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Your Child's Smile Is A Reflection Of Yours

Parents, your smile and how you care for your smile affects your child's smile more than you know. Your child looks up to you in everything you do, you are their role model. We suggest practicing great dental care habits at home in front of your child, and helping them develop good dental care habits at a young age to lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles! If your child sees you brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing, they will learn that oral care is important and that it should be a daily routine for them as well.

When should you start brushing your child's teeth?
Your child's teeth are at risk of decay as soon as they appear. It is important to start brushing your child's teeth as soon as you see their first tooth. We suggest that you brush your child's teeth the first few years of their life, and teach them the proper way to brush. When first teaching your child how to brush correctly, brush their teeth for them for two minutes, then hand them the toothbrush to let them practice and show you how they can brush their teeth. When they brush their own teeth, show them how happy and proud of them you are!

When should you bring your child in for their first dental appointment?
Your child's first dental appointment should be at one year old, or after their first tooth comes in. The first visit will allow the dentist to catch problems such as decay or developmental issues. The first appointment will also help develop a positive dental visit experience to prevent fear in the future. Before your child's first dental appointment, it may be a good idea to bring your child with you to your dental appointments and let them see you having a positive experience at the dental office. This will also help prevent any fear of the dentist and will create a positive outlook on dental appointments.

How can you make dental care fun for your child at home?
There are many ways to help make your child's home dental care routine fun. We suggest letting your child pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavor. This will get them exited to pick their favorite color, or toothbrush with their favorite character on it, and favorite flavor of yummy toothpaste. It will help them look forward to brushing their teeth. We also suggest turning brushing and flossing into a fun game to "fight off the bad guys", like plaque! Another suggestion we have is to play a two minute song for your child to listen to while brushing. From the first time you brush their teeth, try and create a positive attitude about the routine. Once they begin to brush their own teeth, make sure to let them know how great their smile looks and how proud you are of them.

Parent's, help your child develop a lifetime of healthy smiles. If you are ready to bring your child in for their first dental appointment, or if they haven't been to the dentist in the past six months, call us today and schedule their appointment. We would love to see them in our office! The staff at Oak Ridge Dental Arts are very child friendly, gentle and dedicated to providing a fun, positive dental experience for your child.