Going to the dentist can be a scary and daunting experience for young children… even for some adults. An unknown person with a mask on, strange shiny devices and power tools approaching your mouth isn’t the most inviting image. It’s understandable why kids have a fear of going to the oh-so dreaded dentist. This is why it is important to break the “scary” dentist stereotype and educate your children about how great and beneficial the dentist is, and get them excited for their next visit. Here are some tips and tricks for making the dentist a fun/painless experience for you and your children!
1) Prepare
Before going to the dentist let your kids know what is going to happen. To help better prepare your kids for the experience you can play pretend dentist and walk through different scenarios. In most cases, this will calm their nerves. When kids have no idea what is going on they can panic and tense up.
Photo Credit: makelessnoise
2) Have some fun
A little fun goes a long way! There are a variety of things you can do to reinforce that going to the dentist will be a fun trip!
Dress up – let your kids dress up in their favorite superhero or princess costumes. Kids love dressing up as their favorite character for a day. You might be reluctant to let them wear costumes to school or run errands in them but if you allow them to wear them to the dentist office they’ll have something to look forward to.
Watch videos – If your child is drawn to a particular character on TV try to find videos that show that character caring about dental hygiene. If they see their favorite character doing something they are more likely to follow their lead.
Prize – Talk about how you’ll get a fun toothbrush/ toothpaste when going to the dentist.
Charts – Every time your child brushes their teeth correctly add a sticker to a chart. At the end of the week if they have brushed their teeth twice a day, every day treat them to a special outing or reward them in some way.
Photo Credit: Phillip Dean
3) Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is key! If your children do an awesome job at the dentist and have no cavities reward them every once in a while. By rewarding good behavior, they will strive for this behavior every time they attend the dentist. Some popular places kids love to go are:
Kidz Bounce – Kidz Bounce is a place with a variety of bounce houses, optical illusions, and slides. They have several drop-in times where your children can play for an hour and a half for only 7 dollars. Your kids will be jumping off the walls with excitement!
Wilson Playfields in Kent and Lake Meridian- Take your kids to this park filled with fun activities. This park includes a nautical theme playground, picnic areas, a swimming beach, boat launch, and more. This park is great for a variety of ages. There is truly something for everyone to do.
Little Discoveries
Little Discoveries is a place where your children can find out what sport they’re passionate about through class sampling. Kids from 4 to 7 will be able to try ice skating, gymnastic, taekwondo, and swimming classes to see what truly interest them before choosing a specific program. Little Discoveries isn’t only a fun place for children to play but a healthy activity for children to do.
Mike N Terry’s Outdoor Fun Park – offers an exciting variety of sports that include: mini-golf, go-karts and batting cages.
Chuck E Cheese’s – Chuck E Cheese’s has always been a favorite among kids. Filled with arcade games, slides, and pizza your children are guaranteed a great day.
Kent Bowl – If your children love to bowl take them to Kent Bowl. They will be able to bowl, play in the arcade and eat here!
4) Lead by example
Show your kids that you floss and brush your teeth on a regular basis as well as reiterate that flossing and brushing are for big girls and boys too. You can make flossing and brushing more fun by getting musical toothbrushes or cool flossers. Also when it is time to take your child to the dentist never show that you are stressed or nervous about taking them. We know that it can be a little nerve-racking for some parents to take their children to the dentist especially the first time. Try to hide any emotions that are negative. Your children will pick up on this and it will higher their anxiety about going. You always want to make going to the dentist a positive, exciting visit, not a nervous, dreaded visit.
As you experiment with different ways to help your children see the dentist in a positive light, don’t forget to have fun yourself! Remember it doesn’t have to be a day filled with stress and anxiety. Try our tips above and before you know it your children might enjoy going to the dentist!
