Tips From Your SLC Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric dental care team at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry, Taylorsville

Pediatric Dental Tips

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Pediatric Dental Tips From Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry

Your child’s smile contributes to the initial impression they make on others. There are several pediatric dental recommendations that you can use as a parent to ensure that your child’s teeth look excellent. Below, our pediatric dentist in Murray Utah shares pediatric dental tips. 

Set Up Regular Dental Appointments

Our pediatric dentist SLC explains that your child should visit their dentist for regular cleanings and checkups every six months. During dental cleanings, your kids dentist near me can remove any plaque or tartar accumulated. A professional cleaning may only remove tartar; brushing and flossing will not suffice. If plaque and tartar are not eliminated, they can cause tooth decay and cavities.

Cleanings aren’t the only reason for pediatric dental visits. During a checkup, your pediatric dentist near me will ask if you have any questions and will be able to provide more pediatric dentistry suggestions. Your child’s dentist will also examine your child’s teeth to ensure no problems occur. If something is wrong, catching it early is critical. The sooner any issues are detected, the sooner they may be addressed. In addition, early therapy will help to protect your child’s healthy grin.

Brush Correctly With Your Child

Brushing may appear to be an obvious pediatric dentistry tip, but there’s a reason it’s so vital! If your child does not know how to brush their teeth properly, it can accumulate cavity-causing bacteria and plaque. Improving your child’s tooth brushing technique is a quick and easy approach to improve their smile. Below, Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in SLC, shares his tips:

  • Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to your toothbrush.
  • Brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle away from your gums.
  • Brush the teeth and gums lightly back and forth with short, back-and-forth strokes.
  • Continue to brush each tooth’s inner and exterior surfaces with the toothbrush.
  • Position the brush’s tip upright to reach behind the front teeth and along the top and bottom of the jaw.

By following these simple pediatric dentistry instructions, your child will effectively remove any food and bacteria from their teeth. Thus, maintaining the health of their smile.

“Making sure your child visits the dentist regularly is one of the most straightforward strategies to improve their smile.” – Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Don’t Forget to Floss

Unfortunately, flossing is a dental habit that the majority of individuals neglect. Don’t let this happen to your child! Because the benefits to your child’s teeth and gums are so tremendous, flossing once a day is a common pediatric dentistry suggestion. Of course, flossing, like teeth brushing, is most successful if your child uses the appropriate technique. Follow these steps to reap all of the benefits of flossing:

  • First, wrap 18 inches of floss around your middle fingers, leaving two to three inches uncovered.
  • Next, hold the floss between your thumb and forefinger.
  • Then, slide the floss between the teeth gently.
  • Please, make a “C” shape with the floss and use up and down motions to clean the space.  As follows, repeat for each tooth, using a new section of floss for each tooth.
  • Finally, to remove any remaining particles, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.

Our friend Dr. Beth Herko, family dentist New Providence NJ, explains that tooth brushing alone will not remove all of the food and germs accumulated in your child’s mouth. We agree, which is why you must floss regularly.

Implement a Tooth Friendly Diet

Please consider how your child’s nutrition affects their teeth. Numerous foods can be harmful to your child’s dental health. To improve your child’s grin, limit their consumption of sugary foods. Sugar feeds bacteria, which produces acid, which causes tooth decay and cavities. They should also stay away from sticky, starchy snacks. These foods can cling to teeth and serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.

Consider Dental Sealants

If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to keep their teeth clean on their own, consider dental sealants. Dental sealants are protective barriers that a dentist can put to your child’s adult teeth’ chewing surfaces. Adult teeth have pits and cracks where food might become lodged. When that food degrades, it becomes food for harmful bacteria, leading to tooth decay and cavities.

Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Family Dentistry, the Best Pediatric Dentistry in SLC

We’re here for the dental needs of your little ones! Contact our gentle kids dentistry today to get your kiddos on our schedule. 

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Benefits of Sleep Dentistry For Kids

Benefits of Sleep Dentistry For Kids SLC

Benefits of Sleep Dentistry For Kids

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

The Many Benefits of Sleep Dentistry For kids

The advantages of pediatric sedation dentistry allow a youngster who is unable or terrified to get dental treatment. Sedation allows your little ones to get the care they need without fear, stress, anxiety, or discomfort. While our pediatric dentist Murray Utah provides an exceptionally child-friendly environment, there are occasions when dental sedation may be the ideal option. This is to provide your child with the most comfortable experience possible. Because there are several levels of pediatric sedation services, your kids dentist near me can use sedation for various types of dental treatment safely and effectively.

