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The Parent Times>
H1N1 Virus and Teeth Brushing
September 1, 2009
THE PARENT TIMES
SEPTEMBER 2009
CHILD SAFETY
H1N1 Virus
With the new school season fast approaching, schools around North America are bracing for a possible outbreak of the H1N1 Virus. For those of you who do not know exactly what H1N1 is, it is a type of influenza that can cause respiratory disease that can spread between people. It spreads through droplets from the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Also if someone touches something that is contaminated and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth they can contract H1N1.
Symptoms
Symptoms to look for include:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- occasional vomiting and diarrhea.
These symptoms are very similar to symptoms of seasonal influenza.
Actions to Prevent the Spread of H1N1
1. Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds;
2. Teach your children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or the inside of their elbow rather than their hand or just into the air;
3. Teach children to stay away from people that are sick; and
4. Children who are sick should stay home until they are better.
Before school begins, make sure that you speak to your child about H1N1. In general just go over the basics with kids of ways they can avoid getting sick such as:
1. wash their hands frequently;
2. avoid sharing a cup or other utensils with other people;
3. avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth;
4. cough and sneeze into their elbow; and
5. to let you know if they are not feeling well.
All of the information about came from the Ministry of Health and Services website. For more information about H1N1 you can check out www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1 .
WHEN TO START BRUSHING YOUR BABY’S TEETH???
Lots of parents ask when they should start to brush their baby’s teeth but you would be surprised to know that good dental care starts before they get their first tooth. The British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association recommends that you clean your child’s mouth everyday. Soon after birth, you can clean your baby’s mouth by gently wiping with a wet face cloth all around your baby’s mouth or with a soft toothbrush. Once your baby gets their first tooth, they recommend that you use a drop of fluoride toothpaste and gently clean your baby’s teeth. This is good to start as soon as possible as it allows your child to get used to cleaning their mouth and teeth regularly.
The British Columbia Dental Associate recommends that you make your first visit to a dentist within 6 months of when you see their 1st tooth appear or at one year of age.
FUN FACTS about BRUSHING
1. you should change your child’s toothbrush every 3 months, after a cold or illness, or when the bristles lose their shape;
2. teach your children about the benefits of flossing around the age of 7;
3. regarding fluoride, only use a smear for children under 3 and a pea size drop for children over 3;
4. choose a toothbrush for your child that has a small brush head;
5. do not put your baby to bed with anything except water;
6. encourage your child to use a cup (not a sippy cup) as soon as possible;
7. try lying your child down on your lap with their head at your knees and brush their teeth this way you can see inside their mouth;
8. BC Dental Hygienists’ Association recommends that you supervise and help brush your child’s teeth until they are at an age where they are able to write (not print) their name; and
9. fluoride helps harden tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to tooth decay.
WHEN BABY IS TEETHING
Some signs that baby is teething are:
1. increased saliva and drooling;
2. red cheeks or a rash on their cheeks;
3. restlessness;
4. increased in them putting objects in their mouth biting or sucking;
5. irritability;
6. fever; and
7. loss of appetite.
What you can do to help your baby when they are teething:
1. let your child chew on cold, hard objects such as teething rings that can be put into the freezer or a face cloth;
2. teething gels or teething tablets (always check with a health professionals before use);
3. for a fever and pain baby Tylenol (dose as per specified by weight);
4. teething biscuits that do NOT contain sugar; and
5. massage their gums with your fingers.
*most of the information was found at the BC Dental Hygienists’ Association and the BC Dental Association.
Please note that all tips are offered as suggestions only. While we have tried to provide you with some suggestions to help parents keep their kids safe, unfortunately we cannot think of everything and it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children’s safety.
Check us out on Facebook (Childproofers BC), Twitter (http://twitter.com/childproofersbc) and Blogspot (Child Safety BC) for regular updates. Links to these sites will be posted.
Erin Johnston
Child Safety Professionals
(http://www.childsafetyprofessionals.com )
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