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How The Tooth Fairy Can Help Teach Kids To Care For Adult Teeth!

How The Tooth Fairy Can Help Teach Kids To Care For Adult Teeth!

Losing a tooth is a rite of passage for children worldwide, and in many western cultures, it’s marked by a very special visit from a magical, nocturnal guest, affectionately known as the Tooth Fairy. While the Tooth Fairy most commonly exchanges the lost tooth for money, she can also play an important role in encouraging good oral hygiene for years to come. Words of encouragement from the one and only! While most children are excited at the prospect of losing a tooth, for others, the experience can be a bit scary. They may be nervous about feeling pain, feel insecure about what they will look like with a missing tooth, or feel queasy at the thought of seeing any blood. So, when the big day does come, it’s a cause for celebration. Not only is it important for parents to be supportive, but it’s also an opportunity for the Tooth Fairy herself to share some encouraging words of wisdom. By leaving a customised note in her own unique hand-writing (or perhaps on special paper sprinkled with fairy dust), the Tooth Fairy can offer praise to the child for taking such good care of their teeth and offer tips for good dental care routines that will carry them into adulthood. Helpful hints for a bright future By incorporating personalised notes each time your child loses a tooth, the Tooth Fairy can play a role in dental education by reinforcing the importance of brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and limiting sweets. These special letters can also stress the importance of lifelong care for their new adult tooth that will soon appear. Additionally, parents can use the Tooth Fairy as an incentive for encouraging their children to keep their teeth shiny and healthy. After all, the Tooth Fairy loves adding beautiful teeth to her collection! Tooth Fairy tips for extra special situations In a perfect world, all of your child’s baby teeth would fall out naturally and with ease. However, it’s possible for a baby tooth to be lost prematurely due to accident or injury, or it may fall out without your child even realizing it. Other times, a tooth may need to be removed with a dentist’s help for a number of reasons. In these special cases, children will need a little extra TLC from both their parents and the Tooth Fairy. Praise for their bravery, reassurance that the Tooth Fairy is sure to still visit, and perhaps a little extra reward to compensate for the unusual circumstances can go a long way towards easing any fears before the next little tooth starts to wiggle. Establish healthy habits for life With a little help from the Tooth Fairy,...

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Our Best Tips For Instilling Great Dental Habits In Kids With Sensory Issues

Our Best Tips For Instilling Great Dental Habits In Kids With Sensory Issues

For many people, oral health care is something they take for granted by regularly flossing, brushing and seeing their dentist for regular check-ups. However, for children with sensory issues, oral care (including visits to the dentist) can be quite challenging.  People with sensory issues often hate the taste of toothpaste, dislike the feeling of a toothbrush against their teeth, have a heightened sense of having their face and mouth touched, and have extra sensitivity to bright lights, smells and sounds associated with dental check-ups. However, by teaming with the right dentist, oral care can be smooth sailing for both the child and their parents. With the right tools, brushing teeth can be a breeze While some people love the sensation of brushing their teeth and having that sparkling clean feeling, people with sensory issues can find it very unpleasant. Thankfully, your dentist can recommend specialised products that don’t overload the senses such as NeutraFluor’s fortified, flavourless toothpaste, and softer manual and electric toothbrushes that reduce the sensation of the toothbrush moving across your teeth. Oral hygiene – it can be fun and games To make bed-time brushing more enticing, try purchasing a 2-minute timer and challenge your child to brush their teeth (or let you brush their teeth) for the whole two minutes. The timer can also be used as a distraction for the child – whether they fixate on the countdown or hold it in their hands to fidget with during the brushing process. Using a product like Plaque Disclose will make plaque on teeth visible so that children can actually see the problem areas and understand the importance of brushing. By aiming to reduce the amount of plaque that shows up the next time the product is used, your child may be motivated by seeing visible results of their hard work. Choose the right dentist to help manage sensory concerns Dentists deal with nervous patients on a daily basis, however, working with someone who has a negative reaction to the typical sensations experienced during a dental visit is a whole other challenge. Thankfully, an experienced, gentle dentist can use special tricks and tools to make the appointment a lot more pleasant in these cases. Commonly used strategies include: Have the patient bring in something to hold/ fidget with in their hand to use as a distraction during the appointment Offer noise cancelling headphones so they aren’t agitated by the sounds Communicate each step during the appointment and give the patient advance notice before touching their face or mouth Have the patient bring in very dark sunglasses to help reduce sensitivity to the lights above If the patient is not familiar with electric toothbrushes, suggest that they use...

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Back Teeth Problems – Should You Get a Root Canal or an Extraction?

Back Teeth Problems – Should You Get a Root Canal or an Extraction?