What Are The Benefits of Sleep Dentistry?

By relaxing and calming your child, it is possible to overcome or avoid dental anxieties. Below, our pediatric dentist near me shares the benefits. 

  • Improved treatment quality (especially for children who have difficulty sitting still).
  • Ability to execute more treatments in less time at a lower cost.
  • Allows individuals with specific needs and certain medical problems to receive comprehensive care.
  • There is little to no recollection of the treatment.

Overcoming/Avoiding Childhood Dental Phobias

If your child is afraid about undergoing a dental operation, they are not alone. In fact, up to 75% of adults suffer mild to severe anxiety about dental checkups. Some even avoid it entirely. 

One of the most significant advantages of sedation dentistry is that it relaxes and soothes the patient. A youngster who feels relaxed rather than afraid during a dental procedure will generally have little to no anxiety at subsequent visits and will be significantly less likely to develop a lifetime dental phobia, which can have severe ramifications for their dental health as an adult. According to research, adults with dental phobias frequently miss having regular dental checkups and suffer from much more tooth problems as a result of needlessly avoiding the dentist.

Sedation Dentistry Improves Treatment Quality

Aside from the psychological benefits, the patient’s tranquility during dental sedation allows your pediatric dentist SLC to complete the dental procedure without interruption or resistance. Some youngsters may move or pull back reflexively during certain phases of treatment, causing delays in the operation. In addition, sitting still for an extended period of time is quite challenging for some young children. While your dentist is used to such movements, dental anesthesia allows the treatment to be finished swiftly, efficiently, and without interruption.

“Sleep dentistry is a wonderful option for kids with gag reflexes, dental anxiety, or any type of special needs. At Kaleidoscope, we are proud to offer a multitude of sleep dentistry options for kids.” – Dr. Ari Hobfoll, Pediatric Dentist SLC

Sleep Dentistry Helps With Gag Reflexes

Sedation dentistry can help children with sensitive gag reflexes reduce the sensation of choking or the need to vomit. Also, controlling the gag reflex makes it more comfortable for kids. Additionally, it allows your pediatric dentist to conduct your child’s operation more efficiently and safely.

Sedation Dentistry Allows More Treatment in Less
Time

Allowing the dentist to work longer without the patient feeling uncomfortable. It is not uncommon for a child’s dental treatment to require more than one procedure as a result of:

  • Patient tolerance level Treatment duration
  • Patient anxiety
  • The inability of a child to keep their lips open comfortably
  • Your dentist can perform numerous treatments in one appointment with mild (conscious) sedation or deep IV sedation, and your child will feel as though little time has gone, with no pain, discomfort, or fear.

Dental Sedation at a Low Cost

Dr. Neda, sedation dentistry Georgetown KY, explains that your dentist can complete your child’s treatment in fewer appointments, you save money. While a patient’s insurance provider does not usually reimburse dental sedation, it can still save money in the long run because lengthy treatments can be completed in a single dental session rather than numerous appointments.

Minimal sedation is relatively inexpensive for children undergoing less complex procedures, and the benefits usually surpass any increased expenditures. If your child is nervous about their impending dentist appointment, please inquire about our pediatric sedation options.

Special Needs and Medically Compromised Children’s Dental Sedation

Due to emotional, physical, or behavioral issues. Dental sedation is appropriate for children with special needs because it allows the operation to be completed more quickly and comfortably for the patient.

Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry Today For Sedation Dentistry

ur loving and accepting environment. At each session, our Murray UT Pediatric Dentist combines the pleasure and simplicity of gentle pediatric dentistry with the most sophisticated dental treatments available. If you are interested in using dental sedation for your child’s next dental treatment, or if you want to find out if your child would benefit from sedation dentistry, please contact our practice.

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Cavity Prevention Tips

Smiling child receiving pediatric dental care in Holiday, UT

Cavity Prevention Tips

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Cavity prevention tips from our pediatric dentist in slc

Every day, we see parents who are astounded to hear that their child has a cavity. After all, their youngster brushes and flosses his or her teeth every day. Despite brushing and flossing on a regular basis, some children develop cavities.  Unfortunately, brushing and flossing aren’t always enough to keep cavities at bay. Thus, understanding what causes tooth decay is the first step toward cavity prevention. Below, our pediatric dentist Murray Utah shares cavity prevention tips. 

