Kid-Friendly DentistWatertown, MA

What You Should Know

Even though baby teeth are only temporary, the level of care they receive can determine the overall state and placement of the permanent teeth. Losing teeth prematurely or experiencing any pain in the mouth can be the result of any number of oral health problems. With that in mind, we recommend that parents/guardians bring their child to our office for regular checkups.

The symptoms may be the direct result of cavities forming in the teeth. Other effects outside of toothaches can include missing days from school and experiencing overall discomfort. Tooth decay is not a trivial thing and should be treated promptly.

Regular brushing and flossing will not always be enough to keep the possibility of cavities and tooth decay at bay. By visiting our kid-friendly dentist twice a year, we can examine a child's teeth to remove the plaque and bacteria that cause cavities.

Resources Your Child Can Use at Home

In addition to visiting our kid-friendly dental office, it is beneficial for parents/guardians to lead by example and practice proper oral hygiene habits at home. We work with children and understand how challenging it can be to get them excited about brushing their teeth. We can provide personalized oral hygiene instructions for your child if you’d like.

Parental assistance while brushing can be extremely beneficial for a yound child. This way, the parent/guardian can verify the child is brushing and help guide them in the proper technique. Other methods include:

Help Children Learn Proper Brushing Techniques

A simple video tutorial on the importance of proper brushing can be found on the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s website. Playing a video that shows your child how to brush is a great reminder for them. Children may also be used to receiving information through a video, so they are likely to receive and digest it better than if you reminded them.

Once your child is brushing correctly, it is time to focus your attention on how long they are brushing for. At Pediatric Dental Arts, we encourage all of our patients to brush for two minutes, twice a day. Try making it fun to brush teeth by playing their favorite song for two minutes and letting them dance and brush. You can also play a two-minute video clip or cartoon for them as they brush. The American Dental Association has an entire section of its website devoted to these short videos. Watching them will help your child become comfortable with brushing for the full two minutes.

We have worked with families throughout the local area and have found that using media works far better than standing there with a stopwatch. The goal is to create positive associations between dental care and having fun so that your child will continue to brush their teeth as they grow.