Pearly Whites

When I took Isaiah and Samuel, then three- and two-years old, to their first dentist appointment, we were shocked to learn that they had nine cavities between them both.  I felt embarrassed in front of the dentist, receptionist and other moms in the waiting room, and the realization of having to pay thousands of dollars in dental bills made me feel literally sick to my stomach. I also began to mentally calculate the number of hours it would take to get all the cavities filled, knowing the dentist could only fill one or two cavities at a time. The challenge of trying to squeeze these necessary appointments into an already busy schedule overwhelmed me.

I have to admit that brushing our toddlers’ teeth was a chore both my husband and I dreaded. We were in a season of life that was not only physically exhausting, but emotionally stressful, and at times, filled with uncertainty regarding God’s sovereign will for our lives and our family. Brushing our kids’ teeth just did not seem very significant during this crisis-mode period.

We argued daily about whose turn it was to brush the three little ones – Isaiah – three, Samuel – two, and Micah – one-year-old, every morning and night. We even tried to get our older three teens to help out from time to time but couldn’t blame them when they complained about doing this thankless chore. We as the parents weren’t setting a very positive example.  To be honest, some nights it just didn’t get done. And now we were literally paying the price. What to do?

Well, God is so faithful in the midst of our unfaithfulness, even in the smallest of details. Our dentist, without judging me as a neglectful, “bad” mom, gently began to ask me questions about our teeth brushing routine. As I admitting our shortcomings in this area, he proceeded to share with me two amazingly simple tips that have changed our teeth brushing routine in our family forever:

1. Invest in the most inexpensive electronic toothbrush (approximately $25). One base for the kids is adequate, with each child having their own brushhead marked in a different color. The electronic toothbrush allows you to get into the hard-to-reach places with minimal effort.
2. Sit on a stool or chair and cradle the child’s head in your left arm as you brush him/her with your right hand. This position lets your child relax and be still, allowing you to brush for the full two minutes until the automatic built-in timer buzzes in the toothbrush.

During this challenging season, I was inspired by Lesson Six, “A Mother’s Touch and the Nature of a Child” in the Entrusted with a Child’s Heart Notebook. As a result, I have been looking for intentional ways to build and strengthen heart connections with each of my six children and our teeth brushing routine has become the perfect time to connect with each of my toddlers. I either sing them their favorite Sunday School song or pray over them as I brush each child’s teeth for two minutes.  It has become a wonderfully sweet time of affection and worship as I hold each of them every morning and night. Best of all, praise God that we have been cavity-free for the past two years!


“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5