The Cause of Cavities

Tooth decay is caused by a variety of circumstances. First, Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City, shares that bacteria play a significant impact.  When bacteria colonies go unchecked, they develop plaque, a white sticky coating made up of millions of germs. Plaque begins to coat the teeth more and more when brushing is neglected or not done correctly. When these bacteria are allowed to grow unchecked for an extended period of time, they create acids that destroy tooth enamel. This is why it’s essential to visit your kids dentist near me. 

Cavity Prevention Advice From Our Pediatric Dentist

Fortunately for you and your child, there are simple behaviors you may acquire to reduce the likelihood of them developing a cavity. Below, our pediatric dentist SLC shares cavity prevention tips. 

Increase Water Intake

Food particles are washed away by water. It also keeps the lips moist and the pH adjusted. Sugary drinks, such as soda and sports drinks, should be avoided. Juices should also be avoided! As follows, juices are high in sugar, and some juices, such as orange juice, are also high in acidity. Thus, the nasty bacteria in your child’s mouth are fed by a combination of sugar and acid.

Choose Non-Starchy Foods

Sugar gets a lot of flak for creating cavities, but starchy snacks are just as dangerous. Little crackers and pretzels are two examples of starchy snacks. Starchy meals adhere to your teeth and make them gummy for hours. The same may be said for any sticky snack, such as fruit-shaped gummy candies and raisins. Foods that attach to teeth remain in the mouth for a long time, feeding germs. Avoid them, especially if your child will be unable to brush his or her teeth for an extended period of time.

Brush As Soon As First Tooth Erupts

Brushing should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. It is not required to use fluoride at this age. A pea-sized dab of fluoride-containing toothpaste is acceptable for youngsters aged 3 to 6 years and those who can spit out toothpaste.

“Brushing should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. With your young baby or infant, a washcloth or teething toothbrush can be used until they age. ” – Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Look Into Dental Sealants

Deep grooves on molars, in particular, might be difficult to reach and brush well. Our friends at High Desert Dental, Grand Junction dentist, explain that you may ask your child’s dentist to apply sealants to your child’s teeth. Thus, this provides an extra layer of protection against cavities until their enamel fully develops.

See Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry For A Cleaning Twice a Year

Importantly, tartar can be removed with regular professional cleanings. Furthermore, your pediatric dentist near me can use fluoride treatments to assist your child’s teeth to strengthen as they grow.  Finally, your dentist will be able to detect decay in its early stages. As follows, early intervention alleviates discomfort. Additionally, it prevents more costly dental repairs in the future. Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry today to schedule your child’s next appointment. We can’t wait to meet you!

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When Should My Child See The Dentist?

When Should My Child See The Dentist_

When Should My Child See The Dentist?

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

When Should My Child First See the Pediatric Dentist?

Your pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City is specially trained to deal with children’s concerns. They can look after your child’s teeth, mouth, and gums throughout his or her youth. However, most parents are unsure when to first take their children to visit a pediatric dentist. Below, our kids dentist in Salt Lake City answers the question: when should my child see the dentist?

The First Visit to Your Pediatric Dentist in Salt Lake City

Baby teeth, often known as primary teeth, are just as vital as adult teeth. Taking good care of an infant’s teeth is important since teeth perform several important roles. Baby teeth promote excellent nutrition by permitting chewing, aid in speech development, and facilitate the normal growth of permanent teeth by keeping space between them. Our Pediatric Dentist near me suggests that babies see a dentist by the age of one, or when their first tooth erupts. 

Dental Treatment

Parents are frequently recommended to take their children to the dentist while they are younger. This is usually within 6 months of the first tooth sprouting, or within 12 months old  at the most. This age frames wonderful for a lot of reasons. Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in SLC explains that tooth decay can occur as soon as a child’s first tooth appears. Thus, it is essential to take your child to the dentist as soon as their first tooth arrives.

Some parents may ask why they should be concerned about primary tooth decay when permanent teeth will replace them. The issue is that deterioration in an infant’s teeth raises the chance of decay in permanent teeth. If the decay is severe, it can also have a negative impact on a child’s general health. Untreated dental decay can cause a variety of issues, including tooth loss, infection, and costly and, in many cases, avoidable emergency and restorative therapies. Tooth decay discomfort can also hinder a baby from eating correctly, affecting general growth and health.