The number of people voluntarily receiving cosmetic surgery continues to grow in record
numbers every year. Although vain to some, many American’s believe their personal
appearance will greatly increases their chances to thrive in society. So what aspect of
appearance does the majority pay the most attention to? Many surveys have asked this exact
question to millions of American’s across the country. At the top of the list, a perfect smile. And
cosmetic dentistry can have your teeth looking brand new using dental porcelain or resin
veneers.
A dental veneer acts like a cover over your existing tooth. First, a mold and x-ray of the mouth must be
completed to create the veneer to fit exactly over the tooth. The veneer is a wafer thin shell
made of a tooth colored porcelain or resin material. Both porcelain and resin veneers are
extremely realistic in appearance, however they have different uses for different individual
circumstances. A layer of the tooth’s enamel must be removed before the dental veneer is attached.
Dental veneers will take place of this enamel creating a brand new cover and defensive layer for the
tooth. It is bonded onto the tooth using an extremely strong adhesive that will last up to 10
years of normal wear and tear. As a patient, having dental veneers installed is like receiving a set
of brand new teeth. At least from someone else’s perspective.
Are veneers right for your
Through the course of life, our bodies naturally break down cell matter and reinvent themselves.
Just about every part of our human body is capable of rebuilding and recreating itself including
our bones. In fact, the largest bone in the body is capable of completely rebuilding itself from
new material in less than a year. However, with all of this amazing capability, the body cannot
repair the teeth in our mouth’s. Maintaining a great smile through life is no easy task. Teeth get
stained, discolored, chipped, worn down, and broken just to name a few. We’ve all got one or
more of these problems.
So how much is a beautiful smile worth to Americans. The industry has grown to over 2 billion
dollars in sales with millions of people getting cosmetic dentistry performed every year. And the
numbers climb every year due to the advancements of the technology and the affordability. If
you are tired of the stains, displacement, and chips of your teeth, having dental veneers installed may
be the right decision for you.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is in full force bringing lots of good times and good food. While most of the food and sweets probably taste amazing, your teeth definitely do not feel the same way about them. Because of the busy schedule during this time of the year, combined with the frequent consumption of sweets, the holidays can often take a major toll on your teeth. However, avoiding dental disaster during the holidays is not impossible! Here is a survival guide to help keep your mouth cavity free during the season!
Limit the Sugar Intake
Arguably the best part about the holiday season are all of the delicious sweets that are constantly tempting everyone. Due to the spirit of this time of year, avoiding these treats altogether might be close to impossible. If you can totally resist the temptation, more power to you. That is ultimately the best way to stay cavity-free. If you do not want to totally cut out these sweets because this time of the year only comes around once every twelve months, then simply reduce the amount that you eat. The less sugar intake that you have, the better off your teeth will be, and the more likely you will be able to end the holidays with no cavities!
Be Proactive
As we were saying, sometimes getting rid of the sugar intake altogether is not reasonably possible. If you are having a hard time reducing the amount of sugar you consume during this time of the year, then one way of counteracting this sugar is by being more proactive with your dental care. For example, if you have just ate of few treats loaded with sugar, once you are done you can brush your teeth even if it might be in the middle of the day. If you are not at home where your toothbrush is, another option of being proactive is to rinse your mouth out after eating. This will help to reduce some of the effects of the sugar on your teeth.
Follow Your Normal Regimen
While the sweets are generally the most harmful on your teeth during the holidays, they are not the only threat. Holiday parties and events often keep everyone busy. This can lead to getting home later than usual and throwing you off of your schedule, which can occasionally be reason to skip brushing and flossing. One of the most important things that you can do to remain cavity-free is to stay on schedule with your dental care. Learn more with our 10 easy ways to boost dental hygiene.
Keeping your teeth cavity-free during the holidays is not always the easiest task, but it is something to definitely pay attention to while you enjoy the special benefits that come with this time of the year. If you are wondering of other general ways to keep your teeth in the best condition possible, connect with us on Facebook or Twitter and we would love to help you out!
