many.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
That's the whole other side.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
Day because one didn't call it jack.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Remember, I think to treasure friendships, push yourself both professionally
and personally, to try new things, and just take take
your moments in.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Yeah, take the moments in.
Speaker 6 (42:22):
I really love that.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
I'd probably say along the lines of trying new things,
that you don't regret the things you tried, only things
you never tried.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
A men, And by the way, we could all take
that advice for one at some point. Yeah, that's what
that is. This is a sentence, so you can both
answer this as there always a wrap up question. Finish
this sentence. Parenthood is.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
It's phases good and bad, and they all end, not
one will be forever.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
We need to remind ourselves of this even freak out
phase that my son was going to have eight or
nine cavities filled. I think it was nine nine cavities
filled at one time. We got through it and we
were onto the next. You know, I'm so appreciative of
you taking the time, and I'm just so grateful that
(43:16):
we get to be in your care I really think
that this is so important when you have a newborner,
you have a baby, people don't really know when they're
supposed to do it and what they're supposed to be
doing with teeth and so this really debunked a lot
of myths and ideas and got into the facts and
it was very helpful giving us the information. So thank
(43:38):
you so much for your time, doctor and doctor Mike Alaski.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Thank you, thank you for inviting us.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Thank you guys so much for listening to today's episode.
I want to hear from you. Let's chat, questions, comments,
can earns. Let me know. You can always find me
at Katiescrib at shondaland dot com. Katie's Crib is a
production of Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more
podcasts from Shondaland Audio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
(44:16):
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Welcome to Katie's Crib, a production of shondaland Audio in
partnership with iHeartRadio. What happens if the parent themselves is
super afraid and triggered by dentists? Like what happens when
you're the parent who I know hates the dentists, is terrified,
can't deal with the sounds? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
That's hard to be honest, because kids will come in
all the time with these preconceptions from their parents, and
they'll be like a cooperative patient for cleanings. They come
in for a filling and they're crying. I'm like, what's wrong? Like,
why are you upset? My mommy said I was can
get a shot and it's gonna hurt. I'm like, thanks, mom.
(00:44):
So sometimes the best thing is to not say anything
at all or asci the dentists first. How should I
prepare my child? The best thing is to not say
too much and give your child a fair start.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Welcome back everybody to Katie's Crib. I feel like I
am the most famous person in the world right now,
the fact that I have these two guests that we're
about to have on today. Because if you're a mom
in the valley, of Los Angeles. I'm talking to Studio City,
Sherman Oaks, to Luca Lake.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
There's a good.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Chance that your dentist is probably possibly doctor Jill and
doctor Michael Laski. There are guests today. If you're listening
and you are not in the Los Angeles area and
you have no idea who these two infamous dentists are,
you're gonna know and you're going to be so grateful.
(01:44):
I feel like having little kids. Everyone is constantly asking me, like,
when do they have to go to the dentist? How
do we get them to brush their teeth? How did
they get to floss? What happens when they have eight
thousand cavities? Because guess what, Albi had nine and had
to get put under. But we're going to get into
all that. Let me tell you a little bit about
doctor Jill and doctor Michael Laski. They are partners in
(02:06):
both business and life. Three years after meeting through their
mutual dental school professor, they were married and started practicing
together at the Laski Pediatric Dental Group. Doctor Jill and
Michael believe it's important to care for their young patients
and their families like they are part of their own
extended family. As parents to two boys, they believe everyone
(02:27):
who enters their pediatric dental office should not only receive
exceptional oral health care, but more importantly, be treated with kindness, compassion,
and respect. Their professional goals are to help young patients
develop confidence and treatment and to instill in them healthy
dental habits that last a lifetime. Their personal goals are
to make a positive impact on their community and create
a healthy work life balance. Doctor Jyllan MICHAELASKI, welcome to
(02:50):
Katie's PRIs. Oh my goodness, I am so excited. I
have wanted to do an episode about pediatric dentistry since
I started this thing. You're in season six. My son
had nine cavities by the age of four and a half,
(03:13):
so I want it to be known here that I
don't give him too much sugar. No, I'm kidding, it's not.
It's not about that. First and foremost, when does a
child first go to the dentist.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
First time a child shoulda the dentist is about when
they're one years old, because about that time they're starting
to walk, and that's when trauma happens.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's when falls happen.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
And honestly, it's really important for parents to have a
dental home, a place where they can go because pediatricians
are wonderful. They had learned so much in the four
years that they go to school, but they get about
five minutes about teeth, and the mouth leads a lot,
and it is scary and it is petrified, and you
(04:00):
do not want to be like scrambling trying to figure
out what to do when your baby's mouth is gushing blood.
