Pediatric Dentist in Hoover

Juggling your child’s dental appointment between school, sports, and other activities can be a real challenge. Your child can also make it difficult if they are hungry or anxious. Follow these steps to make your child’s next visit to our office a successful and pleasant one.

Feed Your Children

Kids can get irritable and grouchy if they are hungry. Allow your child to have a small snack before their appointment. If they can, they should brush beforehand so that the food they just ate is not still in their mouth when our dentist sees them. Dr. Mary Hayes of the American Dental Association also suggests a small snack if your child gags frequently at the dentist. Swallowing can help your child control gagging.

Schedule Carefully

It can be tempting to schedule your child’s appointment right after school, or jammed between other events. Choose a time of day when your child will be ready and not rushed. This is especially important if you know that the visit will include more than a standard dental examination.

Keep Your Anxiety in Check

Anxiety can be a significant deterrent for certain children visiting the dentist. Our office works hard to create a welcoming, safe, and comfortable environment for all children and their families. Your child will take behavioral cues from you, so keep your own stress level and anxiety in check. Remaining in control is one way you can help your child remain confident during a visit.

Watch Your Child Throughout the Year

To make sure your child’s next visit is successful, make sure they are keeping up with their oral health year-round. For young children, supervise them to make certain their brushing habits are correct. As your child grows and adds teeth, they can miss areas they aren’t used to brushing. If they practice good brushing and flossing habits throughout the year, they decrease their risk of developing decay, making their next visit to our office easier and less time-consuming.

It can be challenging to ensure your child has a positive dental examination, but follow these steps to make sure your next visit is simple and successful. A hungry child can make for a difficult guest, so be sure to have a snack. Don’t forget to keep your own feelings and behavior positive to give your child confidence. Emphasize good brushing and flossing habits at home, and your next visit will reflect that. We look forward to seeing you and your child at their next visit.

Pediatric Dentist in Pelham

As a parent, you want to instill good habits into your children. One essential routine they must practice is twice-daily brushing. Sometimes it can be hard to keep your child interested or motivated when brushing their teeth. The below tips will help to keep brushing fun.

Give Them Choices

Take your child with you to pick out a toothbrush and toothpaste. Having a favorite character or color on their toothbrush might help to keep their interest. Look for fun flavors of fluoride toothpaste. Whatever they decide on, we recommend making them part of the process.

Make it Rewarding & Fun

Creating a fun chart for keeping track of morning and nighttime brushing can be fun. Offer a sticker after each time your child brushes. Consider using small rewards early on to boost little ones’ motivation. When establishing a brushing routine, keep track of progress in a measureable way. Just like choosing a brush and toothpaste, involve your child in the process of keeping track.

Watch the Time

Make sure your child is brushing for a full two minutes. The American Dental Association suggests parents use videos and music to keep their child entertained while brushing. Try reading a short story to them. Whichever way works best for your child, get them in the habit of brushing twice daily for two minutes each.

Learning by Example

Your child learns through imitation. Show your child how you brush and make it a task you do together. Stay consistent with your own routine while making sure your child sticks to his or hers. Don’t allow your family to take a day off from brushing.

Fun Flossers

While it is important for your child to learn how to brush their teeth, don’t forget about teaching them to floss. We recommend buying fun colored or shaped kids’ flossers. These are easier for kids to hold, and it gets them used to using dental floss. Again, make your child a part of the decision and let them pick out what they would like to use.

Keeping your child interested in brushing can be difficult. Stick to a routine and lead by example. Always make your child part of the decision process in choosing styles and flavors of brushes, toothpastes, and floss. Make sure your child is receiving regular examinations in our office. Doing so will set them on track for a lifetime of smart dental choices.

For more tips on your child’s dental health or to schedule your next visit, please contact our office.