By Gina Roberts-Grey

February is National Dental Health Month, and it's a great time to review some of the basics of dental care for you and your family.
"I was surprised when my pediatrician suggested I take my one year old to the dentist," says Dawn Eisenhauer of Victor, New York, "Then she explained that this may reduce the chances of my daughter eventually experiencing anxiety over going to the dentist."

Fear Not the Dentist
Research shows that American children miss more than 50 hours of school each year due to dental related illness. These problems not only affect their concentration in school, but their sleep and eating habits, too. Contributing the dental related illness is a childhood the fear and anxiety experienced as a result of needing to visit the dentist.

With needles and drills lying around, it's not surprising that most children kids fear the worst at the dentist's office.

Once thought of as something that wasn't necessary until a child was school aged, dentists as well as pediatricians are now suggesting that children less than a year begin visiting the dentist as preparation for developing solid oral health routines. Now, experts believe that developing trust in the environment at the dentist's office and the comfort of having instruments placed in his mouth will lead to a child's overall comfort with routines recommended by the American Dental Association. "I remember being terrified of visiting the dentist throughout my childhood, but I didn't begin having check-ups and cleanings until I was five," adds Eisenhauer illustrating a major factor for the change in early oral care practices.

Many like Eisenhauer experience debilitating and extreme anxiety carried over from their childhood when visiting the dentist. These patients are finding relief in sedatives administered intravenously, prescribed tranquilizers or a combination of both. Although these practices are not commonly used to treat children, the ADA says "Sedation is safe when administered by a trained dentist who follows the sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry."

In addition to understanding when to visit the dentist, knowing what products your child is brushing with, helps protect his smile.

Biting Questions
Are there harmful chemicals in toothpaste? "Not in small quantities," says Dr. Ronald Heinle, a Pittsford based dentist. Sodium fluoride is the most popular ingredient used to prevent cavities in mainstream toothpaste and oral health experts say there are chemicals in toothpaste, but they are not harmful because the concentrations of these chemicals are so low. "For example, toothpaste with a whitening component contains hydrogen peroxide, which would only be harmful to teeth in quantities much larger than those present in toothpaste," says Dr. Heinle. Other common ingredients include baking soda, vitamins, calcium, and herbs among others. Desensitizing toothpastes also use two ingredients, strontium chloride and potassium nitrate, to reduce or block discomfort from coldness, heat or acids.
Is swallowing toothpaste dangerous? The labels on recognized brands of fluoride toothpastes such as Crest® and Colgate® caution "if more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away." While swallowing large amounts of toothpaste can also cause nausea, "It is recommended that children under age three not ingest toothpaste with fluoride because it can cause flurodosis. However, there is not much concern for anyone over the age of three who swallows some toothpaste," says Dr. Heinle.

In addition to the possibility of flurodosis, many parents worry if their family should use toothpaste with fluoride because it has been linked to serious health risks such as cancer and adverse thyroid function. Oral health experts address those concerns stressing that toothpaste containing fluoride is beneficial to teeth because fluoride prevents tooth decay. "Today much of the water supplies we use contain fluoride, however, everyone should use a fluoridated toothpaste to reduce the effects of 'acid attacks' from some foods and beverages, as well ass for prevention of plaque on the teeth," adds Dr. Heinle.

How much toothpaste should be used? The amount of toothpaste is not as important as the toothbrush and the brushing technique. "Brushing too hard or not reaching certain areas are far more detrimental than not using enough toothpaste," says Heinle. In addition to proper brushing techniques, most dentists recommend using a quarter inch of toothpaste or the length or tooth brush head.

Organic vs. Others
In addition to ingredients such as baking soda and trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide, some health experts and researchers are concerned that many toothpaste brands also contain the foaming agent Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), dyes and coloring additives. Some health experts believe SLS may not be entirely necessary since it is a foaming agent that allows the active ingredients in toothpaste to remain in the mouth longer and get between all the crevices of the teeth. However, natural sudsing agents are much more costly, leave a 'soapy' taste, and require using a higher percentage in the product.
Many natural food stores and departments carry SLS and/or fluoride free toothpastes that are low or non-foaming, and found these products provide an effective alternative to traditional toothpastes.
"We are seeing more and more patients with reactions to the colored toothpastes and those with tartar control," says President of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, Dr. Joel Schlessinger M.D.

Allergic reactions to toothpastes with colors and additives appear as a rash around the mouth or chin area, or mouth ulcer. Dr. Schlessinger says, "The first thing to do if an allergy is suspected is to change to a pure-white, non-tartar control containing toothpaste for one to two weeks. If this isn't helping, it may be time to see a dermatologist to make sure it isn't an infection or another type of acne."

Experts agree regardless of the brand, parents need to know what their children are brushing with and when to begin brushing to positively impact their oral and overall health. Whether hoping to prevent allergic reactions, incorporate a 'green' lifestyle, or keep their teeth as white as pearls, knowing how to read toothpaste labels and ease anxiety in the dentist's chair helps your whole family build good oral care habits.

Gina Roberts-Grey is a freelance writer living in Baldwinsville and frequent contributor to GVP