So really that's one of the main reasons. Secondarily, I
think it's important to know how to take care of
their teeth, what's best for their nutrition because they're adding
more and more solids, but really feeling comfortable and having
a dental homeless keys, so about one is best at
(04:22):
least for the first child.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
The second child, you know, things becomes from more relaxed,
and the third twos by himself and a lot of.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Things to Parents have these misconceptions that if they push
then their kids are never going to want to brush
their teeth, And honestly, I give the example all the
time that I don't know about you, but my boys
are not liking their tushes cleaned. But you didn't leave
a dirty I tell parents it's all the same hole mouth.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Is a great way to look at it, right, It's
like we're not letting our kids walk around here with
not pristinely cleaned bottoms, correct, and we'd to let them
get away with not fully brushing, right, taking care of
their oral hygiene. That's a very great way to put it.
And doctor Michael, when you first see a one year
(05:12):
old that might have one, two teeth, some I'm sure
come in with a lot more teeth, what does the
dental care look like for a little one?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Right? Okay, first off, so going back to the first visit,
usually the important thing is not cleaning their teeth at
age one. So, like you said, they may only have one, two,
four or five teeth. It's more important to have the
conversation with the parent as far as how to take
care of the teeth, what to expect, answer any questions,
what kind of toothpaste to use at that age. So
it's more of an informational visit than natural cleaning visit
(05:43):
of their teeth.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
For example, I had friends that use toothbrushes, friends that
used gaws or a washcloth, you know what I mean,
while they were in the bath, right, Instead of making
it a whole thing. Here's a really scary question, doctor
Joe Laski, since you brought it up first, what is
the ratio, say, of how many little ones come in
with knocked out teeth?
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Kids get bumped, They get bumped, even little ones. I
would say about fifty percent of kids have a gray
or yellow or discolored front tooth. I would definitely say that,
And I'd say large percent has little edges that are
the edges are chipped a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, and it didn't have to be like some big trauma.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
It could have just you know, playing with a sibling
or tottering around and bumped and it hit more their knee,
but their face hit it for a second. Yeah, there's
lots of little microtraumas along the way that can make
the teeth discolored and parents think that they're dead and
they're not necessarily dead.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Most of the time, they're just bruised.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
My son knocked his tooth in COVID on a he
fell off the couch, his tooth hit a fire truck
and wabam, that's the gray tooth. I'm so pumped. It's
loose right now. Yeah, and he's all upset He's like,
the tooth Fairy's good to know it's my grade tooth.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I'm like this, okay, it's okay, just brush it extra.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And I tell him that, oh yeah, I threaten that
tooth fairy like nobody's business. I'm like, she's coming soon.
You better check yourself. And then your name is brought
up in my household all the time because I lie constantly,
Like the doctor Lasky appointments coming up.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You're gonna read, oh for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, we're very popular. Yeah, between five and seven every night.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
We're very popular and very much brought up in everyone's back.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Exactly exactly how.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Often is it recommended that children visit the dentists? Is
it the same as adults? Is it like an every
six month thing?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yes, just like every six months.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
What is the best way for parents to understand that
consistency helps a child to brush their teeth? But I
aren't the parent, Okay, everyone needs to get honest with themselves.
I feel like the parents are the best role models
to their kids. Am I wrong? Like I feel like
we teach modeling all the time. So if your kids
see you flossing and they see you brushing before bed
(08:03):
and all that kind of stuff. So someone called my
husband he skips nights a lot. Sh Michael Angel just shocked.
I just outed my husband. He's so upset. But is
that true? Like parents listening, you better get your act together.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Modeling is a big thing, and kids see what their
parents do. So it's hard to say one thing and
do another. Do as they say, not do as I do.
And it's hard to expect your child to brush your
teeth twice a day if you're not doing it. Definitely,
and a lot of times at that age, parents might
brush with their child correct at the same time to
show them how to brush properly, and it gets a
child into brushing more.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Well. That being said, is that you mentioned is like
this is one time in life where quantity matters more
than quality. So it is more important for you to
make sure that you're brushing your kid's teeth for five
seconds every night than like two or three good brushes
a week. You're making connection right now in their little brains.
(09:03):
That like getting ready for bed, pajamas, bathroom, bath like
La Lata Lotti, all of that goes and brushing is
incorporated in that.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Right. This is a routine that you never leave behind
in their art night for us, if it helps anyone listening.
We literally have their toothpaste and toothbrushes all over our
house because I think it's such a pain in the butt.
I'm in a cow I'm in a ranch style house,
so it's long, and sometimes when we're getting out of
the house almost and someone's having a meltdown and I
(09:34):
just want to get them out, but their toothbrushes all
the way in their bathroom, you know, on the other
side of the house. I'm like, forget it. Look, these
are the ones that are at the kitchen sink. I mean,
I don't even know if that's disgusting that we're spittling
in there, but I just need to get it done,
you know, or it's in this other bathroom. Following up
to what you were talking about, Michael, rushing with them
modeling all of the routine themselves. What happens if the
(09:59):
parent them so elves is super afraid and triggered by dentists,
Like what happens when you're the parent who I know
hates the dentists, is terrified, can't deal with the sounds?
