News for Parents

At Hillcrest Dental Care we view each child as a unique individual who must be treated as such to accomplish our goals of a positive dental experience with quality care. Our dental team is committed to family friendly dental care and we encourage parents to play an active role in their child's dental health.

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Teaching your children good dental habits early will set them up for a lifetime of great smiles!

Tips for Parents

When is the best time to start taking your child to the dentist for dental care so they will develop a comfort zone with their dentist?

Around the age of three or four is a good time to start taking your child to the dentist, although some recommend that children see the dentist as early as one-year old. Of course they won't actually need much dental care then, it's more to get them comfortable with the environment. You want them to start going to the dentist at a young age to get them used to the process, since they will go in for their six month check-ups twice a year as they get older. If you start taking your child to the dentist at an early age, they won't have a fear of going to the dentist in the future. Fear comes from not knowing about something or not having done something before. So start teaching them at an early age about the dentist and the care they will receive to keep your kids and their teeth healthy.



Make sure they brush their teeth!

Plaque begins forming on the teeth very quickly, in fact, it forms all the time, 24 hours a day. Plaque is a film that grabs onto teeth, emitting harmful acids onto teeth that can cause your children’s teeth to decay. Imagine all that nasty bacteria trying to cling to your child’s teeth paving the way for cavities, bad breath, irritation, bleeding gums and worse? This is why it is so important to make sure children brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. If they take the time to brush and floss, it interrupts the plaque from forming and harming their teeth and gums. Make sure they brush their teeth at least twice a day….just after breakfast and before they go to bed are the best times. Teach them to brush all their teeth in the front and back. The brush should be placed against the teeth at an angle. A careful brushing should take about 3 minutes.



Watch what they drink.

Staying properly hydrated is very important to overall health. Active youngsters can lose two or more quarts of water daily, so their fluids need to be continuously replenished. Today, many kids and adults sip bottled soda pop or sports drinks while on the go. But most soft drinks contain sugar and caffeine which may actually SPEED UP dehydration. Also, drinking acidic, sugary beverages all day can promote tooth decay. Heavy soda consumption has also been linked to diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. So, next time your child is thirsty, reach for a bottle of fluoridated water. The water is refreshing and the fluoride protects against tooth decay, rebuilds tooth enamel and strengthens bones. If they do drink soft drinks, make sure they: ● Drink in moderation and don’t sip for extended periods of time. ● Use a straw to keep the sugar away from their teeth. ● After drinking, swish their mouth out with water to dilute the acid and sugar. ● Don’t drink soda before going to bed, because the liquid pools in your child’s mouth and coats their tongue and teeth with sugary acid. Soda pop and sports drinks are okay as an occasional treat, but water is the best way to refresh your child during and after physical activity. They’ll feel more hydrated and energized. And since water has no sugar, no acid and no calories, their body and teeth will thank you!



Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

When is the best time to start taking your child to the dentist for dental care so they will develop a comfort zone with their dentist?

Around the age of three or four is a good time to start taking your child to the dentist, although some recommend that children see the dentist as early as one-year old. Of course they won't actually need much dental care then, it's more to get them comfortable with the environment. You want them to start going to the dentist at a young age to get them used to the process, since they will go in for their six month check-ups twice a year as they get older. If you start taking your child to the dentist at an early age, they won't have a fear of going to the dentist in the future. Fear comes from not knowing about something or not having done something before. So start teaching them at an early age about the dentist and the care they will receive to keep your kids and their teeth healthy.



Make sure they brush their teeth!

Plaque begins forming on the teeth very quickly, in fact, it forms all the time, 24 hours a day. Plaque is a film that grabs onto teeth, emitting harmful acids onto teeth that can cause your children’s teeth to decay. Imagine all that nasty bacteria trying to cling to your child’s teeth paving the way for cavities, bad breath, irritation, bleeding gums and worse? This is why it is so important to make sure children brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. If they take the time to brush and floss, it interrupts the plaque from forming and harming their teeth and gums. Make sure they brush their teeth at least twice a day….just after breakfast and before they go to bed are the best times. Teach them to brush all their teeth in the front and back. The brush should be placed against the teeth at an angle. A careful brushing should take about 3 minutes.



Watch what they drink.

Staying properly hydrated is very important to overall health. Active youngsters can lose two or more quarts of water daily, so their fluids need to be continuously replenished. Today, many kids and adults sip bottled soda pop or sports drinks while on the go. But most soft drinks contain sugar and caffeine which may actually SPEED UP dehydration. Also, drinking acidic, sugary beverages all day can promote tooth decay. Heavy soda consumption has also been linked to diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. So, next time your child is thirsty, reach for a bottle of fluoridated water. The water is refreshing and the fluoride protects against tooth decay, rebuilds tooth enamel and strengthens bones. If they do drink soft drinks, make sure they: ● Drink in moderation and don’t sip for extended periods of time. ● Use a straw to keep the sugar away from their teeth. ● After drinking, swish their mouth out with water to dilute the acid and sugar. ● Don’t drink soda before going to bed, because the liquid pools in your child’s mouth and coats their tongue and teeth with sugary acid. Soda pop and sports drinks are okay as an occasional treat, but water is the best way to refresh your child during and after physical activity. They’ll feel more hydrated and energized. And since water has no sugar, no acid and no calories, their body and teeth will thank you!



 
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788 South Street

Pittsfield, MA 01201

413-445-6680

Dental Care North Adams, MA, Oral Surgeons North Adams, MA, Dentists Pittsfield, MA, Oral Surgeons Pittsfield, MA, Dentists Berkshires