Establishing good cleaning habits at a young age and making your children feel comfortable at the dentist are crucial to their future dental health. Read on to learn more about a few tips to help your kids build a positive relationship with their dentist.
Prepare for the Visit Read books that feature characters going to the dentist in the weeks before your child's appointment. Watch videos of dental procedures with older children so they know what to expect. Take time to prepare children before the appointment instead of dropping the news on them at the last minute. Children only see dentist twice a year in most cases. Talking about the dentist frequently keeps the experience fresh in their mind. This way it stays a familiar and comfortable, experience from visit to visit. Source: Colgate Do a Meet and Greet Did you know that you can bring your child to the dentist's office to get acquainted before the day of their actual checkup? "If kids -- or parents -- are nervous I always recommend that they visit the office prior to their appointment so they can meet the staff, see where they'll sit and find out what to expect during the exam," says Lezli Levene Harvell, D.M.D., a board-certified pediatric dentist in Newark, New Jersey, and mother of five who has treated her fair share of reluctant patients. "Coming to the dentist can be a bit of an overload. By visiting first kids can get acclimated and come back another day knowing what to expect. It's a great tool that is completely underutilized." Source: Parents Schedule Appointments with The Same Hygienist This study revealed that children have strong perceptions and preferences regarding dental visits and dentists. The majority (63%) of the children in this study reported that they liked their visit to the dentist which is consistent with the results of other studies that have examined children’s attitudes toward dental care. However, dental practitioners should be concerned by the fact that 11% of children in this study reported that they disliked their visit and another 12% reported that they were afraid of the dentist. The purpose of identifying children’s attitudes towards their dentists is to effect positive changes or adjustments that would make children more comfortable in the dentist’s office and improve the quality of dental visits. Children in this study indicated that they would prefer to be treated by a dentist of the same gender. Assigning children to dentists of the same gender may improve the general comfort level of children in the dentist’s office. Source: NCBI Teaching children about good dental health is important for their ability to look after their oral health as adults. If you’d like more tips or to schedule an appointment, contact us now! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1901 S Union Ave B6005, Tacoma, WA 98405 (253) 448-8140
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Is your child having trouble overcoming the fear of dental visits? Here are a few tips to help them cope and enjoy dental visits while they’re young.
Below are 3 tips for helping kids deal with anxiety while at the dentist: Parental Involvement The presence of a parent or even a sibling can help comfort your little one. Scheduling an appointment for both your child and a family member is one way to show him that he is not alone. Children often like to copy their older siblings and want to be just like them, so having your child watch his brother or sister in the dentist's chair can give him that extra boost of confidence he needs. And when it's his turn to sit in the chair, you and his sibling can cheer him on from the sidelines. Source: Colgate Positive Reinforcement When preparing for a visit, especially the first time, try not to include too many details. Doing so will raise more questions, and adding more information about an extra treatment like a filling he might need may cause unnecessary anxiety. Keep a positive attitude when discussing an upcoming visit, but don't give your child false hope. "Avoid saying that everything will be fine, because if your child ends up needing a treatment, he might lose trust in both the dentist and you," says Joel H. Berg, D.D.S., M.S., Director of the Department of Dentistry at Seattle Children's Hospital. Source: Parents Distraction Distraction can be useful in minimizing dental anxiety. There are several methods of distraction for the clinician to consider. First, if the child is playing with a toy in the waiting room, it is possible that the toy could also serve to distract the child in the dental chair. Obviously, not all toys or procedures are amenable to this strategy, but it should at least be considered. Further, simple dialogue with the clinician may serve to distract a child. Initially, the clinician can attempt to engage the child in a discussion about a pleasant topic. This will not only distract the child, but will also serve to build rapport. However, once a procedure is initiated, the child will be unable to participate in conversation. Source: DentistryToday For more tips or to book an appointment, contact us today! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St #201, Tacoma, WA 98465 (253) 448-8140 Taking your child to a pediatric dentist is important for their oral health. However, for many kids, a trip to the dentist can be a little scary. But there are a number of ways to help your kid overcome their fear. Here are 4 tips to help your child feel more relaxed during his or her dental checkup.
