Cavity Free Childhood | Beth Ramsey

Welcome to the Dentistry for kidz podcast. We are Angelina and Cameron and we love candy. Do you all love candy? We've learned how to enjoy all the candy we want without getting cavities or getting in trouble with our dentist. Want to learn our magic? Join us discover how to enjoy sweets and have nice bright, clean, shiny white teeth. Let's go

Welcome back to the dentistry for kidz Podcast. I'm Cameron and today I'm here with Miss Beth Ramsay. She grew up in North Dakota and has worked as a hygienist for over 40 years. She was the former faculty at the College of Southern Nevada and has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree. She has three kids and four granddaughters currently. So starting with the interview, the first question is once a hygienist and at what age should kids start, I'm so sorry. Let me restart that. What is the hygienist and at what age she could start seeing a hygienist?

All right, a hygienist is someone who helps the dentist, run his practice work in his practice. We clean teeth, we facilitate education, teaching the patients how to take good care of their teeth. Educate them as far as what would be a good outcome for them, discuss with them their needs and their wants. And on and on. It's a two year program usually. But it takes usually two years of prereqs to get into. So it's basically a four year program anymore. And you the second part of the question was how old should kids be when they start going to the dentist?

When they start to see like a hygienist? Yes.

It's recommended as soon as possible. As soon as they get their first tooth, which is about six months, it's a good good idea to bring your child to the dentist, have them sit on mom's lap or dad's lap while the hygienist might try to look at their teeth or the dentist, whichever is possible. And just kind of get them used to coming to the dentist dental office. That's a good idea to start there. But usually it's about 34561 we actually start to see young children. Perfect.

Okay, so the next question is, How often should kids or people in general get their teeth cleaned?

In general, young adults on down is about every six months. That way we can check for cavities, it takes about six months for plaque to work its way through the tooth into the dentin, which is technically then a cavity. So if we keep on top of things every six months, we can usually catch things when they are still in their early stages and help correct any faults that might be happening.

Okay. And so with your background in education, as a faculty, what advice would you recommend to parents when you see their kid for the first time

depends on how old the child is. Different ages, were worried about just basic hygiene when they're really small, just getting in there with a washcloth or a small brush to brush a baby's teeth. As they get older we're watching for are they sucking their thumbs that can cause malocclusion, their teeth can get out of line because of that, as they get into a 10 years old, they're getting some of their permanent teeth. So we can kind of start seeing is there going to be crowding? Do they need braces. And as ages progressed, different problems arise. So we kind of try to educate this the parent and the child as well what to expect in the next upcoming six months to a year so that they can keep an eye on things from there.

Perfect. Okay, so the next question is, what should we as kids expect on our first cleaning visit?

Well, again, that depends on how old you are. If you are a toddler, sometimes all we can do is count their teeth and which is code for, let's get in there, just make sure that they're all there that they're not decayed. Bottle mouth is a problem when kids are still on, on bottles. So we watch for that kind of thing. As you get older, we start to show that patients how to brush and floss if they're old enough, usually eight is kind of the cut off when they become old enough to do most of that by themselves up until then, it's mostly educating the parent what to do, or reinforce what the child is doing. As far as cleaning goes, just whatever we as a hygienist, whatever the patient will allow. That's what I try to do. If they'll let me polish their teeth great if they'll let me scale off any tartar or build up that's on their great if they will accept fluoride, awesome, but it just kind of kind of played by ear as they as they get a little more compliant and cooperative. You don't want as a hygienist I don't want to scare them or have them have a bad experience. I want them to think of coming to the dentist as a happy place.

You're so cool. So how should kids try to prevent themselves or how should pay parents trying to prevent their kids from getting cavities?

Oh, that's a big question. Of course, it's important to be the role model. I always tell patients that have babies, they're watching what you do more than what they what you say to do. So show them that it's important to brush show them that it's important to floss or take care of their teeth eat healthy, no snacking after you brush your teeth before you go to bed. That kind of thing. It's more effective for the child at a young age to see what's important than it is to hear. But it's important for the parent to reinforce brushing and flossing. Little kids that can't floss, they have to have their parent floss it or some somewhere along that line. And I rambled so I forgot what your question was Cameron? Sorry.

How do we prevent like kids from getting cavities?

Okay, good brushing, good flossing, watch the snacking, of course, and taking them to the dentist so that if they do have a candidate, you can catch it early. So it's perfect.

Yeah. And following that question is using fluoride or tint?

Yes. As a hygienist it is. I know there's a lot of controversy about it and backlash about it. But But yes, the short answer is absolutely. It's been shown time and time again to reduce the incidence of decay.

Perfect. And if there is a sign of bleeding gums, what does that mean?

Bleeding gums is a is your body's reaction to the bacteria that's been left on your teeth. If you leave plaque along the gum line, your body knows it doesn't belong there. Because it's a germ. And it sends a message to its blood, your body sends a message to the blood cells, that it has to go to that spot and try to fight the bacteria like it will on a cut or a scrape on your on your arm. So there's more blood to that spot. And then when you finally touch it to brush and floss it, it bleeds a little more than it should it bleeds period, which it should never do. So if you remove the bacteria, you keep your teeth clean that infection or that inflammation should go away.

Okay. And as a super expert in your profession, do you have any challenges?

Well, there's always challenges, difficult bosses, I'm just kidding. No, any given day can be something different. Sometimes it's the scheduling. Sometimes it's the patient, sometimes they have an attitude. And you don't understand why you have to kind of work around it. Sometimes they're just non compliant, you have to figure out what will make them what will motivate them to improve their oral health. And it just, there's all kinds of challenges, but for the most part, it's a great job. I love it. I still, I still love it. It's been a long time, but I still enjoy going to work.

You're amazing. And do you have any tricks to make kids fall in love with your toothbrush? Not really.

Not really just it's a game. I mean, every, every time you interact with a child, sometimes you have to just make it again.

Perfect. And what are the top things that parents should know to make sure that their kids maintain good oral health?

Oh, like I said, you have to monitor them, you know, make sure that they're brushing and flossing until they're about eight to 10 years old, you almost have to You shouldn't be brushing them after the child brushes. You have to repeat it and brush for them because they don't have the dexterity even though they're trying. They just might not have the dexterity to do an adequate job. So there's that watching what they eat and drink. You know, snacking all the time isn't good. And setting good examples. It's all important.

So Miss Ramsey, do you have anything you would like to say to your audience as your final words?

Go into dental hygiene gets a great job.

You're super good idea. Everyone's model.

Thank you. You're so sweet.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

Thanks for having me. I appreciate your patience with getting me on here.

Of course anything for you. Oh, you're so sweet.