Feb 9, 2021
It’s that time of year again…National Children’s Dental Health Month! We love this month-long health observance because it is all about promoting the benefits of good oral health to kids! Our team of caring healthcare professionals is here to help you get your kids set up with some healthy habits this month and every month…it can be as easy as ABC! Here are our top 3 tips:
A is for Apple!
Help your kids make good choices when snacking; it will not only help keep their bodies healthy but their mouths too! For example, people don’t call apples nature’s toothbrush for nothing! These tasty treats can stimulate your gums, reduce cavity-causing bacteria and increase saliva flow. Plus, perhaps you’ve heard us say it before…eating a nutritious diet is a vital part of oral health! Stock up your pantry with things like apples, carrots, almonds, yogurt, and cheese…these snacks are full of mouth-happy nutrients and fiber.
B is for Brushing Tips!
Parents often have a lot of questions about how to get started with an oral health care routine. You can start gently brushing your child’s teeth when they first appear with a soft-bristled brush and a rice-grain sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once your child is over the age of 3, you can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. There are lots of silly toothbrush choices and fun-flavored toothpastes you kids can incorporate into their oral care. Let them pick a brush that excites them! And don’t forget to floss! Once your child has teeth next to each other, it’s time to floss between them. As with brushing, be gentle as you introduce floss into the routine.
You are their best teacher and best example. Show your kids how you brush and floss each day and it will surely inspire them. Whenever you have questions or concerns, please call us! Our hygienists love to educate kids and help them set up their oral health care routines!
C is for Creativity!
There are lots of ways to make brushing twice a day fun for your kids, so get creative! Throw a bathroom dance party! Play some fun tunes about brushing teeth! Pretend your child is a dinosaur or a hippopotamus with a lot of teeth to brush! Or perhaps your child is an ice queen and she needs to “freeze” each tooth with her magic wand (aka toothbrush)! Or just put on some sunglasses and get brushing because everyone looks cool when they wear sunglasses. The possibilities are truly endless. When you flex your creative muscles and make oral care fun rather than just a dreaded chore, you’re helping your kids set up healthy habits for life.
If you have questions about your child’s oral health or need to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. Happy, healthy smiles are for everyone at every age!
Image courtesy of fand19 on vectorstock.com
Sep 24, 2019
If you’re wondering how to introduce the concept of the dentist and oral hygiene to your kids, a smile-centric storytime may be the perfect answer! The staff at Falmouth Dental Arts has you covered with this list of their five favorite books to help inspire children to healthy dental habits.
1. The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss is a storytime standby and with good reason! His jaunty rhymes and imaginative illustrations make every book an engaging adventure for audiences. The Tooth Book is no exception, as we tour the world, searching high and low, observing that EVERYONE has teeth! Readers learn how fun, different, and useful everyone’s teeth are–from walruses to acrobats. We also see different dental issues that we may encounter when we neglect our teeth. Dr. Seuss encourages his readers to take special care of their smile!
2. Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Brush!
Pull tabs and pop ups make this cardboard classic an extra-interactive read for kiddos. Simple rhymes and colorful illustrations of the familiar cast of Sesame Street characters will keep young audiences engaged as Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the Count show just how much fun brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist can be.
3. Clarabella’s Teeth by An Vrombaut
Beautiful, bold pastel illustrations introduce readers to Clarabella the Crocodile and her cast of alliterative animal friends. While the other animals race through their morning routine, Clarabella’s unique smile keeps her brushing her teeth forever! Although she misses out on the day’s activities, her friends surprise her with a custom toothbrush so that she can join in tomorrow’s fun.
4. ABC Dentist by Harriet Ziefert
The informative alphabet theme and fun, detailed pictures take readers through the ins and outs of the dental cleaning experience. Dental terms, techniques, and the anatomic structure of the mouth are explained from A-Z and parents may very well find themselves learning right alongside their kids!
5. Brush Your Teeth Please by Leslie McGuire
The well-mannered title isn’t the only thing to like about this straightforward story, perfect for very young children. Pop ups and pull tabs provide interactive instruction on different brushing techniques and the importance of flossing. Friendly animal smiles greet the reader on every page, while free-moving toothbrushes encourage kids to engage with the characters.
