In honor of the occasion, a hygienist from our Hopkinton practice, Sarah Doherty, had the pleasure of spending some time with the students of The Learning Center of Hopkinton to show how excited we are about teaching children the fundamentals of dental hygiene. We are happy to share what they learned!
Brush for 2 Minutes, Twice a Day.
Sarah showed the class how to brush, counting 10 circles on the front, sides, tops, and backs of the teeth. Children are much more eager and willing to take care of their own dental health when brushing is turned into a game, or has a rhythm they can follow. Try encouraging them to recite a song, like the ABCs, once or twice in their head as a way of learning how long two minutes of brushing is.
A Dental Visit is Fun!
Sarah showed the different tools used in our office, like a mirror and an explorer. Letting children explore the tools on their own outside of a dentist’s chair eases any apprehension they may have, and even encourages them to be curious about what takes place during a dental visit.
Healthy Habits
The children learned some simple habits that they can practice to keep their teeth healthy - such as choosing chocolate instead of hard or sticky candy, and avoiding sipping on juice, milk or sports drinks throughout the day. When they are encouraged and taught to make good choices from the very beginning, they do not have to worry about dental health as they grow up!
When should your child first see a dentist?
Because a child’s smile is so intimately linked to self-esteem and confidence, Dr. Diab emphasizes starting early. When that very first tooth erupts, parents should begin regular dental care.
“Our practice is geared toward little kids,” pediatric dentist Dr. Diab says of Dental Place Hopkinton… “from infants on up, we cater to their needs.” Our Millis Pediatric Dental office is opening in March, and will join sister practices in Westborough, Wayland, and Weston, to provide pediatric, adolescent, and adult dentistry as well as orthodontics to form an all-in-one package for a family’s varying needs.
“We pride ourselves on preventative dentistry,” says Dr. Diab. “We educate the child and parent together on oral hygiene and proper diet so these become habitual. That sets the child on the right track.”
And if things aren’t on the right track, an orthodontist is available right down the hall. “Think of it as proactive orthodontics,” says orthodontist Dr. Kenneth Webb. “There are more options when you start younger.”
Our Millis is currently setting appointments for new patients. We will be located at 1098 Main St. in Millis.
Our aim is to ensure that maintaining children’s dental health becomes second nature from the beginning, not something that has to be a constant care or worry. We encourage you to visit our website for more valuable dental care information. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about how to help your children maintain their beautiful smiles and we look forward to seeing you in our office soon!
To make an appointment at our Millis office call (508) 376-1116, Or visit our locations in Hopkinton, Wayland, Weston, or Westborough! Find a location near you at www.BrushFloss.com.
Issue Date:
February, 2017
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