Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry Blog

Each child is special in their own way, but those who have specific challenges can require extra supervision, care giving, and assistance. They may not meet the same milestones as other kids, but in many ways, they are just like other kids their age. Kids with special needs can be a loving light to others when they show their joyful smile. However, to keep that light shining, you need to make sure their oral hygiene and care are a priority.

As a parent, you question yourself a lot. Do you let them watch too much television? Are they eating healthy enough? Are they eating enough of anything at all? Well, one area that you don’t want to forget is your child’s oral health. Are you doing what’s necessary to ensure that your child has strong, healthy teeth? It may surprise you to learn that your child’s mouth can affect them in many significant ways. For National Children’s Dental Health Month this February, check out this helpful information about this issue and what you can do to protect your child’s mouth.

At playdates with other parents and babies, you hear a lot of chatter about various issues some families face. You may have heard quite a bit about lip or tongue-ties, and it may seem as if these issues have become more common than in the past! While more awareness can increase diagnosis and treatment, lip and tongue-ties have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Keep reading to learn more about this problem and how treatment can resolve it for new parents and their babies.

Before you became a parent, you likely “baby proofed” your house. From covering electrical outlets and using locks on cabinet doors with cleaning chemicals, you take your baby’s safety seriously—as you should! But did you know that even a toy designed for a baby could endanger them? Teething toys can work miracles, helping primary dentition come in with less fuss, but they may also pose a risk to your little one. To keep them safe and healthy, learn these four safety tips for teething toys.

Even adults can find new experiences nerve wracking, so kids can break down with anxiety over going to the dentist. However, starting healthy habits like regular dental visits early in life can pave the way for lifelong oral health. But how do you calm your child’s anxiety about dental visits? You can approach it like many other new experiences for kids: through reading them books and stories! In fact, here are examples of the types of books you can read to your little one and get ready to have their visit.

Whether you plan to or not, as a parent, you probably will choose to share little “white lies” with your child at some point to bring them hope, help them feel excited for growth, or simply entice them to make better choices. Next to Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, you have the Tooth Fairy, who is attached to a special rite of passage—losing baby teeth. While this scenario, especially if blood is involved, could be frightening for a young child, the kind Tooth Fairy transforms fear into laughter and excitement. How did this tradition and myth start? Does every culture around the world celebrate baby tooth loss the same way? Find out here!

As every parent knows, babies don’t come with instructions as infants. Each one is unique and has different needs, personalities, and issues. Needless to say, it can be challenging to figure out what works for your baby! For some, a pacifier soothes crying, assists with sleep, and reduces the ear pressure they feel during travel on planes, but pacifiers can come with some less than favorable impacts too. For instance, pacifiers can complicate breastfeeding, form a dependency for the baby, and carry infectious germs. But does this little convenient product negatively affect a baby’s oral development? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no.

For many surgical or beyond-the-surface procedures, making patients completely unconscious is best for everyone. Not only does it bring peace to the patient, but also the doctor and others in the building don’t have to hear terrified or painful screaming or moaning, and the patient doesn’t have traumatizing memories. In fact, many people say they would prefer to be knocked out completely for medical and dental treatment to wake up a feel groggy for a few hours over staying awake throughout.

Concerning dental work for your child, they—and perhaps even you—may initially hope they will be put to sleep for certain procedures, but that may not be the best option for them. Here is a realistic and helpful explanation of how sedation dentistry works and of which solution is appropriate to use when.

Safety first. This isn’t just a required policy meant for construction environments or driving—it’s one of parents’ main mottos for raising little ones! From researching age-appropriate toys and product recalls to teaching stranger danger and using the right car seats, you probably worry about your child’s health and safety daily, including when they visit the dentist. If your anxious child needs sedation to stay still and calm, are these chemicals and medications safe for young bodies? Learn more about sedation dentistry options and how your pediatric dentist can put your own worries—as well as your child’s—to rest.

While some kids will happily do daring, dangerous things without realizing the risks, others will have a meltdown even while attempting the simplest, safest tasks. However, children’s fears usually come from something!

When dealing with dental phobia, understanding your child and the origin of their fear can help you know how to help them overcome it. With the help of a pediatric dentist, your child can look forward to less stressful dental appointments and enjoy better oral health.