Dentists can get a bad rap. But taking your child to the dentist doesn’t have to be a painful, stressful ordeal – for them, or you. Fremont pediatric dentist Diana Reyes, DDS says you can even have fun starting your child off on the path to a healthy mouth and healthy life.

In honor of February’s National Dental Health Month, Reyes spoke with Bay Area Parent about brushing, cavities and more.

In addition to practicing in Fremont, Reyes practices at Children’s Hospital Oakland and teaches at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco.

She has held positions with the California Dental Association and the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry and is active in organizing the Southern Alameda County Dental Society’s Give Kids a Smile Day, which offers dental screening and treatment in early February. Her first child is due in May.

To find a Give Kids a Smile event near you, visit www.ada.org/1587.aspx.

Are cavities on the rise?

In 2000, the Surgeon General (David Satcher, M.D.) called tooth decay a “silent epidemic,” the most common childhood disease across the board. Cavities are caused by bacteria, and your mouth is connected to your entire systemic health. There’s tons of evidence that oral conditions can affect nutrition, speaking and self-esteem. Pain causes children to be irritable. It affects their learning.

A more recent report by the American Dental Association said the cavity rate has started to go down. We have had a real push for children’s dental health.

Does it matter if kids get cavities in baby teeth?

In addition to dealing with the pain of cavities, these baby teeth are there for years. They do fall out, but some stay in until you’re 12 or 13 years old. Their function is to hold space for permanent teeth, but also for speaking and eating.

When should a child first see a dentist?

We now say to bring your baby in within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the first birthday. It allows you to establish a dental home, start dental evaluations and be on the right track for dental health.

Even before a child has teeth, you can start good oral hygiene by cleaning gums after feeding, encouraging good nutrition and other strategies, such as not sharing cups and utensils.

Why not?

Everyone has his or her own individual bacteria. You can transmit bacteria, and that’s a factor in causing cavities. There are also environmental and genetic factors.

Are there certain foods to avoid?

Things high in fermentable sugars and sticky, sweet foods. You can’t avoid sweets completely, so I advocate eating foods at a certain time. Snack infrequently, or only on good, healthy foods.

Fruits are very high in sugar, whether dried or fresh, and stickier fruits – like raisins – are not the best choice in terms of dental health. But you have to factor in nutrition. There’s a balance you have to keep.

What if your child does a lousy job brushing?

That’s the biggest problem we all have. It’s a work in progress. There are fun things you can do. Positive reinforcement is always the strongest influence. There are electric toothbrushes, and some even play songs.

I like to say that until a child is writing in cursive, a parent is still going in there and helping them brush.

Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.