National Tooth Fairy Day is August 22, and at Beulah Family Dentistry, we want to help you make sure that your children’s teeth are in great shape for the Tooth Fairy and that their permanent teeth grow in healthy! Dental care is just as critical for children as it is for adults, beyond a nice healthy tooth for the Tooth Fairy to find under the pillow!
According to the Florida Dental Association (FDA), cavities are the most chronic disease among school-aged children. Not only that, but dental diseases, in general, are responsible for 51 million missed school hours across the country each year, based on FDA data. However, good dental hygiene begins well before your children are school-aged.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child goes to the dentist by age one or within six months after the first tooth comes in. When your baby’s first teeth begin to grow in, you should gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. The AAPD further explains that dental care is essential even before your infant’s teeth come through. One way to keep their gums healthy is to thoroughly clean them with a soft washcloth or gauze pad to remove any food and stimulate the gums after feeding.
Once your child begins losing their baby teeth, routine visits are critical to maintaining overall dental health. At Beaulah Family Dentistry, we start seeing children as early as three to four years of age for dental exams and cleanings.
For your child’s routine dental care visits to be both positive experiences and yield the best possible results, we recommend that you keep the following in mind:
- Timing is everything. For younger children, avoid scheduling appointments during or after nap time, especially if your child is cranky after they wake up. For older children, try to avoid appointments immediately following a full day of school and/or other activities as they may be too exhausted.
- Brush and floss before the visit if possible. Make sure your child brushes before the appointment, especially if they are having a meal before the visit. If that’s not feasible, they should avoid eating anything heavy or that would not rinse quickly, like peanut butter, popcorn, etc.
- You and older siblings can be great role models. Consider taking your child to your next dental cleaning or with you to an older sibling’s visit. This allows you or an older child to show them good patient behavior.
- Keep calm if your child gets upset or won’t cooperate. Assess why your child is acting out, then work as a team with your dentist to keep the visit going. Allow the dentist and your child to build a good relationship.
If we can assist in helping you with establishing and maintaining healthy dental hygiene for your child, call us today at 850.706.5688 or complete our online appointment request form to schedule a visit. Setting them up for success with the tooth fairy is always a top priority!
For additional information, download this helpful Infographic on Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy from the FDA and check out the video below to see what kids have to say about the Tooth Fairy!