Fun ways to reward your child for brushing and flossing

Here at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry we believe in encouraging great dental health along with rewarding our patients. In addition to being a great role model for our children we understand as a pediatric dentist there are things that kids just LOVE!

Often times parents and caregivers want to know what they can do to encourage brushing twice a day, flossing, and saying no to sweets. Well we have some suggestions we know you will love.

It can be as simple as creating a reward chart. Sometimes it’s the smallest reward like stickers that make children happy. We suggest a daily chart with a special place for a sticker or check mark each day your child brushes his or teeth and remembers to floss. At the end of the week if your child has earned enough stickers he or she can have a prize.

How about brushing for 2 minutes? Children have a short attention span so two minutes can seem like forever to your little one. We suggest a timer to help your child keep track of the proper amount of time to brush. If your child brushes his or her teeth for 2 minutes that time can be added for extra movie time or towards an activity they enjoy.

One of the most effective ways to create a positive habit that lasts a lifetime is with positive reinforcement.  Simple words like” great job”, “I’m so proud of you” or “wow you really are getting to be such a big girl or boy” will put a smile on your child’s face.

At Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry we also have a reward system with some pretty cool prizes. We love seeing your child smile, it’s why we love being a pediatric dental office. Ask about ways your child can earn points towards our prizes at each visit. Remember, create a routine for your child and reward them even with the simple words “great job.”

Are you putting your infant to bed with a bottle?

Baby bottle tooth decay also known as early childhood caries can be prevented. At Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry we see many infant patients and preventative dentistry is very important in our role. What is baby bottle tooth decay and what can we do to prevent it?

Baby bottle tooth decay is decay usually found in those in the infant stage who are put to bed with a bottle. The bottle may contain milk, juice or even breast milk. When the infant falls asleep with the bottle in their mouth a pool of the liquid forms in the child’s mouth. This pool surrounds the teeth exposing the mouth to sugar for prolonged amounts of time.

We all know that prolonged exposure of sugar in the mouth increases the chances for decay. So, it is suggested to never put your infant to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. If your little one must have a bottle we always recommend to wipe the gums immediately after the bottle to help eliminate the risk for decay.

Here at Young and Polite  Children's Dentistry we strive for all of our patients to find their dental visits fun.  The best way to do this is with a great checkup.  Help your child be on track for great dental health when you eliminate the increased risk for early childhood caries.

 

For more help & advice for great dental health for your little one ask any of our skilled dental professional team members any and all questions at your next routine dental visit.

The importance of mouth guards

A mouth guard may not be the first thing that comes to mind to protect your child’s teeth.  Here at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry we believe strongly in protecting those teeth with a mouth guard.

Why a mouth guard?

A mouth guard adds extra protection for your child while participating in a variety of contact sports. From soccer, baseball to lacrosse and those sports in- between a mouth guard covers the teeth to help prevent serious injuries to the teeth.  Mouth guards should fit comfortably, not impair breathing, be durable & easy to clean.

Mouth guards can come in a variety of forms. One of our pediatric dentists at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry will recommend the best mouth guard for your child.  Depending on if your child has braces & what the mouth guard is intended for a professional recommendation will be made specifically for your child.

Without a mouth guard your child could sustain serious injuries to their teeth during a sporting activity. If your child has braces and endures an injury to the mouth the braces can cut the lips, tongues or the inside of the mouth.  In some cases, the injuries even involve sutures or stitches.  If the mouth receives an impact the chance of a tooth being knocked loose or out increases without the use of a mouth guard.

Many contact sports require players to wear mouth guards.  If your child is or will be participating in a contact sport, Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry recommends your child have a well fitted mouth guard.  Not sure if a mouth guard is necessary for your child, call our office and schedule a consult or be sure to ask one of our pediatric dentists about your concerns at your child’s next routine dental care appointment.

Because they're more than just "baby" teeth

 

 

 

Baby teeth don’t get the credit they deserve. You have probably heard or even said yourself “they’re just baby teeth.” Here at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry we understand how important “baby” teeth are.

Baby teeth with a more formal name of deciduous teeth serve several purposes.  These purposes include space maintenance. Baby teeth are space holders for the permanent teeth.  Typically, the baby tooth remains in your child’s mouth until the permanent tooth is ready to make its grand appearance.  The roots of baby teeth are short and dissolve making the baby tooth loose as the permanent tooth underneath it pushes up causing the baby tooth to fall out.

What happens if the baby tooth is lost too early?

This happens and we are aware of the proper steps to take here at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry.  Baby teeth can be accidentally knocked out or sometimes must be removed due to extreme tooth decay. It is important to understand the timeline of when baby teeth are typically lost and permanent teeth emerge. If there is a significant amount of time the baby tooth is lost and the permanent tooth will emerge one of our pediatric dentists at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry may suggest a space maintainer  be placed. Having the proper amount of space for the adult tooth to fully emerge is very important.