The Benefits of Early Dental Exams

It is vital to begin dental exams for youngsters as early as possible in order to safeguard their teeth. Some kids dentists in Murray Utah advise patients to see them before the first baby tooth develops. This is significant because it allows the youngster to begin a lifelong dental care regimen to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Pediatric dentists can detect early tooth decay, assess fluoride requirements, and advise parents on proper oral and facial development. Early visits to a pediatric dentist can also save parents money. It is crucial to highlight that children who delay their first dental appointment until they are 2 or 3 years old are more likely to require restorative and emergency care.

“The correct care of your child’s main teeth should always be prioritized. Baby teeth that are healthy and robust can help your youngster talk and eat.” – Kaleidoscope Kids Dentristry Staff

Consult your Pediatric Dentist in SLC

Our friends at Bookciff Family Dental, Grand Junction dentist, explain that these teeth also serve as a placeholder in your child’s jaws for the permanent teeth that emerge from behind the gums. The first dental appointment should take place no later than 6 months after your child’s first baby tooth shows, but no later than his or her first birthday. If you have any further concerns about why dental care is so important during your child’s first year of life, please contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

For an appointment with our kid’s dentist in Salt Lake City, contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dental today. We can’t wait to meet you!

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Why See A Pediatric Dentist in SLC

Smiling child receiving pediatric dental care in Holiday, UT near me.

Why See a Pediatric Dentist in SLC

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

The Benefits of Seeing a Pediatric Dentist in SLC

Pediatric dentists, aka pedodontists, are trained to care for the dental requirements of newborns, toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents. In fact, pediatric dentists must complete an extra two or three years of child-specific training after graduating from dental school. Today on the blog, we share why see a pediatric dentist in SLC. 

What Makes a Pediatric Dentist Different

First, pediatric dentists specialize in child psychology in addition to dental training. Additionally, our pediatric dentist near me explains that this helps them to speak effectively, gently, and non-threateningly with youngsters.  Thus, children should see a pediatric dentist before the age of one, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) (or approximately six months after the emergence of the first primary tooth). Though it may appear early, biennial preventive dental treatments are essential for good oral health.

So, for the following reasons, parents should take their children to visit a pediatric dentist in Murray UT:

  • First, parents can get their children seen for their first dental cleaning.
  • Then, parents can learn how to implement no-fuss dental tips at home.
  • Additionally, seeing your kids dentist in SLC allows our team to determine whether or not the youngster is at risk of acquiring caries (cavities).
  • Lastly, parents can learn how to get rid of bad dental habits, click here (e.g., finger-sucking, etc.).
    to undergo preventative care (fluorides and sealants).

What is the role of a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dental offices are brightly colored, entertaining, and kid-friendly. As follows, dental phobias are frequently entrenched in childhood. Thus, it is critical that the kid feels at ease, safe, and trusting of the dentist from the start.
Dr. Ari Hobfoll, our kids dentist near me, specializes in numerous types of dental care:

Prevention

The most common childhood disease is tooth decay. Fortunately, it is virtually entirely avoidable. Aside from offering home care recommendations, your pediatric dentist can apply sealants and fluoride treatments to protect tooth enamel. Additionally, this reduces the risk of cavities. By using in-office technology like an intraoral camera, we’re able to fully assess your child’s smile. 

Examinations, X-rays, and Computer Modeling

As follows, this technology enables the pediatric dentist to forecast future dental disorders. A poor bite, bruxism, and jaw abnormalities are among examples. However, in certain circumstances, initiating therapy early yields the best results.

“Great oral health starts at home. Parent education is one of the most important aspects of our appointments, allowing us to teach families how to implement strong oral health habits.” – Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Treatment

Pediatric dentists provide a wide variety of services. Aside from preventive care (fluoride and sealant applications), the pediatric dentist also provides pulp therapy and addresses oral injuries. If primary teeth are lost prematurely, space maintainers may be used. This will keep the teeth from becoming misaligned.

Education

The dental education component of any pediatric practice. As follows, your pediatric dentist can assist the child to realize the need for regular dental hygiene. Additionally, parents may also obtain guidance on toothpaste selection, nutrition, thumb-sucking cessation, and a variety of other issues.

Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry Today

Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns regarding when to see a pediatric dentist. Our team would love to help you feel at home at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry. Check out our patient reviews to learn more about our practice. 

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