A lot of unnecessary dental anxiety can build at the prospect of a root canal or extraction. Please be assured that these are very commonplace dental procedures, performed with the utmost care, that will cause little to no discomfort or disruption to your everyday life. There is no need to be concerned, but you do need to have very real conversations with your gentle dental practitioner about what is involved and what you need to know. Why a root canal? Root canals occur when the teeth at the back of your mouth (generally speaking) are problematic – typically when there is a pulp-filled cavity in the root of the tooth. The procedure is very common, and it is not normal to feel as if you are experiencing excessive pain, particularly when you employ the services of a consummate dental professional. The root canal is a procedure designed to save a tooth that has become badly infected. The nerve and ‘pulp’ are removed and the inside of the tooth is sealed after a thorough cleaning. Why an extraction? A lot of people opt to have an extraction instead of a root canal. This is for a number of reasons. It can be a lot cheaper, and being a back tooth, it’s not noticeable to the naked eye if it’s missing. There are, however, concerns when it comes to the extraction of back teeth. Back of the mouth problems Working in the back of the mouth, be it via extraction or root canal, can be quite difficult and sedation will be required. The back teeth are the most difficult to work with as they are, by their very nature, the strongest in our mouths. They take up the ‘grunt work’ when it comes to chewing our food so removing the back teeth can put more pressure on your middle and front teeth. Ultimately, there is the possibility here of broken and weakened teeth at the front if they are required to take on too much pressure over time. Alleviating your anxiety Rest assured that yours is not the only mouth that your dentist has seen that requires a root canal. This is a very common procedure that, when carefully managed, is straightforward and relatively pain-free. Concerned about the state of your teeth? Talk to the gentle dental professionals at Robert Duhig Dental...

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How to Make the Most of Your Extras Cover for Dental Before It Expires!

How to Make the Most of Your Extras Cover for Dental Before It Expires!

The end of the year signifies change. The old year draws to a close, the new one is just around the corner. There is promise of growth and new beginnings after the festive season and we spend a lot of time focused on all our plans for the year ahead. But what about what we’ve already got in our pockets right now? Many people forget about it but the end of the year means all insurance policies reset – and you could be about to miss out if you don’t act soon. To make the most of your extras cover for dental, book in to see your family dentist as soon as possible to explore the world of savings that’s waiting for you this festive season! Extras cover for dental No two health funds are exactly alike, so it’s important to check in with your individual provider to see what you’re entitled to as part of your policy. What you NEED to know as a policy owner is that you have a right to ask for information and clarification at any time. Call them now or visit their site to take advantage of live chat to get some answers. How does dental cover work? There is no one definitive answer here because private health providers differ, as do the policies they offer. To find out exactly what you’re covered for, you should contact your provider directly. But for most policies, extras cover for dental will typically include: A percentage back on dental visits A percentage back on dental items There will be a cap on how many dental visits and items are covered within the year and your policy will give you cash back up until that cap is met. You’ll pay some of the cost and your insurer will cover the rest – the amount that you pay is referred to as the gap. The end of the year is approaching! There’s no better time of year to start a healthy dentist habit. Booking in check-ups for around Christmas time will mean that you’ll always remember when they’re due. Making sure you take advantage of all of the extras cover for dental that you’ve been paying for will be a great gift in terms of both your bottom line and the health of your family’s teeth and gums. Ho ho ho! Take advantage of your extras cover for dental by booking in for a check up...

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Fun Ways to Help Kids Prevent Cavities!

Fun Ways to Help Kids Prevent Cavities!

Tired of having to fight your kids morning and night when it comes to tooth care? There’s just no need to wade through bedtime battles about tooth brushing. If you want to prevent cavities in children, today is the perfect time to start teaching them all about the benefits of healthy teeth and gums. How to prevent cavities in children’s teeth For many, party season and special occasions (and even afternoon tea) can be a time of excess. Lollies, cakes, candies, sweeties, candy canes, bon bons, cupcakes, sugary drinks… the list goes on! It can certainly be sugar overload for children – which is why the time is right for some positive messages about how great dental hygiene can prevent cavities. If you like, you can even get some family favourites involved! The best way to brush tiny teeth The Raising Children Network has some excellent resources for parents when it comes to dental hygiene. Here’s their advice on working with your child, not against them, at tooth brushing time. Make sure your child feels secure and happy. Brushing in front of a mirror is a great way to involve them in the process. You should be sitting behind them so they can see themselves. Take your child’s chin in your hands and lean their head back so it’s against your body. Make sure the bristles of the brush are angled TOWARDS the gum. Using gentle circles, clean the inner and outer sides of the teeth and gums. Go back and forth on the ‘chewing surfaces’ as well as the front and back of the teeth. Brush the tongue! (It might tickle, which is great! Try everything you can to make this process fun). Spit that toothpaste into the sink! Not rinsing is key – the leftover toothpaste will continue to protect your child’s teeth. You MUST encourage and support the importance of flossing in your home (and make sure you lead by example as well). Cleaning between the teeth is as importance as brushing. 75% of all cavities start between the teeth for children under the age of 8. Model this practice for your children and make it as fun (and as regular) as you can. Brush your teeth with The Wiggles! <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8C2xFTZVMYs” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe> Everyone’s favourite kids’ entertainers, The Wiggles, have produced a great teeth brushing song that’s perfect for getting little bodies excited about the process. The song is long enough to ensure that teeth and gums are appropriately cleaned, and it’s catchy enough to get them bopping back for more again and again. <h2>Key ways to prevent cavities</h2> Now that you’ve got the fun side of teeth...

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