Along with baby teeth being space maintainers they also serve the function for chewing and aid in speech. Before considering a baby tooth as just a “baby tooth” consult with one of our pediatric dentists at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry. Baby teeth serve an important role in the lifelong oral health for your child.  We offer three locations to serve you and your family Waxhaw, Mint Hill and South Tryon.

4th Annual Candy Buy Back

 

Looking for something to do with all of your left over Halloween sweets? Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry is proud to be participating in Operation Gratitude. We love seasonal festivities as much as the next guy, but we also love healthy teeth! What better way to have some fun, give back & get those sweet temptations out of the house.

Since 2003 Operation Gratitude has provided over 1 million care packages to our troops.  These packages are filled with hygiene and hand-made items, snacks & personal letters of appreciation.

Who receives these care packages?

Veterans, First Responders, New Recruits, Wound Warriors & more graciously accept these packages.  Annually Operation Gratitude sends out over 150,000 care packages. Your donated candy goes to an outstanding cause that Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry is proud to participate in.

Your child will receive 30 points per pound of donated candy in our incentive program within any of our 3 locations. Our Mint Hill, Waxhaw & South Tryon locations use a point incentive program for all of our patients to encourage great home care & of course fun!

Join the fun, give back & earn those points at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry. You may drop your candy off at any of our locations through November 13^th. Help us support our troops, besides those sweets should be moderated for your little ones. (We couldn’t help ourselves)

 

At what age should my child see a dentist?

 

 

When is the right time to start taking my child to see the dentist? …….. The answer is simple! The earlier the better. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children start seeing the dentist as early as when their first teeth start to appear and typically by their 1^st birthday. Beginning early visits to the dentist is a proactive approach that all parents can do to ensure a lifetime of optimal dental health.

Even if you haven’t started taking your child to regular dental checks, it’s never too late to take them. At Young & Polite Children’s Dentistry we are here to help! We welcome patients from young babies’ right through to teenager years.

What to expect at your first visit?

We want your child’s dental visits to be as much fun as possible. All our Doctors and staff are trained in pediatric care and are armed with helpful tips and techniques to help you keep your child’s oral health at it's best! We take our time and get to know you and your child, building a relationship with your family so you feel comfortable with us.

During your first visit we take the time to answer any questions you may have. We will discuss techniques to help you keep your child’s oral health good at home and show you ways to help brush and floss your child’s teeth. When your child is young we try to keep all dental visits short and fun for them. Building a positive environment so that your child will enjoy returning to visit with us.

Here at “Young & Polite” we promote prevention. We try and help teach our parents and their child “healthy habits” that in turn will prevent fewer cavities. We encourage long term healthy habits that will help keep our patient’s cavity free for as long and as best as possible. At your next visit be sure to ask one of our friendly staff about what healthy habits can help keep your child’s oral health great!

Most of all at Young and Polite Children's Dentistry, we take great pride in getting to know your family. We want the best for your children. When you visit with us at any of our 3 locations you can expect great customer care, knowledge and information as well as a fun family-friendly place for your child to visit. We will keep your child entertained while taking care of their dental needs. Schedule your visit today. We are conveniently located in Waxhaw, South Tryon & Mint Hill.

Patient Appreciation Fall Festival You Won't Want To Miss!

Unless you have been hiding you have heard about our upcoming Patient Appreciation Fall Festival. This amazing, energetic & family friendly event is our way of giving back here at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry to our wonderful patients and community. Our focus is to provide the best care to every one of our patients and that means a day just for YOU!

When & where is the festival?

The Patient Appreciation Fall Festival will be held on October 24, 2015 from 11-2pm. The festival will be located at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry the Waxhaw location, 2514 Cuthbertson Road Waxhaw NC 28173. So mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss out.

Who doesn’t love great food, better yet FREE food?

That’s right you heard correct we will have absolutely free food for your enjoyment. As you walk from game to game and even the bounce house food and refreshments will be served at no charge to you. Jumping around & face painting sure can build up your little one’s appetite.

Your giving away what?

Yes, the doctors haven’t gone crazy, just showing their gratitude to the wonderful community. Some of our prizes will include 1 Power Wheels, 1 Wii U Bundle, 1 iPad Mini & more.

The doctors and staff at Young and Polite Children’s Dentistry look forward to seeing you and your family during our Patient Appreciation Fall Festival. So bring a friend, an appetite & the smile we love to see for a fun filled festival just for you! If you have any questions or need directions to the event one of our professional dental staff members will be happy to assist you 980-245-3451.