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (10:12):
That's hard? Yeah, you're not because kids will come in
all the time with these preconceptions from their parents, and
they'll be like a cooperative patient for cleanings. They come
in for a filling and they're crying. I'm like, what's wrong?
Like why are you upset? My mommy said I was
gonna get a shot and it's gonna hurt. I'm like, thanks, mom,
(10:34):
So now you gotta undo all that without lying to
the child because they probably will be getting a shot possibly.
So sometimes the best thing is to not say anything
at all, or aci dentists first, how should I prepare
my child? But it's hard when a parent is scared
to not portray those fears onto your child. And sometimes
it's just a look. They don't have to say anything,
(10:54):
but that scared look on their faces like oh my
gosh with their eyes and the child consent. So it's
very difficult to be competent. It's the best thing is
to not say too much and give yourch other a
fair start.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Just don't say anything at all and let them they
don't know showing up that it's a bad thing. Correct, Correct,
it's a great pediatric dentist's office. They may get a toy,
you know, a cool toothbrush, or a flavorful bubblegum tasting
toothpaste ecrapting awesome. If a child needs work done in
(11:28):
their mouth. Follow up to that question, what do you
suggest is the way we tell them.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
I personally avoid the sea word cavity has a really
negative connotation, and you don't know if it's from an
older sibling somebody from school. So we kind of like
to say, like a little dirty spot, you're going to
come back for there different toothbrush. I mean again, like
what Michael mentioned, we're not lying to them, We're just
framing it in a way that seems a little bit
(11:56):
more gentle to them, doesn't seem a scary. Yeah, another toothblash,
Like usually if you found a cabinet xtra, that picture
you took was great, but there was a little more dirt.
So we're gonna sweep it out and then we're gonna
paint it and color it and draw something on it,
or you know, kind of make it that way. And
I just and then I tell the parents don't say
anything else. And then if they do ask at home.
(12:19):
Instead of lying, like Michael mentioned, you to say, let's
just ask doctor. Ask you, let's see what doctor Joel says,
or let the dental professionals explain it to your child
and then you're not putting your foot in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
This is gonna seem like a maybe, like a controversial question,
but it's in here, so somebody wanted to know the answer.
How do we know if the kid needs work done
that it's not like a scam.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Oh this has.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Never happened to me in my life because I've gone
to only like word of mouth, the most like reputable
doctor s dentist. But there are a lot of moms
listening who I'm sure go somewhere. Someone says, there's like
a million things. It's costs this much money, like this
something that is true that we need to be conscious about.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I always tell parents, if you want a second opinion,
buy means all means go. It's hard because you want
to trust the doctor, but as a lay person, you
don't know what's going on. Someone take taking your card
to the mechanic. So very often find cavities in between
the teeth on an X ray. They're not physible to
the naked eye. So you look in child's mouth, the mouth,
the teeth look perfectly white and clean. You don't see
(13:29):
any decay, any holes, any black spots, whatever, but there
could be eight, nine, ten cavities present. So I'll always
pull up the X rays and show the parent you
see this dark spot right here, and explain to them
what's going on, because it's definitely hard to absorb, understand,
or you know, relate to Oh my gosh, talk my
kid as a cavities all of a sudden at one time.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Especially if you didn't take the first time you gaint
X rays like he said.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Kind of like with everything in life, you need to
go with your instinct, go with your parent gut, and
then ask questions and you should have the right to
get those questions answered before anything is done.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Love this.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So that segues perfectly into my son's nine cavity between
all of his back teeth. How many cavities is too many?
What's a shocker because I was fucking shocked. Oh yeah,
I mean I've had one cavity in my whole life.
My husband's had a ton, which there is some genetics
that comes into play here. Can you explain why this happened?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So a lot of it is genetics. So to get
a cavity and eat three things, a tooth, a sugar source,
which is any carbohydrate, bread, fresh fruit, candy. It does
not make a difference. And you need the bacteria that
causes the cavities, and that's the part you can't control.
So if they have very high level of the cavity
causing bacteria, you'll get lots of cavites in your lifetime
or cavities. If you don't have the bacteria, you won't
(14:53):
get the cavities, and you can't control that, and you
don't know it ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
So I've never had a cavity fifty one, Oh my god. Okay,
so he had one. No, no, but it's not because I'm
not the best best brusher or flosster or had the
best diet of my whole life.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And this is a perfect example. Our younger son. The
toothbrush not his best friend. He's seventeen now, so it's
kicking in.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
But let me tell you about you're honest the time,
and let.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Me tell you never had a cat. So he has
mommy spit. And I always tell parents like this is
one time in life. It's always the sibling who does
has the best home care that gets all the cavities
and it's the one that barely brushes who does it?
