Category: Practice good dental hygiene at home

A Beautiful Smile Starts in Childhood

Pediatric dentist

Did you know that the most common childhood disease isn?t asthma, obesity diabetes or allergies? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has identified tooth decay as the number one chronic childhood condition and it is completely preventable.

Good Oral Health for Children
The foundation for a beautiful smile begins with consistent dental care at home. This includes brushing and flossing on a regular basis. The best methods of brushing and flossing for children depend a great deal on their age.

Babies can have their teeth brushed with specially designed brushes made specifically for them using fluoride free toothpaste until the age of three. Children should have their teeth brushed twice a day with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste as soon as they are able to spit out the excess and refrain from swallowing which usually happens between ages three and six.

Flossing should begin for children at about age 4. Parents can do this nightly using a stick flosser or traditional dental floss. At about age 8 children should be able to begin flossing effectively on their own.

Diet and drink choices can also play an important role in good oral health for children and adults. Avoid sugary drinks like soda, chocolate milk, and juice. Instead, offer children water with meals. After sugary snacks, fruit, and meals it is important that children get into the habit of brushing their teeth.

Choosing a Good Pediatric Dentist
About 78% of people experience the development of a cavity by the time they turn 17. Consistent dental care can help ensure that cavities are kept to a minimum and caught quickly if they do develop. It is important that children be taken to visit a pediatric dentist by their first birthday at the latest. Early care can help guarantee babies grow up with a beautiful smile.

Finding a really great pediatric dentist can make a substantial difference
in the experience a child has with dental care and how open they are to it in the future. The difference between a pediatric dentist and a regular dentist is that pediatric specialist require an additional two years of training beyond that required by those who work on adults. This extra time helps prepare them for the unique issues faced when working with children of all ages.

Teaching a child proper oral hygiene and making sure they visit a pediatric dentist regularly will help lay the foundation for the beautiful smile they will enjoy for the rest of their life.

How To Get Your Child Excited About Oral Health A Couple of Quick Tips

Pediatric dentist hixson

It would certainly be nice if your kids were enthusiastic about the latest in pediatric dental care, and were on board with you helping them develop solid oral hygiene practices and habits. But the truth is, kids tend to resist it as much as they can, and its up to the parents to try to make sure the dental hygienist isn’t disappointed the next time you go to see the pediatric dentist.

Indeed, kids oral health is actually a much bigger problem than you might have realized. About one in every four kids has never been to the dentist before they set foot in their kindergarten classroom, and more than a third of U.S. schools find it necessary to refer kids to treatment for dental problems. A combination of bad oral health practices and junk food are wreaking havoc on the teeth of American children. Here are a couple of suggestions for how to make oral health more exciting for your child, and instill in them a lifelong appreciation for maintaining their dental hygiene.

  • Make it about family time. If the whole family brushes and flosses together at the same time everyday, it will become a ritual to look forward to instead of a chore. Indeed, making it a game to see who has the least cavities come the visit to the dentist lends an air of fun and competition to the practice good dental hygiene.
  • Use Incentives and rewards. If you child knows that they will be allowed more time to play if they practice quality dental care, they will be much more likely to do it. Keep track of good progress with gold stars and a chart.
  • Get personalized dental supplies for your child to make them feel like they have their own agency over their mouth. Buying a Frozen toothpaste and kiddie floss never did anyone any harm, and will get your kid very excited about their teeth.

Keep in mind that things like rough play and sports can result in teeth related problems for kids — as many as 39% of dental injuries occur while kids are playing sports. Accidents do happen and 80% of all dental injuries occur occur to one of a child’s two front teeth. Practice serious helmet saftey, keep up on the latest in pediatric dental care, and impart your wisdom on your children!

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