With parenting comes a load of decisions to make from what kind of diapers to buy to how many vegetables to eat at a meal to what educational path to take to set your child up for success later in life. Choosing a dentist for your children is one of these important decisions because it will set the tone for how your children respond to having a dental appointment. If you live in St. Augustine, FL, as well as anywhere else around the country, you want them to feel at ease at the dentist so they can look forward to their routine checkups instead of dreading them. Getting kids to eat their peas can be a hard fight, but taking them to an appointment they don’t want to go to can be even worse. Teach your children that going to the dentist is good for them and that it can be fun, too. Knowing what to look for and when to start bringing your child to the dentist can help you know how to choose a children’s dentist in St. Augustine, FL.

What to look for in a dentist

When researching a dentist for your child, there are several things to consider before deciding which dentist is going to be the best fit for your family. You will want to know how the dental staff and dentist interact with children and if they are experienced with treating children. Finding a friendly, comforting dental office to introduce your child to can give them the foundation they need to carry on good oral hygiene habits and schedule routine appointments throughout their lives.

How to pick a dentist

• First, determine that the dentist offers pediatric dental services. This may seem like a no-brainer but you don’t want to waste time looking into a dentist if they do not see young patients.
• Be sure to ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also look for reviews on dental offices but this can be more time-consuming than a word of mouth recommendation.
• Once you find a few possibilities, ask for a consultation so you can take your child to the office, meet the staff, and see the waiting room without having a dental exam at the time. This is an excellent way to ease your child’s initial fears of the unknown.

How to talk to your child about oral hygiene

Children can have different ways of processing information and ultimately, learning new habits and lessons. First, explaining to your children why oral hygiene is important can go a long way. Using phrases like, “Keeping our teeth clean so our mouths stay healthy is just as important as keeping our bodies clean. And just like other soap, toothpaste is a special soap for our mouths. We never swallow soap and that includes toothpaste.”  Also, tell your children:

• What happens when your teeth are neglected and show them pictures of cavities or other examples of poor oral health
• What a cavity is
• What plaque is and what it feels like on your teeth
• The importance of brushing your tongue
• How food can get stuck between teeth and need to be flossed.

If you are looking for a dentist for your child in St. Augustine, FL, be sure to give the friendly dental office at Dental Remedies a call today!