It is recommended to have a professional teeth cleaning by a dentist every 6 months. The idea is to prevent disease from occurring due to the effects of tartar and plaque on the teeth. Even with consistent brushing every day, tartar and plaque still find ways to cause destruction to the teeth and gums. By getting your teeth cleaned regularly, you can expect to considerably lower your chances of developing a disease like gingivitis, or other complications such as cavities. Many people avoid the dentist due to fear or financial reasons. It is important to note that the dental cleaning cost to have these procedures done is usually pretty affordable. Below is a guide to the procedures a dentist will perform when cleaning your teeth.
In medicine, the term Prophylaxis is the study of preventative healthcare. This is exactly what happens when you get your teeth cleaned. Much like putting new oil in a car or air in a tire, getting your teeth cleaned will help them perform better for a longer period of time. The focus for the dentist is to remove as much tarter as possible on and around the teeth. Even with routine brushing, there are still hard to reach areas where tarter will form and cause destruction to the mouth. A common repercussion of not keeping up with dental exams and regular cleanings is bone loss. Fixing such issues will be a much larger dental bill later on down the road. It is better to incur a dental cleaning cost now, rather than more significant charges later.
Typical teeth cleaning will include tooth scaling and tooth polishing. The tooth polishing aspect uses a motorized polishing cup and a polishing paste. This abrasive polishing compound is polished all around the teeth and acts as a resistance to future plaque and tartar build-up.
By having this routine completed every 6 months, you will likely have a clean mouth full of healthy teeth for the rest of your life. If the dental cleaning cost is something you’re unsure about, it is generally very affordable. If money is tight for the time being, there are always payment plans available to lessen the financial burden.
For new parents, it can be confusing on what to expect during the first year and a half of a child’s dental development. Here is a great infographic on what to expect, courtesy of kidsdentalonline.com.
Most of us are aware of the importance of good dental hygiene. Most know that the key to avoiding dental diseases is to brush at least twice daily and floss every day. If you are someone that has good oral habits it may be a surprise to you that a large percentage of Americans neglect their oral hygiene. Many people only brush their teeth once a day and floss only on occasion. People are extremely busy in today’s society including work, running errands, or traveling a lot, which causes them to put their dental care on the back burner. If you fall into this category, don’t get down on yourself. Instead, it is important to understand why your dentist wants you to remember to brush and floss regularly. Dental disease associated with poor oral hygiene is on the rise, but it is also one of the most preventable diseases in the country. Here is an explanation of what can happen if you don’t keep up with your brushing and flossing and see your dentist regularly.
Do you take dental hygiene for kids seriously enough? Getting children to brush their teeth everyday on a regular basis isn’t always an easy task. However, the importance of developing a child’s dental hygiene routine at a young age is extremely important. By practicing the habit of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once daily, a child is more likely to continue these practices into adulthood. By helping your child with their daily oral hygiene routine you will help your child to keep a healthy mouth and a bright smile.
It’s a big unknown for many when the appropriate time to start practicing good dental hygiene for kids. Keeping your child’s mouth clean is important as soon as birth. For babies, there are obviously no teeth to brush, however bacteria will still develop inside of the infants mouth. For this reason, it is important to wipe a baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth after feeding to prevent the development of bacteria in the gums. This will ensure a healthy mouth for a baby to begin teething and provide a little less discomfort during the process. Once a toddler starts to develop teeth, you can start to use a soft toddler toothbrush to brush their teeth twice a day or after meals. However, avoid fluoride toothpaste as it may be a health hazard if swallowed. Most municipalities add a small amount of fluoride to tap water, which should be enough fluoride to help a toddler’s teeth maintain a healthy amount of enamel.