So I tell parents this is the first lesson in
their little lives that fair is not equal. Wow, sometimes
(15:42):
it's a lot out of your control. And then the
ones that have the bacteria have to work extra hard,
right to make sure that they don't have to fight it.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
And where does this bacteria picked up? Is it from
a fork?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
A kids?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah? What is it?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So there's different theories, But what I've been told is
that it's physically transferred from person to person like you
would catch a cold, and then once your body accepts
the bacteria, you're set for life. Not in my interpretation.
I don't know how much this is based on science,
But my interpretation is everyone might be exposed to it,
but certain people may not be able to reproduce it.
(16:20):
For example, all this child might come home sick with
the flu. Sometimes everyone gets sick. Sometimes only one of
the person the family gets sick, not every time every
person will get sick. So I think it's the same
kind of a concept where not everyone who is exposed
to it will then keep it and keep reproducing in
their body.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Yeah, but there are things that help fight it, But
there's a window of infectivity between zero and three where
you're more prone to actually acquiring the bacteria. So your child,
if they embraces what their jaw looks like, the shape
of their teeth, that's how.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Your genetics of the parents mix. But really you.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Can acquire the bacteria not only from a blood relative,
but from outside primary caregiver, from like you'd mentioned, blowing
on food, giving kisses.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Water bottles.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
So the best way to fight that is to make
sure the adults have taken care of all of their decay.
They don't have active decay in their mouth, because the
more active decay, then that higher the bacteria levels are.
Speaker 6 (17:20):
Oh, active decay, that's gross.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
I know, I know this is a big one for
I think American Academy Pediatrics. Bottles in the bed or
like bottling and not brushing your teeth after Like is
that just like sugar on the teeth and it's bad news.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Bears everything at night sits.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
So that's that's the longest time where you're not like
drinking water or talking or moving your tongue around. Right. So, ye,
breast milk formula, I mean it's sweet, so it has
a lot of bacteria.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Sugar in it, and bacteria got it.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
So it fits on your tongue and then the tongue
hits the back of the front teeth, and that's usually
where those first cavities happen for most kids.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
So let me tell you, guys, when alb got the nine,
the nice nine cavety sitch, and everyone joked about my
mother ing and the amount of sugar he'd had and
all that. Now, he definitely liked sugar, but not any
more or less than all the other kids, So whatever,
he got the shit end of the deal right exactly.
But our experience that I want to share with our
(18:38):
listeners because it was the best choice for us. I
have a lot of friends whose kids have had some cavities,
and the kids totally went and sat for it and
maybe did some laughing gas and we're cool. I showed up,
we tried, we sat, we started, and Albe literally flew
(18:59):
off the chain at just the taste of whatever lotion.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
Glodes the topical anesthetics, which was step one of one hundred,
sent him through the roof of like I don't like it.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Hot I got and just like losing his mind. Doctor
Laski was like, there's no way I'm going to be
able to do four today, and that he's ever coming
back here again in a month to do the other four.
He would be a perfect candidate to do this all
under anesthesion do it one time, and of course I
was like almost in tears and was terrified to put
(19:37):
my child under. And I have to say, I'm so
grateful that you held my hand because my son has
no recollection of it. I have the recollection of him
going under and being like that was really scary, and
just sitting and pacing outside of your office with another
mom whose kid had ten cavities, who was right before him,
and we were sort of holding each other's hands. But
(19:59):
what's the the gift was is that he does not
have any bad memory when we bring up your name,
he is no fear attached to that experience because to him,
he walked in, he fell asleep within a minute, and
he was up and it was over. You know, the
whole thing was an hour and we were home and
he was at school the next day. Who is a
(20:21):
candidate for something like this option versus no, you know what,
you're a different age. He was four and a half
when this happens, which is that's really little in my opinion,
when do you suggest something like this, When should a
parent advocate for something like this versus going the old
school route. What are your any advice here?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So if a child will sit in the chair and
be cooperative enough to get started, always trying the chair first,
just there's always a risk tantathesia and put in a
child to sleep, and most parents don't want to do it,
so it's never our first step go to. But for
some children who just absolutely can't do it, you don't
have any other choice. So the candidate is perfect, like
your son who like freaked out for the littlest thing,
(21:03):
and then you got to do like you said, step
one of one hundred, you know. And I'll try and
tell the parents, like, we can get through this. It's
not gonna be fun for anybody. You're gonna have to
hold your child down. You're gonna be crying at the
end because your child's crying. Yeah, everybody, I won't be
able to do a good job. So I'm trying to
rest with their kid and fill their teeth at the
same time and say great, we're done. Now I can
come back and do it round two or round three,
And then they want to get out of the car.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Nobody wants to do that. That sounds terrible. And my
son has censories like he can't. He freaks out when
you brush his hair. He's had a beasting and it
was like the world ended. It was phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
One of the reasons why I went to pediatrics was
because I really wanted to make sure that kids are
comfortable taking care of their bodies. Because what you the
habit you learn as a child will take you through
the rest of your life. So if you're not petrified
of going and that's why you gave your son the
gift of having his donal work a down whine who's asleep,
so then he won't be scared to take care of
(21:59):
his teeth later, So then things won't snowball, right, because
avoidance is that's when you have problems, mostly your teeth, right,
any other part of your body.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Is there anything else we can do to prevent yellow
adult teeth as baby teeth fall out? You mentioned on
your YouTube channel that parents should not use teeth whitening products.
