Helping Kids Have Healthy Smiles

The Sugar Serpent

Tooth decay appears an undaunting foe when you consider the deterioration already visited upon the teeth of our youngsters and the pervasive sugar-filled junk-food diet so conveniently permitted by unwitting parents. But like Achilles and his heel, cavities can be countered with proper treatment, common sense care and the elimination, or at least a substantial reduction, in the amount of sugar a child is allowed.

Dr. Lauren Timmons, one of two dentists at Yellowhawk, says the solution is simple.

"The best way to prevent tooth decay is to simply limit the amount of sugar in your diet," he says. "Remove it from the cupboard totally if you have to. Buy diet drinks, sugar-free gum and dilute juices by a quarter or even half. Quite simply, without sugar, there can be no decay."

Vincent Sheoships
(Photo courtesy of Wil Phinney)

When a bothersome tooth sent Shari Sheoships to the dentist last year, she took Paul, her 8-year-old, along for an exam. It had been two years since he'd been to the dentist and an exam found two cavities, which were filled at Yellowhawk. That "pinch" (Yellowhawk never uses that other word that rhymes with hot) got Paul's attention. Now he takes fluoride tablets, flosses and brushes twice a day. Shari decided to change the menu -- and the eating habits -- at home.

"We don't have as much candy anymore and no pop," she says. "It doesn't bother Paul at all, but it bothers his younger brother."

Vincent is four. He loves pop and now that it's gone, he complains. He doesn't realize that it's to blame for the steel caps placed on his teeth last year at a Walla Walla clinic.

"We thought he had one or two cavities but they made it sound like he had a mouth full of cavities. They had to put him to sleep," Shari says. "It was awful. I had to leave because it was traumatizing for me to watch."

The Sheoships boys are eating more vegetables and fruits, but Vincent still has time scheduled in the dentist chair at Yellowhawk.

"The mother should be commended for being proactive," says Dr. Timmons. "Change is not always easy, especially when it comes to children."