Oral Healthy

It can be difficult to communicate the importance of oral health to your young child, and get them excited about visiting the dentist. But, some of our favorite books about teeth will help ease your child’s oral health anxiety, and just so happen to make excellent holiday gifts for children.

1 - What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist     

A lot of children experience quite a bit of anxiety when they first visit the dentist, and this books seeks to help with that. “What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist” teaches children about the dentist’s job, and helps children overcome their fear of visiting the dentist. This book does a great job of explaining dental tools, and the importance of regular dental checkups.

2 - Brush Your Teeth, Please  

This fun book teaches children about proper dental hygiene through beautiful, animal popups. The book features a lion brushing his teeth, a shark flossing, and has interactive, moving elements that kids love. Your child will enjoy reading this popup book, and learning about proper oral care from some of their favorite animals.

3 - Bear’s Loose Tooth

Losing a tooth can be a hard experience for a child, but “Bear’s Loose Tooth” teaches children that losing a tooth isn’t all that bad. This book is easy to read for children, and is written in an extended nursery rhyme – making it fun for parents to read aloud with their kids.

4 - Sugar Bugs 

Sugar Bugs is a fantastic, educational book that teaches kids about how sugar can harm teeth, and how to avoid the nasty sugar bugs! This book covers the importance of a healthy diet, and how a dentist can help keep sugar bugs away! It’s a light-hearted and fun way to introduce children to cavities and proper oral health. 

Give Oral Health This Season

The holidays can be hectic, but the break offers families a perfect time to visit the pediatric dentist. Schedule an appointment with our office so that we can evaluate your child’s oral health, and help give them a healthy mouth this holiday season.

Different types of mouthwash have different benefits like preventing tooth decay, reducing plaque, freshening breath, and reducing and preventing gingivitis. But with so many products on the market it can be hard to know what to look for in a mouthwash. Additionally, it’s tough to know which types of mouthwash are safe for your children to use. Never fear, parents! We’ve outlined some of the things you should look for when finding the right mouthwash for your child.  

Consider Your Goals

First, you have to figure out what you want to accomplish by using mouthwash. Are you looking to clear up bad breath? Do you want to reduce tooth decay or alleviate mouth sores? If you know what you want to get from a mouthwash, then you’ll be better prepared to choose the right one for your child. 

Look for Therapeutic Mouthwash

There are generally two types of mouthwashes available: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwash gives your mouth a clean, pleasant taste and reduces bad breath. However, cosmetic mouthwash treats the symptoms of bad breath, not the causes of the problem. 

Therapeutic mouthwash helps treat tooth decay, prevent gingivitis and reduces plaque buildup. Therapeutic mouthwash may not freshen your breath as well as cosmetic mouthwash, but it will help fight the causes of bad breath. 

Find Kid Friendly Mouthwash

There are a number of mouthwashes that are designed specifically for children. They are usually alcohol free, and feature popular children’s cartoons and come in flavors that kids enjoy like bubblegum, wild berry and grape. Mouthwash for kids is usually therapeutic, and helps prevent cavities. It usually contains no alcohol, and is easier on their mouth than cosmetic mouthwash.  

Look for the ADA Seal of Approval

The American Dental Association – known as the ADA – tests oral products for effectiveness and safety. To attain the ADA seal of approval, a product must prove to be safe and effective. That’s why we suggest that you look for products with the ADA seal of approval. This will help you find a mouthwash that has been rigorously tested and approved by a legitimate association that advocates for oral health.  

Mouthwash IS Safe for Your Child

Alcohol-free mouthwash is safe for children in small quantities. As a rule of thumb, mouthwash should not be used by children under the age of six. However, in some instances a pediatric dentist may prescribe mouthwash for a child beneath that age, but that usually only occurs in special cases.  

Schedule an Appointment with Our Office

Our office helps parents teach their children about earning a healthy smile, and keeping it long after they leave our office. If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth, or they complain of sensitive teeth, then bring them into our office. We will evaluate their smiles and offer a variety of treatment options that fit their case. We will also show you ways to keep their teeth healthy at home.