Doctor Jill, what do you think about that?
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Okay, so adult teeth are innately more yellow than baby teeth,
and it is so unfair baby teeth are like toilet
bow white, right, and that adult teeth are not. They
come in looking extra yellow because here you are, you
have white teeth. The contrast, right, so you have really
white and then you have something that looks yellow. The
(22:44):
yellow is gonna look even more yellow than adult.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I'm so glad I know this in advance.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
So then a full mouth of the same colored teeth
doesn't look as bad. And then also it depends, like
you know your your complexion. If you're a more fair skin,
they're gonna look more yellow. So unless you're going to
walk around with red lipstick on, I mean, it's going
to be hard to make the baby teeth look really white.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
But we should not be using whitening products on children's.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Well because it's not going to help because they're not
suffering from coffee steak all those kind of things that
would make the extremes extaint. So that's what the grittiness
of the whitening toothpastees. So that's not really what their
issue is.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Right, It just looks more yellow because that is what
they are, and it's standing next to white baby teeth exactly,
or gray baby teeth in my child's exactly, but.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I hope that's only one or two and that's right, right,
So it is really normal to have yellowish adult teeth,
but they look extra yellow because they're next to the
porcelain white teeth.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
You know, I've seen a lot of scooter incidents, trampoline incidents.
I mean, of my friends that I can think of,
I have four that have knocked out teeth, So I
know this is more common than we would like to admit.
Do you always pull the tooth? What's the deal? Can
we expect a little bit?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
So if it's a baby tooth that gets knocked completely out,
then it goes to the tooth fairy, right, You cannot
put it back in. Just leave it out. You're done,
that's it, and you just treat the after pain right
kind on mud if you need it, and everything should
be fine. If the tooth is displaced, so it's not
knocked out, but it's loose and like kind of push forward,
(24:27):
pulled backwards or something. And if it's a baby tooth,
then you want to call your dentist and come in
and usually we'll do as well, reposition the tooth, put
it back in the right spot, a little wire on it,
like graces to stabilize it like a cast. If you
were to break your arm, for example, and you leave
the splint on for three weeks, take it off and
the tooth solidifies and then usually heals and it should
be fine. It's always the possibility that the nerve can
(24:50):
die from that, but that secondary a little bit later
down the road. But you are able to save the
teeth if it's still in the mouth. Okay, permanent tooth.
If that gets knocked out, you want to put it
back into the socket. A S, A P. Every second
does count. So if you're at the baseball field or
wherever we happen to be, pick it up off the ground,
don't clean it too much, just stick it back in
(25:12):
the socket and then get straight to a dentist.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (25:16):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I don't know if I I don't know if I
could do that.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I get about the lake all right, when a patient
it was on a lake in Baker's Field, getting towed
behind a boat.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Mose little toob thing of the jiggy's and they're bouncing
around on the waves, not a wakeboard.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
It was like in a round on a tube on
a tube.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yah, yeah, behind.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Bouncing around her knee, hit her face and knocked out
her tooth. Her tooth landed on her lap in the lake,
the whole ake. So they had the tooth. They called
me right away. I said, put it in her mouth.
Just get it back into the socket. They did. They
drove all the way back to La from Baker's Field,
which is like.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
A few hours. This is not around the corner.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
And then I splintered the tooth to stabilize it. And
this was about four years ago, maybe even longer. And
that tooth is still in our mouth perfectly. Fine.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
What it will reroot itself like into your bone.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It will reattach the problem if you clean it too much.
