They can't pull your teeth, but they can sure cut hair

If you were fortunate enough to live in the days before modern dentistry, any ailments pertaining to your teeth were likely handled by not your friendly dentist, but your local barber.  As American colonization spread westward, barber-surgeon's were often the only source of medical care available to people on new frontier.  In fact, even long before there was a U.S.A., barber's had been practicing all sorts of medicine and dentistry for centuries serving not only the common man, but even monarchs.  

Today, barber's focus less on their medical and dental skills and more on make us look our best.  As a guy, finding the right barber can be quite a daunting task.  I have never been one to seek out a salon or your typical 5 and dime cheap spot, but just a place where you can walk in, shake someone's hand, and let them do what they do.  I had the same barber for years when I lived in my hometown of Searcy, AR.  After college, I moved to Kansas City but even after 5 years was never able to find a barber shop where I really felt at home.  My journey for the perfect barber took me from shop to shop.  You can probably listen to that old Ray Steven's tune "The Haircut Song" and get an idea of what I went through.  At one time, I looked like Bert as in Bert and Ernie.  Another time, a barber wanted to be my patient at the dental school, but after a string of no-shows for his appointments, it became awkward to return.  I resorted to succumbing to the o-natural look much to the dismay of my wife.

Following my graduate training I relocated south to Frisco, TX.  Again, in search of someone to help me tame the wild beast that grows on top of my head, I ventured from place to place often driving miles, enduring gratuitous stories and ultimately found myself in shops where I clearly stuck out when I walked in, sometimes wishing I had my money back. Finally, my wife informed me of an advertisement for a local barber shop opening soon called "The Gent's Place."  Upscale and full service, it has a few extras I appreciate and all at a decent price making it an excellent find.  

So there you have it, I have finally found a barber shop fit for a dentist - The Gent's Place, Frisco, Texas! :-)  

Brush, Brush, Brush

You know I can remember my mother scrubbing my teeth nightly with the toothbrush every night of my early childhood. Every 6 months it was off to Dr. Schafner's office for a check-up. For that, I thank her. As a matter of fact, that is how I became so interested in the field of dentistry. It was the highlight of my year to visit the dentist. He always made a big deal about how I wanted to be a dentist when I grew up. If I had his address I would mail him a thank you note for taking the time to show some interest in a young persons dreams. I take special care to have those same conversations with the young ones and encourage them to never give up on their dreams.

I understand how difficult it is to keep your kid's teeth clean and cavity free. My 4 year old daughter has a very prominent streak of independence and she always insist she does the brushing. We have a deal... she brushes then I brush. I recommend this to all parents until the children are old enough to use the brush effectively typically around age 6. Teaching kids the right way to brush is just as important how often they do. Rule of thumb is morning and evening and no snacks or drinks other than water afterwards.

Brushing needs to begin even before the teeth erupt. Infants can still collect bacteria and even fungus on the gums, palate, and tongue. Small fingertip appliances that swab the tissues gently work the best. As the teeth erupt, get in the habit of lightly brushing them at least once per day. When the child begins solid food regimens, traditional brushing of the teeth becomes even more important. Although cute at times, it is advisable to avoid refined carbohydrates (sugar) and soda's as this creates habits that can readily cause an uptick in the rate of cavities. Baby bottle decay is a severe form of early childhood cavities caused by the nighttime use of bottles in children who have erupted teeth. As the child sleeps, the bottle stays in and if milk or juice products are present, cavities form very readily. Unfortunately, most of these cases require teeth to be prematurely extracted placing the child at risk for major orthodontic and functional concerns in the future.

As the child approaches their 2nd birthday, the last of the primary molars erupt and the contacts between the teeth begin to close. Flossing becomes more important as the teeth start to touch. Also, it is advisable to begin taking X-rays of the teeth on a routine basis. This establishes great habits that can carry through their lifetime. Kids that visit the dentist regularly tend to be more attentive to their home care and have fewer restorative needs.

So keep them squeaky clean. And don't forget that your teeth are important too :)