The words ‘funny’ and ‘dentist’ aren’t often seen together but here’s someone that may just turn that around! His name is Sam Smith and he is a fully qualified dentist who is also a comedian. Seriously, Sam Smith is a funny dentist! He now works full-time as a writer on TV shows Jono and Ben and 7 Days. 

Sam recently had a chat to Emily Writes from The Spinoff where she drilled him (haha!) about kids’ oral health and how parents can help support good dental habits with their children. Read the full interview at The Spinoff, or read a few of the best bits below.

Proper brushing

Emily: Is it OK if your toddler just walks around the house chewing on a tooth brush with tooth paste on it? Is that brushing? Or do I have to actually brush them and have my toddler scream at me like I’m murdering him?

Sam: I wish that counted, but I’m sorry it doesn’t. It’s the actual movement of the brush that removes the plaque so I’m afraid you have to get in there and brush away. I have an 18-month-old son and we’ve got him to get used to the feel of brushing by getting him a kids’ electric toothbrush. It’s awesome, it’s got the Ninja Turtles on it. He was scared of the buzzing at first, but when he saw his mum and I brushing our teeth he wanted to copy. So try that!

The fluoride debate

Is fluoride a secret tool of the government designed to turn us into sheeple?

Fluoride is a safe, cheap and effective way of strengthening teeth for people of all walks of life. If it is a way of controlling our minds then it doesn’t work very well because people hate on the government all day every day.

Why do people believe that fluoride is evil?

It was a plotline in the movie Doctor Strangelove that people latched onto! There have been no studies, literally zero, that show any major health issues with toothpaste or water when fluoridated to appropriate levels. I think the people who believe that think they’ve uncovered some sort of secret global conspiracy, much like the other idiots who are against vaccines and other proven science. They are fools who should be sent to Mars to stop scaring other people. Kids’ toothpaste vs adults’ toothpaste

Kids’ toothpaste vs adults’ toothpaste

Do I need to use child toothpaste for my kids or can they just have the same toothpaste that’s on special at the supermarket that I use?

There’s a bit of confusion about this, so here it is once and for all: Adults fill the length of your toothbrush. Kids older than six years have a pea-sized amount. Kids under six, just a thin smear. I dab my son’s toothbrush in the toothpaste just once and that’s enough. The reason we give kids less toothpaste is because they are more prone to swallowing it. Swallowing toothpaste is fine, but it can cause little white flecks on the growing teeth. The flecks don’t do anything, it’s just a minor cosmetic thing that can be easily avoided. Rather than explaining that to kids it’s just much easier to say “Don’t eat toothpaste, kids!”

Do they have to have a child brush? And are electric toothbrushes better? And if they are – do you have a way to convince my child that electric tooth brushes aren’t evil?

Children’s brushes are great. They make them to fit their sized hands. Electric toothbrushes have been proven to be more effective, and are super easy ONCE you get past that initial fear of the noise and buzzing. Keep letting them touch it while it’s on so they get used to the sensation.

More information

You can read the full article here, it’s really funny and packed with lots more great information.

If you have any questions about how to maintain your child’s dental health (or your own for that matter), please get in touch. We can't promise we're as funny as Sam, but we aim to have you smiling!