The essential time to begin reinforcing dental hygiene for kids is preschool or ages 3-4 years old. This is the age when your child should learn how to brush their own teeth. Flossing should be introduced to the daily routine as well. Some children will have no problem brushing twice a day, however many children may have a difficult time sticking to a healthy schedule. Remember to help your child to make sure they have brushed the back teeth as well as the inside of teeth until your child has developed the ability to reach these harder angels themselves. It is vital to teach them the importance of brushing and flossing every day, and making sure they are sticking to it. The key is to make it as enjoyable as possible. Get a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character, and colorful toothpaste that has a pleasant taste. Floss sticks or “flossers” can be used to help make flossing easier for a child. By making brushing and flossing as fun as possible, a child is less likely to complain about brushing, and hopefully look forward to it.
A healthy mouth is an essential part to dental hygiene for kids. Cavities can be extremely uncomfortable and children are more susceptible to develop them in their baby teeth. As your child gets older, they will experience many changes growing into adulthood, and they are more likely to continue a good routine of brushing and flossing their teeth daily if they develop the habit when they are young.
Visit www.devotedfamilydentist.com today for more information regarding dental hygiene for kids. Devoted Family Dental is Washington’s favorite family dentist.
There are three main types of dental cleaning that the average person experiences throughout their life. These three types include: Personal cleaning, professional cleaning and deep cleaning. Personal cleaning is your day to day dental routine. Professional cleaning is performed by a dental professional. Deep cleaning is a procedure that is only preformed for those with gum disease, poor oral hygiene or long lapses of time in-between dental cleaning. Deep cleanings are often performed more than once or on an as-needed basis.
Personal Cleaning
Everyone has their own personal hygiene routine in which dental care is performed. For most of us, dental hygiene is just a natural part of our day and often requires little thought. There are many different tools available on the market today that can help assist you in proper oral maintenance. However, most people prefer to use a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. While these other options can provide additional assistance, using a combination of these three tools properly, will provide adequate cleaning to maintain a healthy mouth.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste are used to clean the surfaces of teeth. In order to avoid enamel damage, dentists typically recommend brushing in circular strokes for about 2 minutes. Personal oral hygiene should be performed at least once a day but most dentists recommend cleaning after each meal. Most people choose to brush once a day, either at night or in the morning.
While the tooth brush is the most commonly used tool, floss is second, but equally important. While floss is commonly used, there are still a large percentage of dental patients that ignore it all together. If you are not currently utilizing floss during your daily dental cleaning routine you are missing out and we mean this very literally. Toothbrushes do not provide enough reach to properly clean in-between teeth or near the gum line. While you may not think floss does anything, the reality is much different. Flossing accounts for about 40% of the necessary work required to remove sticky bacteria, food particles and plaque from your teeth.
Professional Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings are typically performed by a dental or oral hygienist not a dentist. However, after your cleaning is completed, your dentist will do a thorough examination of your mouth to check the overall condition as well as for any cavities that may have been over looked.
No matter how diligent you take care of your teeth at home, having a professional cleaning is necessary. While tooth brushes, floss and other tools efficiently remove most of the harmful bacteria that grow in your mouth, it is impossible to remove all of it by yourself. Only a dental professional has the available tools, and reach to remove all harmful bacteria. Professional cleanings are recommended twice a year, every six months unless otherwise advised by your dentist.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning, also referred to as Scaling and root planing, is a type of dental cleaning that is performed in special cases and only when necessary. Deep cleaning is often required for those who have poor oral hygiene, have gone long periods of time without a professional cleaning or are in the early stages of gum disease.
When patients have poor oral hygiene or skip their six month cleanings, plaque and tarter do not get removed, providing the perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive. When Bacteria are not removed it irritates the gums, causing them to become inflamed and bleed. This is the early stage of gum disease or gingivitis.
In order to stop the spread of gingivitis, a deep cleanings are required. Deep cleanings are typically painless however, depending on the stage of gingivitis, these cleanings may cause slight discomfort. If you ever experience discomfort during a deep cleaning, there are a variety of different options available to make the cleaning more enjoyable.
