Category: Pediatric Dentist and Children

Dental Care for Your School Age Children

My Mom Is Teaching Me How To Brush My Teeth
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In the Know for You to Know

Why are regular dental check-ups so important?

Check-ups every 6 months are a time to talk about your oral hygiene routine and the increasing role your child is taking in their own oral health. It’s discussing fluoride, your child’s diet on their teeth, habits, and what you can expect in terms of growth and dental development. And depending, we may talk about sealants.

What should we be doing at home?

Supervise, encourage and model your child’s daily flossing and brushing routine. This allows you to reinforce why they need to brush for a full 2 minutes twice a day and floss before brushing each night. There’s lots of fun ways to brush, check out 2min2x.org.

Teething Again?

In a different way. Now it’s the Adult teeth which are coming into their mouths. Around the age of 6 bottom and top front teeth come in followed by the very back (behind the baby teeth) molars. Age 7 it’s the side teeth. Between 9 and 11 years old the eye teeth (canines) come in. Around 12 their second set of adult molars comes in, and you guessed it, they are called the 12 year molars. Around this time their baby molars are being replaced with their premolars.

Are children afraid of the Dentist at this age?

Yes and no. Some may cry, others may be hesitant, and others will be happy to be there. If you have concerns talk with your Pediatric Dentist. Pediatric Dentists are experts in how to make dental visits a positive experience for your child.

When are X-rays taken?

Pediatric Dentists follow the protocol established by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. There are certain times when it is important to take an x-ray and the information we see is valuable in helping take care of your child. Be assured that dental x-rays are very safe, we’ve come a long way in technology.

Are mouth guards important?

In one word, Yes. Children this age are starting to participate in gym, recess, after school athletics, and/or school sports, so it’s important to be aware of injury prevention. A mouth guard is recommended at this age for any sport that leads to contact with a surface or another person. For the same reason children wear helmets and shin guards, or use foam mats as part of their equipment they also wear a mouth guard, and that is for their Safety.

Remember Your Goal

With good oral care at home and regular twice a year check-ups your child has the potential to become an adult without ever suffering from a cavity or other oral health issues. This is priceless.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Taking your Preschooler to the Dentist

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In the Know for You to Know

Wondering how often your Preschooler should see your Pediatric Dentist?

Or, What you should be doing at home? Maybe you’ve been thinking it’s time for your appointment but you’re not sure because your child loves to explore and sitting still is challenging, but you need to go because there’s that tooth that is turning color from when they were running and tripped and you’re really concerned. So what do you do?

First things first – make the appointment. This way you and your Dentist will approach this together. For 2, 3, and sometimes 4 year olds you may sit facing each other with your knees touching and laying your child across both of your laps. This is known as knee-to-knee with your child’s legs around your waist and their head in your Dentist’s lap facing you. There are times when they will want to climb up onto the dental chair and sit there smiling from ear to ear and opening wide to have their teeth counted. Sometimes a little reassurance is needed to sit in the chair alone, or they may want to sit on your lap. What’s important is to be positive and have fun.

What do you do at these visits?

Your child is growing fast. During these visits we examine the growth of their head and neck, their mouth, their teeth, their bite and so much more. We also talk about your oral hygiene routine for them, if your child needs fluoride supplements, diet and how it affects their teeth, and what you can expect in terms of their growth and dental development over the next few months. We also discuss any habits like thumb sucking, finger sucking, or pacifiers.

Brushing teeth at home

Children really do need help brushing their teeth. It’s adorable to watch them brush their front teeth, but what about their back teeth? For young children it’s a good idea to lie them down on the bed with you sitting to their side so you have the best view of their mouths and support their head. If you are right handed sit to their right. If you are left handed (like me!) sit to their left. If there are two of you you both can do this. You can use a soft wet wash cloth or a toddler size soft toothbrush with a teeny tiny rice grain size of fluoridated tooth paste on the brush. Remember a dab will do ya and lift their lips to see the full teeth. Keep some wet wash cloths close at hand to wipe their teeth, tongue, gums, and cheeks when you’ve finished brushing.

Let your child watch you brush and floss. They love to do things you do, so watching you and being a part of your daily oral hygiene routine instills this in them even at this young age, and best of all you are doing this together.

What do I do if an unexpected injury happens?

Children love to explore. Whether they toddle, walk, run, climb or jump the possibility of teeth getting hurt is there. Falls are also causes of tooth or mouth injuries. Children who have seizures are at risk for tooth and/or mouth injury. The teeth most often hurt are the top and bottom front teeth. Teeth can be moved or broken, they can change color, and the gums, tongue, cheeks or lips can be cut or bruised. Always keep your Pediatric Dentist’s phone number in your phone and call for help if anything happens or go to the nearest emergency room.

Pediatric Dentists stand by their families to lay the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Top 6 Tips to know about Your Pediatric Dentist for Your Family

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In the Know for You to Know

Tip 5 How do Pediatric Dentist’s feel about Parents in the treatment room?

WE LOVE PARENTS!

We want you to feel totally comfortable whether you want to be in or out of the room. A little in, a little out, one foot in, one foot out, listening behind the wall, sitting on the chair. The choice is yours. Why? You know your child best

The Choice is Yours

Want to stay in the room? Here’s some tips:

Knowing you are there will automatically allow your child to feel comfortable. Standing slightly out of site and not letting facial expressions (above the mask) be seen decreases the possibility that a worried look will upset your child. Even the youngest children are very attuned to their parent’s facial cues.

