We encourage you to visit our office for pediatric dental care. We love treating our young patients and working to improve their health. We know how important it is for your child to have healthy teeth and gums as they age and we help make this possible by cleaning their teeth and removing plaque and tartar when they come in for regular cleanings and examinations. It is also critical that we remove any decay as soon as it develops because once tooth decay has entered the mouth, your child is more at risk for developing additional cavities.
It is necessary that we treat them as soon as they have a toothache and that we do what we can to keep the decay at bay at all times. From your perspective, you can help with this process by implementing good oral hygiene at home. This can be both a challenge and easier than you may think. By incorporating some of our tips and suggestions, you may find that your child is a willing participant.
Remember that children typically want to please; they want to make their parents happy, and they want to make us happy as their dentist. By being positive and encouraging and praising your child when they do the right thing, they will become excited and more willing to take care of their teeth out of their own personal desire, rather than your constant reminders. With that in mind, here are some tips that you can incorporate at home.
Even toddlers are old enough to select their own toothbrush. Let them pick their favorite color, cartoon character, etc. This will provide them with a sense of empowerment that can encourage them to use their toothbrush simply because they like the way it looks. As an adult, it may seem silly to want to use something based on a cartoon character, but with children, the excitement is very real.
We encourage you to incorporate fluoride in your child's oral health routine at home and try to have fluoride treatments when they come to our office. This will help strengthen their teeth and prevent tooth decay. Fluoride toothpaste comes in fun flavors, so your children can participate in this choice as well.
It is important that your children floss daily, but when they are young, they can't do this on their own. Help them floss nightly to remove the food that becomes trapped in between their teeth.
Books are an excellent way to inspire and spark the imagination. With so many available that discuss brushing teeth and oral hygiene in general, you can purchase several and use them to inspire your children to create their own good oral hygiene habits.
You can also watch videos for children that talk about brushing teeth, and there are some fun cartoon ones you can find on YouTube.
While we do not encourage giving prizes like sweets, you can always reward your child by allowing them to stay up an extra 10 minutes or watch an extra cartoon before bed if they brush and floss their teeth without causing an issue. This small incentive is often all it takes to get children to willingly brush and floss their teeth.
We encourage you to schedule an appointment twice a year so we can partner with you to create good oral hygiene habits and keep your children cavity-free.
Your child needs pediatric dentistry services. Caring for their mouth, teeth and gums is critical at a young age. You work hard to keep cavities, plaque, tartar and other issues at bay. If you place a significant emphasis on your health, you should do the same for your young family members. If your child needs…
Looking for more information on children’s dental care? Good idea. This information is especially beneficial for new parents, as they need to fully understand the dental care requirements recommended by dental professionals. There are dental guidelines in place that listWanting more insight on children’s dental care? When children are sitting in a dental chair, there…
From the first appointment, a Pediatric Dentist keeps in mind a pacifier or thumb sucking habit and watches the way your child's teeth and jaw develop. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sucking generally only becomes a problem if it continues after the age of 3. It is normal for children to suck on…
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), parents should book dental appointments with a pediatric dentist for their children at least twice yearly, starting about six months, following the eruption of the first tooth. These two yearly dental appointments enable the pediatric dentist to watch the teeth development closely, examine any change in the…