Around two years old, your child may be interested and excited to start brushing on their own! The transition is not always easy, but with these tips, your toddler will begin to develop healthy dental habits and routine in no time!

Show them how it’s done! Before handing over full responsibility, encourage your child to watch in the mirror as you brush their teeth. Briefly explain what you are doing to keep their attention. 

• Practice makes perfect! It can be helpful for your little one to practice brushing your teeth first. Not interested? Don’t be afraid to hold their hand and brush together the first couple of times.
• Still not sure their teeth are getting completely clean? Offer to take turns brushing. Maybe they brush on their own in the morning and you brush for them at night. Give your child the ability to be autonomous while still getting a refresher each night of what brushing should look like.
• Lead by example. Make brushing together a part of your morning and night routines. If they see you brushing, they will likely want to prove that they too are grown up and can brush their teeth.
• Finally, make brushing fun! Oral hygiene should never be treated as a chore or a punishment. Have fun with it by playing music for two minutes instead of using a timer,  create a reward system for when your child brushes twice a day for a certain amount of time, or bring them shopping for a new toothbrush and toothpaste to make brushing more special.

With these tips, your toddler will be brushing on their own in no time. By instilling good oral hygiene habits now, you are ensuring a happier and healthier smile in their future.

At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, we like to see children by age 1 or whenever they get their first tooth.  

As a parent, you may be thinking, “Do dentists really expect 1 year olds to already have cavities?!”   The answer, thankfully, is no! However, just as parents take their babies and toddlers to the pediatrician for well baby check-ups to monitor the child’s health, get some preventive vaccinations,  and to better understand what to expect next in their baby’s development, so do pediatric dentists love the opportunity to educate the parents about preventive measures to take before it’s too late. It also lets us make sure that your baby’s mouth is progressing normally!

Many parents may think that they don’t need to bring their children in until age 4 or 5 because “they’re just baby teeth” but you would be shocked at how many 4 or 5 year-olds I see every day who have multiple cavities by the time they come to the dentist for the first time.  But here are a few more great reasons for early visits.

During a new patient visit, there are 3 topics of conversation that we will discuss before starting the exam.  1. The child’s overall health history 2. Nutrition and 3. Anticipatory Guidance.  I’ll explain more below.

Health History

You may not think it’s important to tell your dentist about your child’s health history, but it’s very important for us as health care providers to get a good sense of your child’s overall health.  Have they had any surgeries?  Allergies? Asthma?  Hospitalizations? Medications?  These are all things that we as dentists need to know as they inform us how to best treat your child and what treatment options we can make available to them.

Nutrition 

1: Is your child breastfeeding throughout the night or going to bed with a bottle? 

Most people think that breastfeeding, being so natural, can have no bad effects on an infant.   Unfortunately, this is not true when it comes to the teeth.  After children start to have multiple teeth, continuously
breastfeeding throughout the night or drinking from a bottle
throughout the night can increase your child’s risk of getting cavities on their front teeth.  Allowing milk to sit on the teeth continuously throughout the night can cause the enamel (outer layer of the teeth) to soften, leading to cavities.  You might even start to notice these cavities when you look at your child’s upper front teeth.  The softening starts by looking like white spots, usually around the gum line.  For bottle feeding we normally see the white spots on the front of the teeth, but for breastfeeding, the white spots normally start on the back side of front teeth.  This is due to the placement of the tongue when suckling.

I know that you have to pick your battles as a parent, but trying to wean your child to only water at night, or limiting the frequency of bottle or breast feeding by age 1 will help prevent cavities in the future.  At the very minimum, if it is impossible for your child to go through the night without feeding, wiping their teeth with a damp, wet cloth will also help wipe off the milk and sugar that would otherwise stay on the teeth.

2. How much liquid is your child drinking other than milk or water? 

Again this is not necessarily about how much sugar is in the drinks that your child is drinking, but about the frequency in which they are sipping on these drinks throughout the day.  The recommended amount of juice for children per day after they turn 1 year is 4 oz, aka one child-size cup. This should be given with a meal and in a cup, not a sippy cup, so that the child is not sipping on sugary drinks throughout the day.  Even watering down juice (which is preferred) will still not prevent cavities if the child is drinking it throughout the day.