Be a silent observer. This allows your Pediatric Dentist to build rapport and provide positive coaching for your child.

If your child needs reassurance you can sit on the chair and hold their hand or have your toddler sit on your lap.

If you decide not to come in your Pediatric Dentist will talk with you afterwards. It’s always our goal to keep you informed about your child’s oral health and development. Plus we want to tell you what an awesome helper they are!

Tip 6 Do Pediatric Dentists have recommendations about what to say about an upcoming appointment?

Yes we do because this is so helpful for setting the tone for your child’s visit.

It’s always best to keep it light and positive.

You may want to start talking about your upcoming appointment the day before or a few days before your visit. You may want to start your own tradition with a personal tooth brushing song, or read books and watch movies. Maybe you’ll start family brushing time to show your Pediatric Dentist what a great job you do.

FYI – stay tuned for my upcoming post on Top Books to read with your Child before visiting your Pediatric Dentist.

You and your Pediatric Dentist are on the same team and together will establish positive expectations and experiences for your child.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Top 6 tips to know about Your Pediatric Dentist for Your Family

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In the Know for You to Know

Tip 3 So what is a Pediatric Dentist’s specific style?

Great question! 

One of our primary approaches is Tell-Show-Do.  This is the way we introduce everything dental at each appointment.  

Now you’re asking, how do you do this?  You guessed it, we explain (tell) what we are going to do in appropriate words for your child’s age and level of understanding.  We introduce (show) your child to what we are going to do for them in a simplified manner with some demonstrations and naming some instruments with funny names (looking glass, tooth counter, mr. thirsty, straw, and there are more).  Then we begin (do) the appointment.  

There is also Positive Reinforcement, where we praise and reward children for behaviors that help them accomplish their dental care in a happy way.

Sometimes if necessary, we use Distraction.  This involves choosing words extra extra carefully while placing a child’s attention on conversation, movies, music, or video games; at the same time encouraging, engaging and supporting the child to have a positive experience.

Tip 4 What is the benefit of these concepts?

In a word, Empowerment.

Empowerment for the short term, as it is introducing what is new and unknown in a kind, respectful, fun, age appropriate way with the desire to create and build on positive experiences, allowing children to build trust and feel comfortable with the office and their Pediatric Dentist.  

Empowerment for the long term, because it is creating a life time of regular happy, stress free oral health care appointments.

Stay Tuned for Tip 5

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Happy Milk Chocolate Day

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In the Know for You to Know

Chocolate is all about enjoyment and making you feel happy.

Which is your chocolate choice for your child?

Do you LOVE the gooey, sticky and chewy sweets? OR Do you LOVE the melty richness and luxurious feel of smooth chocolate?

Did you know that smooth chocolate is a better choice for your teeth than sticky treats?

Stickier treats get stuck in between your child’s teeth and in the deeper groovier chewing surfaces of their teeth. So they stick around longer and cause cavities. While it’s best to avoid them all together to prevent cavities, if your child occasionally indulges, remember to Brush, Brush, Brush and Floss, Floss, Floss those stickies away as quickly as possible.

Which ever they love, keep this in mind the next time you choose your child’s sweet delight, chewy, sticky, gooey take a long time to eat and sticks to their teeth and causes cavities while smooth melty chocolate slides off teeth quicker and is less likely to cause cavities.

Cavities or No Cavities that is the Question

Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Pexels.com

So which will you choose?   Can you guess the Pediatric Dentist’s choice?  

Send me an email on my Contact page and let me know your choices.

Enjoy and don’t forget to brush and floss!

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Top 6 tips to know about Your Pediatric Dentist for Your Family

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Tip 1 You’re wondering, why take my child to a Pediatric Dentist?  Isn’t my Dentist okay and it’s one less trip?

Maybe it is or maybe it isn’t.

Did you know that Pediatric Dentists are the Pediatricians of Dentistry. As Pediatric Dentists we have two to three years of specialty training following dental school and limit our practice to treating children only. 

That’s right, from your child’s first tooth to College graduation. We’re there with you from their first tooth, for every new tooth, every tooth bump and every tumble.

We are both primary and specialty oral health care providers for ALL infants and children through adolescence and young adulthood.

For children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with special health needs we are your go to Dentist. Our goal for you is to receive care while also providing insights for what you are experiencing, will experience over the coming months, make suggestions and plans for your home routine while enhancing dental care.

Our Commitment to Your Family

We do what we do for your child because we CARE

Tip 2 Now you’re asking yourself, if we go, what is a Pediatric Dentist’s approach for children?

I’m glad you asked.  We strive every day and in every way to exceed your expectations because you are entrusting us with the care of your child.  

We do this by providing the highest quality state of the art personalized oral health care for your child in a compassionate, family friendly, relaxing environment where your comfort is our top priority.

Everything is specifically for children.  Our offices are transformed into magical kid friendly places (adjusted for COVID).  We know the cutting edge techniques, have the latest and greatest materials, and the best stuff. 

We understand “child’s time,” and give every child all the time he or she needs to build a long lasting relationship on mutual trust, respect, and confidence.

You and your Pediatric Dentist are on the same team with the joint goal to set up positive expectations and experiences for your child no matter their age.

Stay tuned for Tip 3

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!