Every dad wants to be able to help their little ones get the right start in life, and every dentist wants to play their part. The problem is that, all too often, the two sides seem to speak different languages and be so busy that they never have time to meet in the middle and discuss things. To solve this problem once and for all, we’ve put together a quick guide that covers everything you need to know about teeth and how to care for them.
Keep reading, and we’ll offer tips for dads and new ways of explaining things for dentists so that the two of you can finally meet in the middle.
Choose the right toothpaste
Dentists have a major role to play here because they can help dads cut through all of the noise and marketing spin they will find online and in the supermarkets. A children’s toothpaste should have anywhere from 1,000 ppm to 1,500 ppm of fluoride to be effective. Starting with a pea-sized amount on the brush and working the way around the mouth under supervision to the age of 7-8 is the way to go here.
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If you are a dental practice manager and you are reading this, consider stocking the toothpaste your dentist recommends. By having it on sale at reception, you can make sure that busy dads get everything they need without having to go anywhere else.
Practice correct brushing
The front, the back, and all the little gaps need to be brushed for at least two minutes with light pressure and a smooth circular motion. Dentists can demonstrate the correct technique with an enlarged set of demo teeth if helpful. When dads are helping their kids brush at home, making sure to get them to spit out the toothpaste after use is essential. Avoid rinsing with water to remove any residual taste, no matter how tempting, because this will wash away all of that beneficial fluoride you have just applied.
Your teeth are what you eat
A dentist who highlights the importance of laying off sugary snacks and drinks and eating a healthy, balanced diet will be doing a lot to improve oral hygiene. While every little person deserves a treat every now and then, excessive sugar consumption will have a devastating impact on the strength of the enamel. Once it is weakened and subsequently stripped away, teeth will become highly sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
Consider a fluoride treatment
The application of fluoride to the teeth has been proven to protect the enamel and prevent the development of temperature sensitivity and decay. Dental practices can source a robust supply of approved fluoride varnish from a trusted national supplier, ensuring that they are always able to offer the right treatment. This is something that has been consistently shown to improve patient outcomes and also helps to instill good dental hygiene habits from a young age.
Don’t give up on baby teeth
There is an urban myth that baby teeth are not all that important because they fall out and get replaced by adult teeth, but this misses two key points. The first is that good oral hygiene habits stick when they are started young, as do poor habits. Making sure that every child understands the importance of good brushing technique and regular dental appointments is essential. If these habits are ingrained early, they are far more likely to remain long into adulthood and eventually be passed on to their own kids. The second point is that baby teeth help support the growth of a healthy jaw.
The importance of regular appointments
Everyone needs to understand the need for regular appointments because they are the only way to have a specialist check that everything is in order. In the course of a busy life, many of us end up only going to the dentist when we are already in a state of intense discomfort, but by then it is often far too late. Regular visits will make sure that issues are caught early and little to no discomfort is experienced.
Practice managers who buy into this philosophy can really help boost the practice by offering family plans. Getting everyone from a given household under the same plan and offering appointment times that fit conveniently around work and the school run can make a real difference to patient outcomes.
Hopefully, after reading this, you’ve seen that we’ve found a way for dads and dentists to come together and speak the same language. Once they do, it’s the little people who will experience a lifetime of benefits.
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