Early Engagement The sooner you can normalize going to the dentist often, the less fear your children will have about these visits. Dentists recommend children have their first visit at age one to ensure development is healthy, with regular appointments thereafter. Kids who get accustomed to dental visits as early as possible will feel less anxiety and stress. Source: NearSay Limit Negative Associations
Keep it Simple Use language that kids can relate to and don’t over explain or add unnecessary detail. Keep the conversations light perhaps by saying the dentist is a friendly person who loves helping with teeth. The dentist can help keep your teeth healthy, white, and strong by using a special toothbrush. Let them know how good their teeth will feel afterwards and that their smile will be even brighter. Source: KellysThoughtsOnThings Role Play Help your child develop a positive attitude toward the dentist while having fun at the same time. Plan a make-believe trip to the dentist in your own living room. Keep it light and explain to them what their visit will be like. Whether it’s a routine cleaning, x-ray, or even a filling, knowing what to expect in advance will make the real trip much easier. Source: PatientConnect365 If you’d like more information or to book an appointment, contact us here! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St #201, Tacoma, WA 98465 (253) 448-8140 Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in his or her health that will pay lifelong dividends. Here are a few tips to help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities.
Below are 3 tips for keeping your child’s teeth healthy: Tooth Brushing
Toothpaste
Dental Check-ups
Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St. #201 Tacoma, WA 98465 Phone: (253) 448-8140 Even if you have a perfect oral hygiene routine, it might be hard to keep your teeth healthy, if you don’t watch what you eat. In this short post we’ll discuss some common foods that are good for your teeth, such as: leafy greens, crunchy fruits and cheese.
Below are 3 common foods that are good for your teeth: Leafy Greens Leafy greens typically find their way onto any healthy foods list. They're full of vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. Leafy greens such as kale and spinach also promote oral health. They're high in calcium, which builds your teeth's enamel. They also contain folic acid, a type of B vitamin that has numerous health benefits, including possibly treating gum disease in pregnant women, according to MedlinePlus. If you have trouble getting leafy greens into your diet, add a handful of baby spinach to your next salad or throw some kale on a pizza. You can also try adding some greens to a smoothie. Source: Colgate Crunchy Fruits Other food choices include firm/crunchy fruits (for example, apples and pears) and vegetables. These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva (which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and buffering acid). Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, should be eaten as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them. Source: webMD Cheese Research published in the journal General Dentistry earlier this year reported that 12- to 15-year-olds who ate cheddar cheese had lower acid levels in their mouths than those who ate sugar-free yogurt or drank a glass of milk. After eating the foods, the adolescents and teens rinsed their mouths with water. The acid, or pH, levels in their mouths were then measured 10, 20 and 30 minutes after rinsing. Those who drank milk or ate yogurt showed no change in their pH levels, but the cheese eaters had a rapid drop at each measurement interval. Cheese may neutralize the plaque acid, said Wu, who was not involved in the cheese study. What's more, chewing increases saliva production. "Like a river, saliva washes out some of the bacteria in the mouth," she said. Source: LiveScience Prevention is the best medicine for your smile. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please give us a call or contact us here! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St. #201 Tacoma, WA 98465 (253) 448-8140 There are plenty of foods that you should be avoiding if you want to keep your teeth in good shape. This article will cover five of the most common foods that are bad for your teeth, including: soda, sour candies, ice, sugar and fruit juice.
