Teaching your children good dental hygiene right off the bat will help them to learn how important taking care of their teeth and gums really is. There are several ways you can emphasize the need for consistent, thorough oral hygiene so their mouths stay healthy and pain-free. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, seeing a kid-friendly dentist will help instill a positive view of having regular dental visits. If any problem pops up in your child’s mouth, a pediatric dentist will be able to identify it and fix the problem before it gets worse.
How to encourage good dental habits with your child
Parents have an enormous influence on their children. While you may not like your kids picking up on all your habits, setting positive dental care habits can be easily done in just a few minutes every day. Especially when your children are very little, ways you can set a good example for them in oral health care are to:
- Let them watch you brush your teeth. You can demonstrate how important it is to brush every tooth, even the ones in the way back, and how to spit out the tooth paste.
- Play a fun song while your children are brushing that lasts about two minutes so they can be sure to brush the entire length of the recommended time of brushing.
- Show your child pictures of what tooth decay and gum disease look like. While you don’t want to frighten your children, it can be helpful to know what happens to their teeth if they don’t take good care of their teeth.
- Take your child to a pediatric dentist as soon as they have two teeth touching one another. This is to help your child to learn the importance of going to the dentist and also that it is just a normal part of their dental care.
A few things to consider when searching for a pediatric dentist
If you are in the process of searching for a pediatric dentist, a few things to think about and consider are:
- First Visit Experience: Schedule an initial visit to evaluate your child’s comfort level and your own impressions of the dentist and their staff.
- Sedation Options: If your child has dental anxiety or requires extensive dental work, ask about the dentist’s options for sedation or anesthesia and their experience in administering it safely to children.
- Location and Office Hours: Consider the location of the dental office and its hours of operation. Convenience can play a significant role in making regular dental appointments manageable.
- Insurance and Payment Options: Check whether the dentist accepts your dental insurance, and inquire about their payment options and policies for handling insurance claims.
- Recommendations and Reviews: Seek recommendations from friends, family members, or pediatricians who have experience with pediatric dentists. You can also read online reviews to get a sense of what other parents’ have noted about the particular dentist you are considering.
In St. Augustine, FL, give Dental Remedies a call today.