So there's this is getting very technical and dental related,
but there's fibers on the tooth that hold the tooth
in the bone. You can disturb those fibers and the
tooth will attach to the bone improperly. We'll just say,
and then you want to keep those fibers. It will
attach the best way and it can function normally later
(26:37):
in life.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Wow, and teeth the front and back kind of only
goes in one way, and if it's in the mouth,
we can always adjust it and tweak it if it
doesn't look like it's in right. But it's important to
get it back in the mouth so the pH and
everything stays as best as possible.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
The exact timing can be off. Butt If the tooth
is out of the mouth for like five minutes, it
has a much worse chance of surviving than I'm in
one minute, and if it's twenty minutes, it's almost a goner.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Why don't we know this?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
We should people know about the milk because that has
a similar pH.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
There are saliva, but I mean, if you're like a
soccer field or whoever, no one's not milk in their bag,
so it's better to try to get it back in
the mouth.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
What are some healthy snacks for cavity prevention? I would
love to know some options if there are any. And
then also what if they're lactose intolerant or they don't
like fruits and vegetables. Okay, it's so insane.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Do you want to try and stay away from snacks
that are chewy and sticky, that linger on the teeth,
gummies that just means sugar on the teeth for a
longer period of time, and even facts you may not
think of for example, like goldfish crackers, they form a
pace of your saliva. They get stuck in the grooves
of your teeth. So I'll have kids come in, I'll say, oh,
did you just see crackers like goldfish crackers? And I
(27:54):
can kind of guess what they just ache. It just
stays in the grooves of the teeth.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
And then if you're a gang brand like, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
They canna make it better, right, Yeah, organic sugar is.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Still sugar is still a card.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Sure sure, sure Nuts.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Are good because it's fat and protein. So if they
can eat nuts, that is helpful.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Fresh fruit is the most ideal freeze dried is necks
sometimes kids like those. The dried fruit is by far
our least favorite.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
They have amazing dairy free options of yogurt packets now believable.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yes, So if you're kind of like snacking things, it's
better to have like a puff a cheerio, a booty
of bomba like the dissolved veggie stick.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Those dissolved more than what Michael mentioned about, like.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
A cracker, and wash it down with water, not lemonade
or apple juice.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
What about the passes the thumb sucking. Both my kids
are thumb suckers. I'm so grateful that my kids can
self soothe like crazy, and they are incredible sleepers, and
I've so just sort of accepted they're screwed. They're gonna
need braces anyway. So that's what that is. And he's
(29:08):
only gonna quit probably when he starts having sleepovers and
he's like embarrassed. But do you recommend to people to
like try to get them to quit at a certain age?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Pass fire, thumb, a levee. Anything that's in the mouth
for an extended period of time that you're sucking on
can cause disortions of the teeth and jaws, all right.
Typically can be any combination of three things. Teeth get
pushed up vertically so you have like an open bier,
and then teeth get pulled out horizontally, which is like
the buck tooth kind of appearance, or can cause the
(29:39):
nearness of the upper jaw where the top teeth gets
squeezed and pushed in. Okay, suck great. The vertical caparte
component will self correct at any age where they stop
at two, four or five. It does not make a difference.
Take away the object that teeth will just grow back
down like with gravity, and that part will self correct.
The other two parts will be correct with braces. Everything
(29:59):
is correct the bull You're not causing any permanent damage
by sucking your thumb or a passifire for an extended
period of time. Therefore, I always say to my patients,
let it continue and it will stop when the child's ready.
On average, passified child will stop around fourish and the
thumbsucker will stop around eight.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Okay, so now I'm gonna self discussed.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
So both our kids who are pacifier babies, our older
son read the book at four years and one month
because we're like, our birthdays are one month apart.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
So for my birthday president he found a sleep all
night without the pacifier.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
One thing to backtrack for fingers thumbs, I mean, they
need you as a parent, so you're not cutting their
fingers off, so you know, so that's gonna that's gonna
die when it You're like, you'll grizzle out when it does.
But for an external objectic of pacifier or levy or something,
you can take it away. So we let we kind
of limited for our kids at certain times as they
(30:54):
got older to the quote unquote needing it kind of
the car for sleep they didn't need to have it
walking around the house with it hanging out of their head,
and you don't want it to interrupt their speech development.
So our first son had what Michael mentioned where the
upper teeth up shorter, and once we took the past
fire up four, it grew down and self corrected.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And our younger son didn't read the book and he had.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
His classic second child, Yeah, five.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
And three quarters, so he was about to enter kindergarten
at that age.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
I'm like, you need to be responsible. It was his baba.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
You need to be responsible for your ba ba, and
she couldn't find it one day, so I'm like, we're
it's over. David, Like, if it was that important to you.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
You wouldn't have lost it five and three quarters. But yeah,
it up.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
But the funny thing is that he was looking.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
We used to keep it like in the drying rock
and the sink, and his older brother, rather two and
a half years apart, was like, oh I saw one
in the kitchen sink. And David goes running forth the
next morning and can't find it, and then he calls
me at work get everything to not want to run
the drug store to buy another passifier because he's this
is Bobby.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
We got all done the same thing, but you did
if you stayed strong.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
That's one thing with parents.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
You asked about the advice, So it's the family's decision
if they want to pull. If they walk in and
say too, we're taking it away, I'm not going to
say no. But the only thing I say is that
every single person is taking care for the child, All
of the child's primary caregiver doesn't need to be on
the same page, because it.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Is really confusing.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
If grandma watches the kids for X hours of the
day and the kids work it, they know Grandma lets
me still have the pacifier, and then mom comes home,
you're going to get a vicious cycle.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I remember one of the girls I used to nanny
for before I was able to pay my bills just
from acting. But I used to be zip for a
girl and when she her parents decided, like, you know,
it's time, we're going to be done with her woo
bee or whatever she called it, I don't know, and
we all went to Disneyland and she took all of
her pacifiers and put them in a ziplock baggie and
walked up to Minnie Mouse and she had to say
(33:00):
bye and then for the next three and I just said, no,
you remember, you gave them.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
She's like, where are they?