Soda Soft drinks cause a triple-whammy of tooth-damaging effects. First, if you’re drinking non-diet soda, you’re effectively bathing your teeth in sugar, giving bacteria a fertile home to thrive. “When you sip sugary drinks for long periods of time, plaque bacteria use that sugar to produce acids that attack your enamel,” says Dr. Yanni. Second, most carbonated drinks—diet and non—are acidic, another enemy of enamel, she adds. And lastly, if you have a preference for cola, grape soda, or other non-clear sodas, say goodbye to a white smile. “Aside from the sugar content, dark-colored soft drinks can stain or discolor the teeth,” says Dr. Chase. Source: HuffingtonPost Sour Candies It’s not surprising that candy is bad for your mouth. But sour candy contains more and different kinds of acids that are tougher on your teeth. Plus, because they’re chewy, they stick to your teeth for a longer time, so they’re more likely to cause decay. If you’re craving sweets, grab a square of chocolate instead, which you can chew quickly and wash away easily. Source: Healthline Ice You’d be surprised at how many people think ice is good for their teeth. It’s made of water, after all, and doesn’t contain any sugar or other additives. But chewing on hard substances can leave your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency and damage enamel. Advice: Break the habit and enjoy water in its liquid form. Source: MouthHealthy Sugar “It doesn’t matter whether it’s refined white sugar, brown sugar or honey, sugar is sugar,” says Nicoll. “It’s not the amount, but how often you eat it.” Sugar creates an acidic environment in your mouth, which persists for about two hours after it’s consumed. If you eat or drink a little bit of sugar every few hours, your teeth will be continuously bathed in the acid, which directly dissolves tooth enamel. The fix: If you are eating foods with lots of sugar, it’s better to consume them during meals rather than as snacks because your mouth produces more saliva during meals, which helps neutralize acid production. Twenty minutes after eating is the ideal time to brush your teeth. That’s because, by that time, saliva has demineralized the enamel that has been dissolved by acid. Source: BestHealth Fruit juice Although fruit is an important part of a healthy diet, fruit juice can cause problems for your teeth. Whole fruits have fiber and are a less concentrated source of sugar (and sometimes acids). In addition, juices sometimes have sugar added to them, which can be even more damaging to your teeth. If you regularly drink fruit juices, you should use a straw to keep them from having too much contact with your teeth. Source: DeltaDental For more information on other foods you and your children should avoid, contact us here: Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St. #201 Tacoma, WA 98465 Phone: (253) 448-8140 It is important to start oral care at an early age. Teaching your children proper oral hygiene can be a difficult process to go through. Fortunately, this article will cover 3 tips on how to get your kids to floss.
Make It Fun
Let Them Pick out Accessories One simple way to pique your kid’s interest in dental health is to let them choose their own toothpaste, toothbrush and floss. Children’s toothpaste comes in an array of flavors and varieties. Let them pick out a few different ones that they can test out. They’ll get excited about the purchase, as well as the brushing and flossing they’ll do later. Source: DeltaDental Show Them the Way Before school age (even after for many kids) children likely aren’t brushing or flossing well, says Hulland: “They lack the consciousness and coordination to do a good job.” They’ll brush along the biting surface, for instance, but not where the teeth meet the gum. At this stage, parents need to brush their child’s teeth or do it with them (i.e. your hand over the child’s). The same with flossing, which should start as soon as there’s no space between the baby teeth. Another way to motivate them: Let children watch you brush and floss too (you can even do it at the same time) to remind them of its importance and the proper technique. Source: ReadersDigest Learning good oral hygiene habits at a young age is important for long-term oral health. If you want to know more about good oral hygiene habits for your kids, please give us a call! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St. #201 Tacoma, WA 98465, United States (253) 448-8140 Looking for easy ways to create habits that will bring your children a lifetime of good oral health? Below are 3 fun ways to get kids to brush their teeth:
Give Them a Good Story "We talk about why we need to brush – how the sugar bugs make holes in our teeth if we don't brush them away," she explains. Sometimes kids need a reason or a good story to get on board. Source: CanadianLiving Make a Game out of Brushing Their Teeth Remember that little line from Mary Poppins? “In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. Find the fun and *snap*, the job’s a game!” All you need is a little fun to make oral health seem exciting for your child. A simple “I bet I can brush my teeth better than you” might get your kid amped to brush his teeth. Source: Drashleymann Brush Your Teeth at the Same Time Play "copycat". Since most kids this age enjoy learning by copying us but want to "do it themselves," brush together looking into the mirror. Have her copy you in the mirror as you brush. She won't do a thorough job, but it is a good start and teaches her that SHE brushes. That way she doesn't have to rebel totally against brushing teeth even if she goes through periods where she won't let you brush her teeth. Make it a fun game. Source: AhaParenting Hopefully these tips will be able to help you get your kids into a good dental hygiene routine. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please give us a call or contact us here! Contact: Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 1628 S Mildred St #201, Tacoma, WA 98465, United States (253) 448-8140 |
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