Choose This, Not That

Do your children ever ask you for something that you know is particularly bad for their smiles? Perhaps your little ones ask for sugar-filled gum or extremely chewy candy that you know will lead to a mess and sugar-coated teeth that are hard to clean up (and vulnerable to tooth decay). Have you often found yourself wishing you could quickly think up an alternative because you remember how much fun it was to indulge in these types of sweet treats as a kid? Allow us to offer a few helpful hints, so you have replacement options on hand (and smiling kiddos).

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Sneak Dental Care Fun Into Holiday Time

Do you begin feeling extra concerned about your child’s smile over the holidays? What is your biggest concern? Is your child becoming older and more independent and you want to think of a way to promote a positive outlook on dental care? Do you worry about your child’s dental hygiene throughout November, December, and even part of January (and then February!) because of the many exciting holidays that bring with them a bevy of delicious, sugary treats? Do yourself a favor and stop all of that worrying – we are happy to offer a few helpful tips for making sure your child’s smile remains healthy and bright, while home care remains simple to accomplish.

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Are Kids More Likely to Have Cavities?

As a parent, is it natural to worry about how often your children brush and floss their teeth, or how much candy they consume. Besides the discomfort and risks of childhood cavities, treating the decay that causes them might sometimes prove extensive.

Because they have not yet mastered the art of good hygiene, kids may be more likely to have cavities by the time they grow older. However, rather than treating them, the best option is typically to prevent them by teaching your children how to keep their teeth clean and healthy. (more…)

Help Your Child Break the Thumb-Sucking Habit

Thumb sucking is a natural routine for babies to comfort and soothe themselves. In fact, by a few months old, many infants will begin sucking their fingers and thumbs to calm down, fall asleep, or simply to amuse themselves. However, as a parent, you may wonder at what point does it become unacceptable, and how can you facilitate the transition from thumb-sucking to other coping methods?

To help preserve your child’s healthy smile, we explore a few tips to help your child quit thumb-sucking before it permanently affects their oral health and development. (more…)

Nighttime Brushing Followed By Insomnia?

Do you find that brushing your child’s teeth in the morning is surprisingly successful, particularly when compared with the nightmare of your nighttime routine? The good news is that you are doing your best to protect your little one’s smile with preventive care at home. The bad news is that you are probably becoming overwhelmed and frustrated if your previously sleepy child seems wide awake and ready for another day by the time his or her head hits the pillow. Don’t worry – we have some helpful tips that can make this time of day much easier to approach.

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Holiday Time Tips For Healthy Smiles

Don’t worry – staying on top of preventive care during the holiday season is not as difficult as it sounds. Your little one will, of course, be tempted by a seemingly endless supply of goodies that are full of sugar. The good news is that you don’t need to feel overwhelmed by this fact (or any other oral health concerns that have begun popping into your brain). By keeping some simple preventive options in mind, you can allow your child to have a wonderful holiday season while maintaining a healthy smile.

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Caring For Your Child’s Toothbrush

Before you had children, you might not have given too much thought to your toothbrush. Sure, you may have made sure to purchase a soft-bristle brush according to your dentist’s suggestions – you may have even replaced it once every three months, as you should. Whether it was super clean, wet, dry, or otherwise? This may not have bothered you. However, now that you have children, the fact that toothbrushes tend to harbor bacteria may cause you to feel somewhat anxious. As a result, parents often feel uncertain about how to approach this confusing preventive care topic. Allow us to help!

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What’s So Bad About Plaque?

You have probably heard about plaque for most of your life – if not, then you’re certainly receiving an earful as a parent. As a result, you have likely come to learn that plaque is bad (but that does not mean you’re completely sure what makes it such an awful substance). The good news is that you can help your child control plaque, so you don’t need to worry about potential side effects. Even better news? We are prepared to fill you in on the essential details, so you feel knowledgeable on this topic. And of course, remember, we will always be glad to answer questions during preventive care visits.

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Surprising Tips For Cavity Prevention

Your dedication to protecting your child’s oral health likely consists of assisting with daily brushing and flossing. Hopefully, you are also scheduling six-month preventive care visits with us, so we can help your child avoid tooth decay and dental fillings, as well as other concerns. While these are excellent, tried-and-true methods for maintaining a healthy, growing smile, prevention does not end there. In fact, we find that parents are often shocked that there are some surprising (yet simple) additional tips for avoiding cavity development. Allow us to let you in on the details.

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Quiz: Test Your Preventive Care Knowledge

Just because you feel strongly about taking care of your child’s teeth and gums does not mean you’re fully educated regarding best preventive care methods. The bad news is that if you miss an essential aspect of prevention, consequences may include problems like gingivitis or cavity development. The good news is that by becoming fully informed (which is extremely easy to do), you will know the necessary steps to follow, so you child achieves a clean, healthy grin. Wondering if you’re a preventive master or if you need a little bit more knowledge? Quiz yourself to discover that answer!

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