Dr. Carole Keim welcomes pediatric dentist Dr. Ian Kott, DDS, to The Baby Manual to talk about children’s oral hygiene, everything from brushing teeth to weaning kids off pacifiers. Dr. Kott explains when a child’s first dental visit should happen and what to expect from it, and gives tips on how to start brushing children’s teeth as soon as the teeth appear. Dr. Keim and Dr. Kott discuss cavity prevention, the importance of discouraging thumb sucking and pacifiers, and when to consider discontinuing bedtime bottle use. 

Dr. Kott explains that training toothpaste is useful, even when it doesn’t contain fluoride, because it teaches children the aspect of teeth brushing that involves spitting. He shares tips on how to make teeth brushing easier or more fun for children who fight it. The causes of cavities in kids are from anything that is a fermentable carbohydrate: milk, juice, and even breast milk, once a child is on solid food. One of the reasons to wean children off nighttime bottles of formula is to prevent tooth decay from the fermentable carbohydrate staying on their teeth too long, but also because pacifiers, bottles, and thumb sucking all change the swallowing patterns and shape of the palate in children over the age of two. There is a vast amount of very helpful practical advice, knowledge, and information about pediatric dental care contained in this episode.   

Dr. Ian Kott, DDS:

Originally from Michigan, Dr. Kott received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Michigan in 1999. As a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service, Dr. Kott has completed several tours of duty as Senior Dental Officer in the United States Coast Guard and as Deputy Chief Clinic Administrator with the Indian Health Service, all stationed in Alaska. 

After gaining a variety of valuable experiences in general dentistry, Dr. Kott felt compelled to specialize in treating children. He completed his Postgraduate Residency in Pediatric Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston in 2009. 

Dr. Kott is married with two young sons.

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• The Holistic Mamas Handbook is available on Amazon
• The Baby Manual is also available on Amazon

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Contact Dr. Carole Keim, MD

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Contact Dr. Ian Kott, DDS

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