Anticipatory Guidance 

Anticipatory guidance is just a fancy way of saying, “As a parent, what can I anticipate is going to happen with my child’s mouth over the next few months, and what should I be doing about it?” Here are the most common things that we discuss with parents.

Trauma 

In the toddler age, as your child is learning to walk, falling and hitting teeth is relatively common.

I like to tell parents that if their child falls and has any kind of trauma to their mouth to make an appointment to come in and see their pediatric dentist.  The most common types of injuries are called subluxations – which means that the teeth can be knocked loose temporarily.  Depending on the extent of trauma and how loose the teeth are, baby teeth can tighten back up and be just fine.  The most common side effect of trauma for baby teeth is the teeth affected turning either a dark gray or dark yellow color.  This color change does not necessarily mean that the tooth is infected or needs to come out, think of it more like a bruise.  Either way, it’s always a good idea to be seen by your pediatric dentist so they can follow your child’s healing progress.

Thumb sucking/ Pacifiers 

Thumb-sucking or pacifier use is very common in children, and a lot of parents want to know when they should consider weaning their child off of it.  The considerations for this should be time and frequency.  If your child is always sucking their thumb and is doing it for long periods of time, it can cause the roof of their mouth to change shape and can also cause their upper front teeth to flare out.  Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are three or older and still haven’t kicked the habit – talk to your dentist about possible solutions.   Some children will suck fingers, thumbs and pacifiers for several years with no effect at all on their bite, while other children may have the habit for only a year or two and it will create noticeable changes in their overbite, and bite in general.

Exam/Cleaning/Fluoride Varnish

After I’ve talked through all of the above with parents, we typically do an exam.  Most children under the age of 3 will not sit in a normal dental chair (although some will) so we opt to do what’s called a knee-to-knee exam.  This requires you to hold your child facing you and to lean his head back in your dentist’s lap.

For the exam, I normally brush and floss the child’s teeth with a regular toothbrush.  You might think to yourself, “Well, I can brush my child’s teeth at home – why am I paying my dentist to do it?”  What I’m checking for as I brush is your child’s gum health, as well as how clean his teeth are (aka how good of a job are you doing with brushing at home?).  Also, I’m usually giving parental instructions on the best and easiest ways to brush a 2 year old’s teeth, who does not want his/her teeth brushed.  Sometimes when I brush, the child’s gums will bleed a little.  This is not something to be alarmed about – it is normally either because your child has gingivitis (mild inflammation) and needs to brush better at home, or sometimes the gums tend to be more inflamed if new teeth are growing in.

After tooth brushing I will take a mirror and look at your child’s teeth, gum tissues, tongue and lips.  This normally takes about 30 seconds.  I finish off the exam by putting topical fluoride on the erupted teeth.  Topical fluoride varnish is different from the fluoride toothpaste. Although it is a higher concentration of fluoride, it is only put on the teeth 2x per year instead of having fluoride toothpaste every day.

The amount of time it takes for me to do the cleaning, exam and fluoride varnish is about 3 minutes.  During this time, it is normal for your child to cry.  Many children experience “stranger danger” at this age – and this is all the more reason to be faithful about bringing your child to the dentist every 6 months so they can get used to coming.  Your child may cry during the exam, but they typically recover very quickly as soon as the exam is done. Children less than 2 years of age have very limited vocabularies, therefore much of their communication is done by crying.   A crying child does not necessarily mean a scared child or a hurt child! It can mean “I don’t like this”, “I’m tired and need a nap”, “When can I go back to playing?”, or any number of things.

Other Takeaways for First-Timers 

You, the parent or caregiver, are the single most important factor on your child’s view of the dentist.   I have had many parents say to their children when I am seeing them for an exam, “You better behave or the dentist will pull out your teeth!” or “You better behave or the dentist will give you a shot.”

These phrases can be really psychologically damaging to a child’s attitudes about the dentist.  First of all, sometimes I do have to give children a “shot” (although I like to call it “tooth sleepy juice”) or take out infected teeth.  My job as a dentist is to make the experience as safe, pleasant, comfortable and quick as I can, but at the end of the day certain aspects of going to the dentist aren’t pleasant, and trying to threaten a child, or anticipate what the dentist might do is generally counter-productive.

