Ask Pediatric Dental Partners: Which toothbrush should my child use?

Here at Pediatric Dental Partners, we will tell you that brushing your teeth is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for children's smaller mouths and hands. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles have the ability to harm your gums, and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't matter as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, you do need to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call and we'll try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!

-Pediatric Dental Partners of Bossier City and Shreveport, LA

How to ease dental fears in children, from The Pediatric Dental Partners of Bossier City and Shreveport

We know that many children have fear when it comes to visiting the dentist. Our team at Pediatric Dental Partners found a great article on how to help kids overcome fears of the dentist, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Making your child feel comfortable when they visit our office is a huge reason to take your child to a pediatric dentist instead of a regular dentist. Drs. Crawford, Wallace, Backofen, and Chidlow excel at making children feel comfortable visiting the dentist. In fact, most of our patients look forward to their next visit!
Has your child visited us in the last six months? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment!

Regular Checkups are Essential in Maintaining Good Oral Health

Is your child brushing their teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s great; but, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit us every six months in addition to brushing teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, and setting good oral hygiene habits for life!

Pediatric Dental Partners can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth.

During an oral exam we can check the health of the mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. If you haven't brought your child in for an appointment in the last six months, then it's time to give us a call!