As a family dentist, we enjoy treating young children. We believe that by helping children to develop good oral health while they are young, we can foster good habits that will remain in place as they age. Still, we understand that the idea of visiting a dentist can be intimidating for many children.
Thus, it takes a team approach between our office and parents to help children become comfortable with the general process. Here are some ways that parents can help children to be comfortable visiting the dentist.
A child does not need to wait for the official appointment time to visit the dentist’s office. Bring them by and our staff would be happy to give them a tour. Having the initial exposure to the office without being in the dental chair can make it easier when the actual appointment time occurs.
Children are naturally more comfortable with things they are familiar with so this additional 15 minutes can make a huge difference in their overall reaction and impression.
Children do best when they feel prepared for what is going to happen. Talk about what it is like to visit the family dentist. Explain how a dentist will count their teeth and polish them for a beautiful smile.
Talk about how a dentist is friendly and a nice person that is there to assist them – we are excited to meet your child and our goal is to make this a wonderful experience for them!
PBS has done an excellent job of tackling issues like oral and physical health in their many television shows. Sesame Street, The Berenstein Bears, etc., all have cartoons and books out about visiting the dentist. Pick them up at the library or even find them on YouTube.
Playing the videos for a child and reading books to them will create a sense of familiarity with the dentist. Since these are characters they are used to, knowing that these cartoon characters also visit a family dentist may make them more excited to do so themselves.
Children learn a lot through play. Pretend that they are the dentist and you are the patient and then reverse rules. Give each other a dental exam and pretend to see what is happening with the mouth by shining a flashlight or even using a toothbrush. This allows a child to work out some of their fears and anxieties.
Children will also be able to receive answers to questions in a non-intimidating fashion. This also works by cleaning a stuffed animal’s teeth or using a doll in the make-believe game. That same animal or doll can then go with them to their actual appointment.
Tell a child that if they do well at their appointment to the family dentist’s office they will go to the park afterward or do something special with them. Rewards are good incentives and they give a child something to look forward to so that they are thinking about the fun activity rather than the actual appointment.
source:
drgrazioso.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Many parents can become anxious about their child’s dental health, feeling overwhelmed by busy schedules and a world full of sugary treats The truth is, keeping your children cavity-free can be easier than you think. The key to good oral health for your kids is in your hands because it starts with teaching them the most basic skill: how to care for their teeth, and in a relaxed, happy setting.
At home basics: brushing twice a day, flossing once a day
Teaching your children how to brush and floss correctly has to start at an early age. If you let your baby see you brushing, even making a game of it, they could be more likely to want to pick up a brush when it’s their turn. At the point where your child can hold a brush, show them how it’s done, and remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The same goes for flossing. Let them see how you floss, and then show them how to do it. These basics can help your child have healthy teeth for a lifetime.
At the dentist basics: professional cleanings and checkups twice a year
Visiting the dentist can start by bringing your child in for a personal tour and a chance to get accustomed to the new environment. And your pediatric dentist has special training and techniques that help their first visits go smoothly.
Tell them what to expect, and how great their teeth look and feel after they’ve been cleaned
If you are positive about your own trips to the dentist, it will help your child have a much more positive experience when they come to see us. Younger children’s teeth are cleaned using an electric brush and special toothpaste. Older children’s teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic electric tool and manual tools to make sure plaque is removed.
source:
childrensdentalfunzone.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Your child is at the age where they finally understand what the tooth fairy is. The tooth fairy is a significant part of helping your child to maintain their oral hygiene and keeping the magic alive! The tooth fairy is a figure of early childhood in Western and Western-influenced cultures. Tooth fairies have been around for centuries throughout different cultures. This fairy has worked in different ways depending on the country. There are ways for your child to learn more about the tooth fairy and create some fun crafts to properly prepare for their arrival!
Help Them Prepare!
As a parent, you can either choose to prepare your child before or after they lose their first tooth. It is really up to you. If you decide to teach them beforehand, it could potentially make the first tooth falling out more natural for the child. When a child loses their first tooth, it can be somewhat scary for them. If they learn about the tooth fairy, they can look forward to and get excited about a tooth falling out. Reading children’s books about the tooth fairy can also help them become more comfortable with the concept.
Help Yourself Prepare!
The last thing you want as a parent is to mess up the story of the tooth fairy. You do not want your child to ask you about it, and then not have a solid story prepared! It would not be good if both parents weren’t on the same page. Getting a solid story together will help your child to believe in the magic fully. Along with the story, it would be beneficial to figure out the pricing of each tooth if you decide to leave your children’s money.
Tooth Fairy Keepsake Box
As your child leaves you… I mean the tooth fairy, their teeth, keeping them in an organized container would make a fantastic keepsake for you! There a few different ways that you and your children can save baby teeth forever. Believe it or not, Amazon has a few fantastic and cute boxes that you can order. The first box is a wooden memory box that is in the shape of a tooth; to check out the box. Another holder has two designs, one for a boy and one for a girl. To check out this box. These tooth collection holders are so organized and even have space for you to fill out your child’s information. Plus, they give you specific spots to put particular teeth as they fall out.
If you and your child like to do crafts together, you can easily make your own keepsake container. You can buy either small colorful drawstring bags or plain bags. If you buy a plain bag, your child can decorate it however they choose.
Tooth Fairy Door
This door, of course, is optional, but there are such cute designs out there that people have come up with for a tooth fairy door. Santa gets the chimney to come down, so shouldn’t the tooth fairy have their own tiny-sized door? For this, you can either purchase a tiny door or attempt to make your own! There are super cute doors that can be bought premade on Etsy. There are doors in many shapes, colors, and sizes that you can find on Etsy, You can even decorate around the door to make it homier for the tooth fairy when they arrive!
We hope you enjoyed our recommendations on how to prepare for the tooth fairy.
source:
polkadotdental.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Be honest, how often do you really floss? You probably don’t think much of it, but flossing is vital to our health.
It’s easy to forget about this step during our hectic schedules, but luckily it’s a simple process that only takes a few moments of time and gives you a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums!
Flossing is meant to get rid of plaque build-up on our teeth, preventing bacteria from accumulating and causing a multitude of dental issues. If you’ve experienced red or bleeding gums after flossing, you may be too scared to floss again. However, the more often you floss, the less likely your gums will bleed.
Flossing daily, along with brushing for two minutes twice a day, helps remove plaque and reduces your risk of tooth decay and gum disease — not to mention it leaves you with a clean and healthier smile. So, be sure to make flossing an essential part of your oral health routine!
We often hear the question, “should I floss before or after I brush my teeth?” The answer? The sequence doesn’t matter, just make sure you do it thoroughly! This also applies to what time of day you should floss — some of our patients prefer to do it at night before bedtime, others include it in their morning routines, and even others will choose to do it after a midday meal. As long as you are flossing thoroughly, daily, you’ll be in good shape.
Traditional dental floss isn’t the only effective product for flossing your teeth. In fact, there are many products available should you need something more specialized. For example:
There are also ADA approved electric flossers available for those who may find it difficult to floss by hand.
source:
adelbergpediatricdental.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.