4 Things You Can Do to Help Your Child Avoid Cavities

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Cavities can cause your child pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help protect your child from these problems. Taking your child to the dentist in Jacksonville, FL, and practicing good oral hygiene at home is important. Here’s what you need to know about helping your child avoid cavities.

1. Stay Up to Date With Dental Appointments

Get your child’s teeth cleaned at the dentist’s office as often as the dentist recommends. The dentist may recommend your child to come in once yearly or twice per year (depending on their age and need). Either way, keep up with these appointments. During these problems, the dentist will clean your child’s teeth and identify ways your child can maintain healthier teeth overall.

2. Brush Their Teeth or Monitor Their Toothbrushing Habits

Until they’re about seven years old, most children aren’t capable of brushing their own teeth very well. They need their parents to brush their teeth for them.

When your child is old enough to brush their own teeth, they still need someone to monitor them to ensure they’re doing the job right and consistently. Stay up to date with your child’s habits. Watch when you see them brushing their teeth, to be sure they’re doing it properly.

3. Encourage Sugarless Snacks

Keep sugarless snacks (like peanut butter crackers and cheese sticks) on hand. Sugarless snacks are better for oral hygiene and can help your child avoid cavities.

4. Encourage Your Child To Tell You About Tooth Pain

If your child is in discomfort because of a problem with their tooth, you want to be the first person to know. Encourage your child to tell you when something goes wrong.

To make an appointment for pediatric preventative dental care in Jacksonville, FL, call Mandarin Dentistry today.

3 Reasons to Schedule Back to School Dental Appointments

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Back to school season is right around the corner! If you haven’t scheduled a back-to-school appointment with your child’s dentist in Jacksonville, FL, now is the time!

At Mandarin Dentistry, we’re committed to helping your child maintain healthy teeth and gums. Back to school season is the perfect time to take your child for a regular dental appointment. Below are three reasons to make your child an appointment to see the dentist in the coming weeks.

1. Scheduling dental exams at the same time each year makes remembering your appointments easy.

It’s easy to forget your child’s annual visit to the dentist, but if you schedule one of their dental appointments at the same time each year, then remembering to make the appointment becomes easier. Getting into a routine makes seeing the dentist natural and easy.

2. Taking your child to the dentist regularly helps your child develop good oral hygiene habits. 

It’s important not to skip trips to the dentist. Taking your child to the dentist consistently at the same time each year helps your child develop good oral hygiene habits. These are habits that your child will take with you into adulthood.

3. It’s easier to schedule a dental appointment before the school year begins.

Once the school year begins, your child will be busy with classes and after school extracurricular activities. Don’t wait to schedule the appointment, because once school begins, taking them to the dentist gets harder!

Do you need to make an appointment for your child’s dental exam in Jacksonville, FL? If so, contact the dentist at Mandarin Dentistry. We’re looking forward to cleaning your child’s teeth and answering your questions about their oral health!

How Can I Tell If My Child Has a Cavity?

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Cavities can disrupt meals and sleep, causing pain and discomfort. It’s hard enough to deal with a cavity if you have one, but if your child has a cavity, it’s even more difficult. Your dentist in Jacksonville, FL can help.

At Mandarin Dentistry, we provide cavity fillings for children and adults, to help them feel more comfortable. As a parent, it’s helpful to know what a cavity is, what the symptoms of a cavity are, and what you should do if your child has a cavity.

What Is a Cavity?

A cavity is an area of tooth decay on a tooth. The cavity creates a pit in the tooth enamel. As it grows, the pit can become painful. If a cavity is allowed to progress long enough, it could lead to an infection in the tooth, necessitating a root canal. Catching a cavity in its earlier stages can simplify treatment.

What Are the Signs of a Cavity?

If your child has consistent pain in a tooth or one area of the mouth, this could be a sign of a cavity. There are other signs as well.

  • Discoloration on the tooth (brown or black)
  • Hole in the tooth
  • Sensitivity to heat, cold, and sugary foods or drinks
  • Pain when your child bites down
  • Bad breath that doesn’t go away when your child brushes their teeth

Some children (especially young ones) have a hard time answering questions about their discomfort because they don’t always know what’s wrong. If you suspect something is wrong, talk to your child’s dentist.

What Should I Do If I Think My Child Has a Cavity?

If you think your child has a cavity, it’s important to bring them to the dentist for cavity fillings in Jacksonville, FL. At Mandarin Dentistry, we provide two types of cavity fillings: amalgam (silver) and composite (tooth-colored). There are benefits to both types of fillings. Amalgam fillings are long-lasting and durable, while composite fillings are made from a tooth-colored material that is far less noticeable.

We can help you decide which type of fillings are best for your child. Call today to make an appointment and learn more.

Your Child Lost a Permanent Tooth? Steps to Take

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Losing a permanent tooth can be a very upsetting problem! If your child has lost a permanent tooth, it’s important to get help from your child’s dentist in Jacksonville, FL as soon as possible. At Mandarin Dentistry, we help patients having dental emergencies like the loss of a permanent tooth. Below are the steps you should take if your child has this kind of dental emergency.

Find the Tooth and Clean It

If the tooth has been knocked out of your child’s mouth, find the tooth as quickly as possible. When you pick it up, pick it up by the crown. The crown is the part that sticks out of the gums and chews food. Do not pick up the tooth by the root.

Holding the tooth by the crown, rinse the tooth off with saliva, milk, or saline solution.

Put the Tooth Back In

Put your tooth somewhere that it can be safe. Believe it or not, the best place for your child’s tooth is back in the mouth that it came out of. If you can, put the tooth (roots first) back in the hole. If your child can’t do this, have them hold their tooth in the cheek of their mouth. If your child can’t handle either of these options, put the tooth in milk.