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Where are they?
Speaker 1 (33:05):
And You're like, we gave them ultimnymiles. She's going to
give them to another little boy or a little girl
who needs them, is going to take care of them.
And it was a rough couple of days, but she
made it through.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
Exactly flossing not doing it over.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I mean, I lost twice a day. I love flossing
my children. Who in hell is able to floss their
kid's teeth once a day? Who is doing that? And
give them all the awards? Like, are really doing this?
Do you actually have clients who's four year olds and
five year olds are flossing daily?
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Probably not, to be honest, Are they telling me that
they are? Maybe? Sure, I'm sure, I'm I'm sure I'm
being told that.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
And I have the numb chucks, I have all the
things that Amazon provides.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
But it's hard. However, it's one of those things where
if you're flossing h if a child's fossing at H four,
they'll be flossing at h twenty four. So you want
to establish those habits early but it's a difficult habit
to do and get into. So what a lot of
times I'll tell parents is just start with the front teeth.
Do the easy ones. You're not going to run a
marathon on day one, so just floss like the top
(34:26):
four front teeth first and just do those and then
introduce more later down the road, and then eventually you
can get to everything. But if you take little steps,
it's definitely much more manageable.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
On the same subject, water pick versus dental floss.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
The water Pick brand has the American Dental Association sealed
that there's been research where they're just as effective as
traditional flossing, and a water pick we have found helps
last specially we start getting hardware in the mouth, like
braces or those visiliine buttons things some kids that could
be fun. And spitting out in the sink is novel,
(35:04):
and I think that might be the coolest thing ever.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
And they can spit on the mirror, and.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
You know, all the above, and then some it's like
way too much all at once. Earlier you mentioned like
some people use goss, some people use toothbrushes, you know,
and brushing their kids teeth.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
It's all the above.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
Is correct, because every child is different, and one child
for one month this feels great and then the next
month they hate that again. So you need to have
a lot of tools in a toolbox and you're caring
for your kid's teeth.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Any other dental hygiene tips for parents who are listening
that I have left out?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah, so for the real little ones. Right, So your
two year old that doesn't want to brush, and I've
heard Jill say this. I saw this for me, so they'll.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Give you credit.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
There's nothing magical about the bathroom, right, So you don't
have to be in the bathroom to brush your child's teeth.
They first of all, they can't spit the toothpaste out.
They're just too young, right, So you don't have to
be near the sink. You can do it on the couch,
in the kitchen, in the bedroom. So just find a
comfortable spot to brush their teeth instead of making it
a fight to be in the bathroom. The other thing
I recommend is put their head in your lap. So
(36:09):
sit on the floor of the couch the bed, lie
your child down with their head ling in your lap.
It almost mimics how a dentist would work. You can
see better. If necessary, you can take the lips and
kind of pull them out of the way with your
other hand, if you just have a better visually versus
facing your child and like stabbing at them with a
toothbrush or standing on the side of them and rushing
(36:29):
from the side because you can't see the back teeth
if you're brushing from the side right and their heads
bobbing around and moving, So get their head stable, look
straight into the mouth. And it still may only be
five or ten seconds of brushing time that they'll give you,
there'll be a better five or ten seconds than in
the other positions.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
And I also think like two toothbrushes because when you're
around at eighteen months to three, like I do it
myself everything. So let them suck and brush their back
teeth and gnaw on it. And when they gnaw on
the toothbrush, they're gonna wipe the food from the back
molars where the flat part where you chew your food.
But the gun line is usually where the kids miss
(37:06):
because they're not gonna put the toothbrush half on their
teeth and half on their guns. And that's when you
can take a finger if they don't want to.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
They pierce their lips.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
You can still move your pointer finger and wipe the
plack out from the gun line, and they can keep
their lip their mouth closed, but you can still like wipe,
like you get something off their face, do that scratching motion.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Because my kids chew on their toothbrushes so much, I'm
going through toothbrush. I've never seen toothbrushes this mangled within.
I want to say there's a two week to three
week shelf life. I should be buying them in bulk
because it's just ridiculous. And at first I had the
ones with all the bells and whistles and the lighting
(37:48):
up and this that and the other thing, and now
we go through them so much. Do you recommend a
electric toothbrush for little ones or just the regular baby
bristle like Crayola has them those ones? What do you recommend?
