If you’re a parent who encourages early reading, you’ll absolutely love our latest find: A Sugar Bug on My Tooth. The cutesy title, coupled with beautiful illustrations (by Reginald William Butler) of a little brown girl with gold hair ribbons, is a brilliant way to introduce the often times frightening subjects of dentists and oral hygiene to your little one. Dr. Linda Sturrup, a dentist and the author of A Sugar Bug on My Tooth, wrote the children’s book to put kids at ease for their first dental visit. Just in time for National Children’s Dental Health Month, BlackEnterprise.com spoke with Dr. Linda Sturrup on the fun and enlightening read, plus the importance of oral health among our children. Read what she had to say, and check out the vivid illustrations too.
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What inspired you to author A Sugar Bug on My Tooth?
Working in a practice that treats young children, it’s very common to see them become afraid and apprehensive during their initial dental examination. This behavior inspired me to write A Sugar Bug on My Tooth. The story–beautifully illustrated by Reginald W. Butler and also available in Spanish, Un Bichito en Mi Diente–helps assuage that fear. I wanted to write an enlightening story for young readers to help introduce them to the dentist.
We noticed that the main character, Natalie Jean, is a little girl of color. Was that an intentional choice?
There are disparities in dental health care which affect minority children. There is a lack of access to dental health care programs, which emphasize prevention, patient education and dental treatment. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have cavities on their primary (baby) teeth. Unfortunately, black and Latino children are among those with the highest incidence of decay.
What’s the biggest mistake or oversight parents make regarding their children’s dental health?
A huge mistake is waiting for a problem to develop before their child’s initial visit to the dentist. It’s important for parents to understand that a healthy diet complete with fruits and vegetables can help prevent cavities. This along with brushing and flossing is essential to a child’s overall health.
Keep reading onto the next page to find out how often you should be taking your children to the dentist.
How often should we take our children to the dentist?
It’s recommended that you introduce your child to the dentist within the first year of his or her life. He or she can discuss with parents topics of nutrition, evaluate dietary intake which can affect teeth and gums, and help parents establish healthy oral hygiene habits for their children. Scheduled routine visits every six months to the dentist are important and encouraged to establish healthy oral hygiene habits, and to prevent tooth decay in children.
What are some of the dangers of not tending to your children’s dental health?
Serious health conditions can result from poor oral hygiene. Pain due to dental decay can have a devastating effect on the overall health and well-being of a child. It’s important and encouraged for parents to establish healthy oral hygiene habits for their children. Healthy teeth and a beautiful smile can have a positive effect on a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
How can we help kids overcome their fear of the dentist?
Parents can act as role models for their children by demonstrating healthy oral hygiene habits. Talking to their children about going to the
dentist and taking good care of their teeth is a great way to help them understand and prepare them for their first dental visit. Having a successful first dental appointment will help to create a positive attitude going forward.What do you want families to take away from this book?
I want A Sugar Bug on My Tooth to teach and encourage families that going to the dentist is important and can also be fun!
Order A Sugar Bug on My Tooth here, and click through the following pages to see some of the illustrations.