The Happy Visit: A Child’s First Trip to the Dentist

You want your child’s first experience at the dentist to be a positive one no matter what age they are. A child going to the dentist for the first time is often a handful of anxieties. Any dentist or hygienist using the right techniques can transform the most terrified child into a cooperative patient who is no longer afraid – a child who will leave the office with a smile on his face.

The American Dental Association or (ADA) recommends that you schedule your child’s first appointment with the dentist after their first baby tooth erupts. These early visits are encouraged between 12-18 months of age for several reasons. Educating mom and dad on proper nutrition and dental hygiene for their kids is a big part of that. All children should be socialized into the dental setting with what we call “happy visits” beginning by age two. This no-stress visit would be tailored to the child’s level of maturity and self-confidence. A ride in the “cool dentist chair”, playing with the air-water hand piece, and seeing a big sister do all this are all steps to successful rapport building even with the tiniest of patients. 

Some tips for a good first dental visit:

• First and foremost, pick a dentist that has a good reputation for working with kids. Some dentists specialize in pediatric dentistry but many family dentists will also be able to meet both you and your child’s needs.
• Secondly, if you decide to bring your child to the dentist at the age of one, try not to make a big deal about the visit. They can sit on your lap and you can comfort them as you would at any doctor’s appointment.
• Thirdly, your child may not remember their first visit to the dentist if they were a baby or toddler. We find a great way to help kids adjust is to bring them with you while you have your teeth cleaned and examined. They will be able to observe what the hygienist and the dentist does in your mouth. Allow them the opportunity to ask questions during your appointment.
• Another way you can help your child adjust is to talk about what a dentist does. Using things such as a small mirror at home to look in their mouth and count their teeth helps make them feel more comfortable when the dentist does it.
• Leading up to their first appointment, encourage your child to brush their teeth letting them know that their dentist will be excited to see nice clean teeth at their appointment. Tell your child how great their smile is and how their dentist wants to see them smile.
• Stay away from using phrases such as “Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you”. This places the idea in your child’s mind that it could hurt. Keep things low key and easy going. Kids also tend to do better with morning appointments rather then afternoon.

In the end, your goal is to create a non threatening environment for your child’s first experience at the dentist. You want to help them be excited about taking good care of their teeth which will in turn help them take better care of their whole body.

Wii helps special needs kids get exercise

Video games get a bad rap from most experts, but now there may be a few reasons to let your kids play Wii.  A recent study from the University of Oklahoma showed that active video games like Wii boxing or Dance Dance Revolution get kids as active as if they were taking a walk.  Plus in many parts of the country  most playgrounds – even the universally accessible ones – are just too hot to visit in the summer once it gets near lunch time.

Britt Collins, an occupational therapist, has come out in support of the Wii gaming system as a form of exercise for special needs kids. Britt told the June 2010 issue of Parents magazine that the Wii can help special needs children elevate their heart rate while also working on skills such as timing and visual and motor coordination.

Britt’s top picks for the Wii are:

Wii Sports – a child in a wheelchair can bowl or swing a virtual baseball bat with one arm.

Wii Fit – standing alone or with support, a child can master challenges like heading a soccer ball

We Ski – standing or sitting on a Wii balance board and shifting their weight helps build core strength and upper/lower body coordination

Raving Rabbids – combines the balance board with controllers and helps perceptual skills
Britt Collins is the cocreator of the DVD series TRP Wellness, which includes her video OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, SPECIAL NEEDS & TYPICAL with Britt Collins.

How Safe Is Your Kitchen?

When your children were young, you crawled on hands and knees to view your kitchen at toddler level. You plugged outlets, blocked the basement stairs, tightened cabinet knobs and always kept hot pot handles turned in toward the back of the stove, beyond the reach of probing fingers. Now that your kids are older, you may think your kitchen’s no longer a threat. Think again.

Here, a list of potential hazards and ways to keep your family safe:

• Menacing microbes There’s clean and then there’s microscopically clean. The kitchen is a haven for disease-causing bacteria, but you can ward off illnesses with several germ-fighting techniques. Pop wet sponges in the microwave for two minutes each day to eliminate bacteria, and replace the sponges regularly. Use disinfectant sprays or wipes on surfaces you touch regularly, from faucets to fridge handles to the phone — not to mention the table and chairs. Dedicate a different cutting board to each type of food you prep — and mark them to track which is for veggies, which for raw meat, and so on — and be sure to disinfect after each use. And reach for paper towels to dry your hands, particularly during cold and flu months. Sharing cloth hand towels virtually guarantees passing germs from one person to the next, says Neil Schacter, M.D., author of The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu.
• Careless cords Kitchen gadgets and small appliances are a cook’s best friend, but every time you buy a new tool, you should ask yourself: Am I using and storing it safely? Safety expert John Drengenberg of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) cautions consumers to be watchful, particularly of the cords on small appliances — electric kettles, mixers, deep fryers, etc. — which can get caught on other objects or yanked by younger children. Keep them well out of reach and away from other appliances. Teach older kids about proper handling of appliances … and their potential dangers. Periodically check the cords to make sure the wires are not damaged, cracked or loose. If they are, stop using them immediately and take them to a professional repair shop, hire an electrician or replace with a new item, advises the National Fire Protection Association.
• Plastics predicament The potential health risk of plastic food-storage containers has been the subject of much debate lately, but the undisputed fact is that containers leach a small amount of plastics into food. Certain foods — particularly fatty, salty or acidic ones — increase the amount that’s transferred. So does heating. Just to be safe, check the condition of your containers and replace them when they are worn out or cracked. Whenever possible, use ceramic or glass.
• Wave worries Microwave ovens trump stoves when it comes to fast food prep but take care not to overheat. Just like you used to test the temperature of your baby’s bottle, you now need to test the temperature of microwaved food before giving it to your child. Just stick your (clean!) finger into the middle and stir before serving. Teach older kids to test it themselves and also tell them about basic microwave safety rules: Never use aluminum foil and metal pans, and only use glass, ceramics and plastics specifically labeled microwave-safe. The Harvard Medical School offers a few more tips:
  • Packaged-food containers — like margarine and yogurt tubs — should not be used in microwaves. Neither should most takeout containers and water bottles. Put food in ceramic or glass before microwaving.
  • Don’t microwave plastic storage bags or plastic grocery bags.
  • Vent containers before putting them in the microwave.
  • Plastic wrap can melt in the microwave, so don’t put it directly on the food. As an alternative, use wax paper, kitchen parchment paper or white paper towels to cover the food.

  
  
  
  

Pesticides and ADHD

Everyday Health ran a good article on pesticides and ADHD.  Sure, we all want to eat a healthy diet full of fresh produce, so how can we steer clear of pesticides on that food?  Most experts say buying organic and washing food very well before eating it is the best bet.  A new study that will appear in the June issue of Pediatrics has shown a link between high levels of pesticides and ADHD.  The study points out that ADHD is most probably genetic, but that being exposed to pesticides before age 6 increases the chances that the child will exhibit symptoms of ADHD.

You can find a local farmers market or stand here.

Antibiotics…Not Always the Answer

Antibiotics are wonderful things. Since penicillin was first found and produced in the early twentieth century and used during the Second World War, it and related antibiotics have saved countless lives and cured many an illness quickly.

Antibiotics work by inhibiting certain growth factors and processes needed by bacteria to reproduce and flourish. As with many significant discoveries, penicillin was found purely by luck when an early twentieth century biochemist was trying to grow Staphylococcus (a type of bacteria). He opened the Petri dish to find that the growth of Staphylococcus seemed to be inhibited by a white substance growing next to it; that substance was studied and named “penicillin”, and indeed, did prevent growth of bacteria. The huge toll of injured and dying soldiers during the Second World War stimulated a renewed interest in the now decades old “antibiotic”, and it was pressed into service on battle fields around the world. Its successful wartime use spread to the private sector. Although initially used to help cure life threatening illnesses, it began to be used for even minor illnesses that would begin a trend that is still going on today.

The number of antibiotics in use today and their complexity is overwhelming and new ones are produced in ever increasing numbers. The primary reasons for producing a new antibiotic are to be able to treat an increasing number of bacteria known to be producing new diseases in people. Also the old antibiotics become outmoded when the existing bacteria develop very intricate mechanisms to shield themselves from the effects of the antibiotics (resistance).

Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, but many times well meaning health care professionals put them into use to possibly stop the advance of the viral illness (or secondary bacterial infections). Sometimes, antibiotics are dispensed at the insistent request of the parents who, in a misguided attempt to help “cure” their child of a viral illness, wish to use the latest antibiotic. At least in Pediatrics, an overwhelming majority of illness is due to viral infections and therefore speaks against the use of an antibiotic.

When antibiotics are used indiscriminately and in large amounts the following things can occur:

1. More “allergic reactions” because of the widespread use of these drugs
2. Increasing numbers of bacteria are developing resistances to these new and old drugs (leaving very few effective antibiotics for some very dangerous bacteria)

This is a trend that will probably continue unless health care professionals make this information available to the public. It is important to note, as new antibiotics are developed, the cost of delivering these to the portion of the population that really need them becomes prohibitive and adds tremendously to the cost of health care in this country. The process of getting a new medicine through the testing and the FDA is both very time consuming and expensive

Most of your child’s illnesses will be viral in origin and will not need an antibiotic. In addition, some routine illnesses that children get, such as ear infections, have been scrutinized carefully by researchers and their findings suggest that antibiotics may not be needed in mild ear infections. In fact, there are times that severe ear infections can be followed carefully without the use of antibiotics as long as the pain is controlled. Every attempt is being made to limit the use of all antibiotics in general. There are certainly situations that require an antibiotic such as strep throat and certain types of pneumonia, but your doctor will discuss the options at the time of your visit.

Think both locally and globally when it comes to the use of antibiotics: it will help your child and children all over the world.

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