Your friends at Falmouth Dental Arts invite you to take one of these books for a spin, and add some extra smiles to storytime. You can post pictures of your kids reading these or their own favorite tooth-themed books by tagging our Facebook page @FalmouthDentalArts.
If you have any questions, or need to schedule your next appointment, please call our office 207.781.5900
Feb 12, 2019
Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? This month-long health observance is all about promoting the benefits of good oral health. This year’s slogan is “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.” We couldn’t agree more! We want to help you and your family start a lifetime of healthy habits and keep your kids smiling! Along with a healthy diet and regular visits to the dentist, getting your kids to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes is the place to start. Sometimes keeping your kids on a healthy track can be tricky, so we decided to share some of our basic brushing tips for kids. It can be as easy as ABC!
The ABCs
Start brushing your children’s teeth when they first appear with a small, soft-bristled brush. Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend using an amount of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice for children under the age of 3. For children 3 and older, toothpaste the size of a pea is recommended. Help your children brush every tooth surface: inside, outside, and the chewing surface. For more tips and a helpful video, check out the ADA’s Mouth Healthy Website.
Make it Fun!
Toothbrush dance party? Yes, please! There are lots of ways to make those two minutes enjoyable. Start by letting your child pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. There are lots of bright colors and cool characters to choose from, and some yummy and even sparkly fluoride toothpaste flavors out there. Just make sure they choose a toothbrush and toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval.
When it’s time to brush, put on a favorite song and have a mini-dance party. Here are some fun teeth-brushing songs to check out. You can also read a silly story with characters your child loves to encourage brushing. Playing pretend works, too: your child is a superhero brushing away “the bad guys.” Ka-Pow! Being creative and making the task feel like a game rather than a chore helps kids keep it up.
Reward Good Brushing Behavior.
It can be helpful to think about what motivates your child and give them an opportunity to earn a reward every time they brush. Maybe it’s as simple as giving them a high-five, or maybe they get a sticker each time. Positive reinforcement can go a long way with your children, so remember to offer lots of encouragement when they brush. Those teeth are going to look terrific!
Make it a Family Routine.
You are your child’s best teacher and best example. Show them how you brush and floss your teeth each day. Bring them to the dentist with you so they get comfortable with the experience of visiting the dentist. When your children see you have good oral health habits, they will pick it up, too!
If you have questions about your child’s oral health or need to schedule an appointment for them, give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are here to help your family have great oral health and happy, healthy smiles!
*Image courtesy of www.pioneerschool.us
Sep 24, 2018
Family Friendly Dentistry at Falmouth Dental Arts
We believe that oral health care is important for your whole family. From toddlers to grandparents, we are dedicated to providing the most caring and comfortable environment for every member of your family. We want your kids to have great smiles that last their lifetimes, and great smiles begin with great oral hygiene habits. Routine visits to the dentist not only help maintain your family’s oral health, but it also helps everyone learn about the best techniques to care for their teeth.
We offer a range of treatments and options to help your family establish regular checkups and an easy relationship with our caring dental team. We strive to make it as simple as ABC for families with young kids by offering a stroller-accessible lobby and easy appointment scheduling for the whole family. We recommend you start bringing your children around the age of 1 to 3 to start their dental care. Each child is different as to when they are ready and our goal is to make coming to the dentist a positive experience for them. Even when it’s straightforward, getting your kids to cooperate can be tricky. Our team has great suggestions for getting your kids excited about brushing their teeth and coming in for check ups. Here are a few:
- Have your child come in with you for your next teeth cleaning. It’s a great way to introduce the child to the experience and allows our staff to help guide parents in making their child’s first appointment.
- Talk about the fun aspects of visiting the dentist with your child! For example, after their appointment they get to choose a toothbrush with their favorite Disney character. It’s a great way to encourage them to keep brushing!
Let us help your family start a lifetime of healthy habits! Give us a call at 207.781.5900 to schedule an appointment today!
*Image courtesy of: www.parenting.com
