Stars of 'Nanny 911' Share Cavity-Countering Commandments for the Holidays  11/23/05

BOSTON, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Parenting experts Deb Carroll and Stella Reid from FOX's hit reality show "Nanny 911" and authors of Nanny 911: Expert Advice for All Your Parenting Emergencies (Harper Collins, 2005) have joined forces with Oral-B to provide advice to parents about how to fight children's cavities during the sugar-saturated holiday season.

According to a recent study by the federal government, adult teeth are healthier than they've ever been, but tooth decay in baby teeth has remained consistent since the 1960s. This year's Surgeon General study, "Oral Health: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss," found that tooth decay affects more than 20 percent of children aged 2 to 4, 50 percent aged 6 to 8, and nearly 60 percent of those aged 15 in the U.S. The study suggests that parents are not carefully monitoring what their children eat and are too relaxed about their children's teeth brushing habits.

"Bacteria in the mouth feed off the sugar in candy to form acids that attack the tooth's outer layer - enamel," said Dr. Paul Warren, Vice President of Clinical Research for Oral-B. "Especially during the holiday season when children are frequently eating lots of sweets for several weeks, they should use tooth brushes specifically designed for their mouths and hands to regularly clean their teeth and help prevent cavities from forming."

The stars of "Nanny 911" have several 'commandments' to help parents improve their children's oral-care behavior over the holidays. "The holiday season is filled with candy, cookies, cakes and other sweets filled with, what we call, 'sugar bugs' that cause cavities," said Carroll. "At this time of year, it is important for parents to establish rules and stick to them."

Below are cavity-countering commandants from the stars of "Nanny 911": 

-- Establish a Routine: Incorporate the four "B's" rule: bath, brush teeth, book, and bed. Parents can even make the routine fun by singing a song and by giving toothbrushes like Oral-B Stages, which are specifically designed for kids of different ages that have cool cartoon characters and easily fit in their little hands.

-- Actions Have Consequences: Gently remind children that their "sweet tooth" choices have consequences and "sugar bugs" may cause a cavity. Reinforce that having a cavity can be very uncomfortable.

-- Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep: Don't promise something in return for good behavior - like tooth brushing - that you cannot provide. Choose a reward that is realistic, and will not set you back financially or emotionally.

-- Be Consistent: No means no and yes means yes. Don't bend the rules too much just because it's the holidays.

"Parents should remember oral health is not just about cavities and trips to the dentist," said Reid. "Children that brush regularly learn discipline and really benefit from the routine. For kids, a routine is comforting." Oral-B Stages are available in food, drug, convenience and mass merchandise outlets throughout the United States. Each toothbrush retails for approximately $2.99, and each toothpaste retails for approximately $2.29. Parents and children can learn more about Oral-B Stages by visiting http://www.oralb.com.

SOURCE The Gillette Company