Healthy Teeth for Kids: A Preventive Program: From Pre-Birth Through the Teens

As a parent of a 7 year old I found this book very helpful. This book is chuck full of practical information that is a must for anyone who has a child or children in their life. It's an easy read and held my attention. I strongly urge anyone who wants their kids to have good dental care to read and re-read this book. I'm glad I did!

I have followed the writings of Beverly and Jerome Mittelman for 4 years, and was eager to read this book; I was not disappointed. The book is an invaluable how-to/reference manual for expectant parents, parents with children of any age, and should be distributed by pediatricians, dentists, obstetricians, and midwives to their patients to insure healthy teeth among all members of the family. The focus is truly holistic and begins with prevention. The Mittelmans and co-author Jean Barilla's progressive focus is upon nutrition with an emphasis on whole foods, whole grains, natural sweets derived from fruits along with supplementation from key vitamins. The contents succeeds in getting the reader to broaden the traditional view of sugar away from just chocolate bars to all sugars - refined and unrefined, processed and natural - and to manage and minmize total sugar intake. Another key emphasis is upon proper hygiene and attitude toward dental care i.e. dental care from a dentist and hygienist should emphasis healthy teeth rather than being an after-the-fact resource for identifying cavities and filling teeth. This book also provides the answers to the troublesome questions that health care consumers have concerning fluoride (does it prevent tooth decay), sealants (are they safe and/or necessary), mercury (are there alternatives and does mercury affect the immune system), and so on. Finally, this reader was struck by the authors' view of the teeth as being one component of our entire body, and that dental care should not take place in a vacuum. Healthy teeth are related to a healthy immune system, and overall good health. The authors will take the reader light years beyond what we have been taught is basic dental hygiene and light years beyond one's definition of dental well-being. READ THIS ONE AND THEN BUY IT FOR A FRIEND.