Seek Help – Fast!

Call your child’s dentist at Mandarin Dentistry to let us know you’re on your way! It’s important to get your child to the dentist as quickly as possible. At Mandarin Dentistry, we offer dental emergency services in Jacksonville, FL. Call today to get help fast.

When Should My Baby Have Their First Dental Appointment?

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Your baby will have many milestones in their first one or two years of life. One of those milestones should be seeing the dentist in Jacksonville, FL. It’s important to bring your child to the dentist at this exciting time in their life to ensure that they have good dental health.

Knowing when to bring your child to the dentist and why your child needs to see the dentist at such a young age can help you take care of your child’s dental health. At Mandarin Dentistry, we’re committed to ensuring that your child has healthy teeth and gums. Here’s what to know about taking care of your child’s teeth.

When Should Your Baby’s First Dental Appointment Occur?

Your baby’s first dental appointment should occur within six months of their first tooth erupting from the gums. Most babies start to get teeth when they’re between 4 and 7 months old. If your baby hasn’t grown their first tooth by the time they’re one year old, bring them to the dentist anyway. Your baby’s dentist can check to ensure that your child’s teeth are on track for healthy development.

Why Should Your Baby See the Dentist So Young?

There are many reasons to bring your baby to the dentist when they’re so young.

  • The dentist can examine your child’s teeth for abnormalities or cavities, and if they find problems, they can make recommendations to correct the problem.
  • Your baby will start to get used to seeing the dentist from a very early age. This is good for showing your child that dental health is important and the dentist is someone they can trust.
  • You will learn more about taking care of your baby’s teeth and what you can do to keep your baby’s teeth clean.

What to Expect During Your Baby’s Dental Appointment

During your baby’s first dental appointment, the dentist will look inside your child’s mouth. However, the examination will not last a long time. The dentist will also answer your questions and give you information about taking care of your baby’s teeth.

Is it time for your baby’s first dental examination in Jacksonville, FL? Call Mandarin Dentistry today to make an appointment.

My Child Is Afraid of the Dentist. What Can I Do?

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Some kids have a hard time adjusting to new experiences, while other kids are fearful of strangers. This means that while many children are comfortable seeing the dentist in Jacksonville, FL, a handful of kids need some extra comfort when they’re going to visit the dentist. In this article, we’ll talk about what you can do to help your child get used to visiting the dental professional.

Get Your Child Started With Dental Appointments Soon

Don’t wait for your child to get older. The more time goes on, the more difficult it may be for your child to bring himself or herself to see the dentist. Get started taking your child to the dentist as soon as possible.

Have a Conversation with the Dentist In Advance

Tell the dentist that your child is afraid of visiting the dentist. If the dentist has experience with pediatric patients, they should have strategies for helping nervous patients. Find out what the dentist plans to do to help your child feel more comfortable.

Speak Positively About the Dentist To Your Child

Your child listens to what you have to say, and probably internalizes your attitudes more than you realize. Speaking positively about the dentist and sharing your good experiences with teeth cleanings can help your child feel more comfortable going to see the dentist.

Play “Dentist” Together

Show your child that going to the dentist is harmless. Play dentist together and give your child the opportunity to play out their fears. Pretend to be the dentist and show your child that the dentist is harmless and has their best interests in mind.

Read Books About the Dentist

There are lots of children’s books about visiting the dentist. Choose to read some of these books together while your child is getting ready for bed.

Make An Appointment At the Right Time

Is there a time of day that your child is more cooperative and less jumpy? Make the dental appointment for a time that coincides with this time of day for your child.

If your child needs a dental examination in Jacksonville, FL and they’re not feeling comfortable about it, contact Mandarin Dentistry to make an appointment. We have many pediatric patients and lots of experience helping children adjust to seeing the dentist. We can help!

When Should You Bring Your Baby to See the Dentist for the First Time?

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Your baby’s first visit to the dentist is an exciting time, because it means that your baby is growing up and getting their first teeth. Many parents are uncertain when they should bring their baby to the dentist in Jacksonville, FL for the first time.

We can help with that! At Mandarin Dentistry, we can provide information about when it’s the best time to bring your child to the dentist, and we can answer your other questions about pediatric dental visits. Here’s what you need to know.

When to Bring Your Baby to the Dentist

You should bring your baby for their first dental cleaning in Jacksonville, FL within six months of their first tooth erupting from the gums. If your baby doesn’t have their first tooth by the time they’re one year old, bring your baby to the dentist anyway for a checkup. Your baby’s dentist can determine whether your baby’s tooth development is proceeding normally.

What to Expect During Your Baby’s First Visit

A baby’s first visit to the dentist should be short and sweet. The dentist will look inside your baby’s mouth to see if the teeth look healthy, then the dentist will answer any questions you may have about taking care of your baby’s teeth. The dentist will likely show you how to clean your baby’s teeth, and that may be the end of the visit.

The purpose of the first visit is to help your child get used to seeing th dentist, and for the dentist to perform a quick check in, just to ensure that your baby’s teeth are healthy. That doesn’t take very long!

How to Care for Your Baby’s Teeth

Caring for your baby’s teeth is relatively fast and easy. Purchase a small, baby-sized toothbrush. Place a thin layer of non-fluoride toothpaste on the head of the toothbrush, then brush your baby’s teeth using gentle circular motions.

When you come in for your baby’s first dental appointment, the dentist can watch you brush your baby’s teeth and tell you whether your method needs some tweaking.