Do you have an infant, child, or young one in your life who uses a pacifier or sucks their thumb? Both are common self-soothing techniques and help teach infants about the environment around them. As infants grow into toddlers, using a pacifier or sucking their thumb becomes a coping mechanism when the child feels anxious or overwhelmed by a situation. At a certain age, pacifier use and thumbsucking become problems for teeth and oral health.
There are some special days that we celebrate in the month of February, such as Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day. You may be surprised to learn there is another important day that can be celebrated during this month, National Tooth Fairy Day! If you are unfamiliar with this special day, it is celebrated on February 28th. National Tooth Fairy Day is actually celebrated twice a year, and the other day to celebrate is August 22nd. We celebrate this special day twice a year to signify that your child should be visiting the dentist every six months for a hygiene examination. National Tooth Fairy Day is also a special way to celebrate a young child losing their baby teeth and the cute little fairy who comes and collects all of the lost teeth.
Do you have a young child in your life? If so, you know many of the struggles that parents face with their children in terms of their oral health. There is nothing quite like asking your child to brush their teeth over and over only to find out their teeth were never brushed. If you can relate to this scenario, you are not alone. We know parents are passionate about teaching proper oral hygiene not only to create lasting habits, but also to help avoid tooth decay. Tooth decay is one of the most chronic conditions in children. We want to share some tips on how to help your child or young loved one prevent tooth decay. Read on to learn more.
At Pollard Dental, we treat patients of all ages. We frequently speak about the importance of oral health and ways to help you keep your teeth and mouth healthy. One of the best ways to do this is to teach healthy oral habits from a young age. Bad habits that develop as a child can continue to cause problems with oral health well into adulthood. We want to share some common bad habits that children should stop as soon as possible. These habits could wreak havoc on your child’s teeth and result in the need for dental treatments now and in the future.
When a child is first born, there is so much excitement over every milestone that occurs. As time goes by, those milestones lead to more and more independence in children until they reach their teenage years. If you have a child who is a teenager or have one in your extended family, then you know that it is one of the most difficult age brackets a parent or guardian experiences because the teen is testing the waters of adulthood and learning their boundaries.
When you have a young child or loved one in your care there are many exciting milestones that are celebrated. This time of year is always a time of great excitement for those with young children. We think there is another exciting time in a young child’s life that we need to mention — their first dentist appointment. You might be surprised to learn that we recommend that a child visit our office for the first time no later than their first birthday. So, while you are planning the party, birthday pictures, and cake smash, be sure to call our office to schedule an appointment. We know that visiting the dentist can be a bit intimidating for the little ones (and sometimes their parents too), so we wanted to offer some tips to help make their first experience a little easier.