Speaker 2 (38:02):
I usually recommend whatever the child wants to use, So
one day it might be electric, next day it might
be the fingerbrush. Do you just have to go with
the flow. I wouldn't spend fifty dollars on a sonic
hare toothbrush for a two year old, the little ten
or eleven dollars one in the drug store. That's fine
to use, but you just have to go with the flow.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
It's unbelievable. What's the general rule on the fluoride? No
fluoride while we're here, Jill.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
That's interesting topic.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
So the American Academy Pediatric Dentistry says, as soon as
there is a tooth that you should be having a
little smear.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
It's a little small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Speaker 4 (38:42):
So in where we practice, Los Angeles is fluoridated, so
the children are swallowing fluoride, so they're getting the benefits
of the fluoride, meaning incorporated the water in the water,
and they're they're getting their developing teeth and bones. Because
for us, we brush our teeth, we brush with floride.
We spit it out so it's all stays topical, it
(39:04):
all stays like lotion.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
But for little ones, because they're swallowing, it's like they're
swallowing a pill.
Speaker 4 (39:09):
So in our practice, unless a child really is a
high risk for decay, we recommend fluoride free until they
can spit because they're still getting the benefits of the
swallow fluoride just from living in Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
So while I have you with my two year old,
and obviously she's at risk because her brother is mister
cavity man. Should she be with fluoride? She can't spit yet,
but she doesn't like it. She likes the Spry toothpaste.
And when I try to give her a little bit
of fluoride, I try to, like, how about a few
times this week we do fluoride? She's done like it,
(39:45):
don't like it.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
You don't know where she's gonna fall. My sister had
a mouthful of cavities. Like I said, I never had any,
just because their slaving doesn't mean it the same. And
also depends if the two year old has those second molars,
and it depends if they're spacing between the molars.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Ah, So if there's no spacing in the molars, do
you run a little bit more high risk for bacteria
growing in there? And it's spreading to two teeth. Guys,
we've learned so much today. I'm ready to go to
dental school.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
But can't you your question mark? You can maybe mix
the two A dab of fluoride toothpaste on the bottom
with the spry on top. Hide it. Try that.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
See it's like those veggies, right, that's right, the veggies,
the spinach in the shape exactly exact, strawberries and blueberries
and pineapple, and you're like, I swear there's no green
in here. There's no green in here. Okay. So questions
we ask everybody if you can even remember was there
anything on your baby shower if you had one or
(40:45):
two or a sprinkle registry item that you couldn't live without.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I know that is it was a long time ago,
registrate thing.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
I think we'll play bouncy things all.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
They can sit, I think the sit yeah, the same thing.
So I could take a shower, and I think they could. Yes,
So I could.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Actually watch them that little chair bounce, the little chair
thing right exact.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
Yeah, that's amazing. Baby Bjorn has one that's sick.
Speaker 3 (41:17):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
So I think that was definitely something because they were
one place and if there was somewhat entertainment, I could
watch them so good.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
What advice would you like to give to your children
as they get closer to their what when is their
next birthdays? How old are they turning?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Eighteen and twenty one?
Speaker 4 (41:37):
I know, yes, I can't well, yeah, eighteen Seember milestone birthdays.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
That's right, they'll be yeah, year corrects.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Huge milestone birthdays. Is there any thought on what advice
you would give to them?
Speaker 3 (41:54):
I think don't be ow so many.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
That's the whole other side.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
Day because one didn't call it jack.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Remember, I think to treasure friendships, push yourself both professionally
and personally, to try new things, and just take take
your moments in.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Yeah, take the moments in.
Speaker 6 (42:22):
I really love that.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
I'd probably say along the lines of trying new things,
that you don't regret the things you tried, only things
you never tried.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
A men, And by the way, we could all take
that advice for one at some point. Yeah, that's what
that is. This is a sentence, so you can both
answer this as there always a wrap up question. Finish
this sentence. Parenthood is.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
It's phases good and bad, and they all end, not
one will be forever.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
We need to remind ourselves of this even freak out
phase that my son was going to have eight or
nine cavities filled. I think it was nine nine cavities
filled at one time. We got through it and we
were onto the next. You know, I'm so appreciative of
you taking the time, and I'm just so grateful that
(43:16):
we get to be in your care I really think
that this is so important when you have a newborner,
you have a baby, people don't really know when they're
supposed to do it and what they're supposed to be
doing with teeth and so this really debunked a lot
of myths and ideas and got into the facts and
it was very helpful giving us the information. So thank
(43:38):
you so much for your time, doctor and doctor Mike Alaski.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Thank you, thank you for inviting us.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Thank you guys so much for listening to today's episode.
I want to hear from you. Let's chat, questions, comments,
can earns. Let me know. You can always find me
at Katiescrib at shondaland dot com. Katie's Crib is a
production of Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more
podcasts from Shondaland Audio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
(44:16):
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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