You as a parent can really help your child to be brave and to do well at the dentist by avoiding words like “hurt” and “shot”, and instead use phrasing like “the dentist is going to help your teeth feel better.”

This awesome article (click here to read) explains what you can do to help create positive attitudes for your child about going to the dentist.  Because at the end of the day, if your child has cavities that need to be fixed, wouldn’t you rather have it be something they can do without it being a big ordeal?  The main takeaways from the article are that a child’s attitudes about the dentist start with you, the parent.

Also, this is why we start kids visiting the dentist early!  If they start going when they’re young, they will begin to know what to expect.  At Pine Tree, every cleaning ends with your child getting to pick a prize and getting a take-home bag with a new toothbrush and other goodies.

Set your child up for success.  Make their first dental appointments early, find a dentist that you really like, and make your child’s oral health a priority.

Written By Dr. Tesha Waggoner

“Teeth are always in style.”

Dr. Suess

As a pediatric dentist, I spend a large part of my day in exams talking to patients and parents about oral and nutritional health. As I’ve been practicing over the last few years, I realized that I answer a lot of the same questions every day. The purpose of this blog post to answer some of them here. So if you’re a parent, read on!

1. My child grinds their teeth. Is this normal?

The short answer is “It’s not uncommon.”

The longer answer is this: I get asked this question at least once per day. Children can start grinding their teeth as young as 18 months. It can continue up to age 6 and usually starts to subside once a child’s adult teeth come in. Children seem to be able to grind their teeth without having the jaw pain and tooth sensitivity that adults get. There have been research studies done on childhood teeth grinding without any definitive explanations for why it happens. Some of the hypotheses are that children who grind when they sleep do it as a way to breathe better, or due to large tonsil or adenoid size. Another explanation could be stress. A final explanation could be that it’s a type of sleep disturbance along with bed wetting, talking in your sleep, or sleep-walking. We also know that children with allergies or frequent ear infections seem to grind their teeth more. We aren’t exactly sure why but it could be a way to open their airways more.

If your child grinds their teeth, know that they will most likely grow out of it. As pediatric dentists, we don’t normally recommend night guards in children to prevent grinding because 1. Most children would not tolerate having something in their mouth at night 2. It’s a potential choking hazard for children 5 and under and 3. Besides some wear to teeth, it really doesn’t seem to affect teeth.

If your child continues to grind their teeth into adolescence, it might be worth talking to your dentist about.

2. How can I brush my child’s teeth if they don’t want to?

This is the second most common question I get every day. A lot of parents feel at a loss as to what to do with their two-year-old who has a full-on meltdown every time their teeth are brushed. The other thing I hear often is, “Oh, they brush their own teeth.”

First of all, I’d like to acknowledge that I understand how difficult it is to make your child do something that they don’t want to do. If you have a strong-willed three-year-old, some days it can feel exhausting to fight them on tooth brushing. But just like you as a parent know that your child has to sit in a car seat (even if they throw a tantrum) or get their diaper changed, (even if they throw a tantrum) it is the same with teeth brushing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I have taken out more rotten and infected front teeth on two-year-olds than I can even count because parents didn’t think they needed to brush their kids’ teeth. Even at ages 1 and 2, your child can get big cavities on their teeth.

So how do you brush your wild toddler’s teeth?

A few methods to consider:

• Brush their teeth in the bathtub. If your child’s nighttime routine includes a bath – some kids are more willing to have their teeth brushed in the bath. I’m not exactly sure why this is but I’ve tried it on several of my friends’ kids who normally don’t like to brush and it seems to work.
• Sit your child on the sink so you can see their teeth as your brush them, and let them watch a show on YouTube as a treat. I recommend ones on toothbrushing like this or this one with Elmo.
• Wrap your child in a towel and lay them on the floor or on the bed and brush their teeth with them laying down. That way, if they try to fight you on it, they are safely wrapped up, allowing you the freedom of doing a good job of brushing.

These are just a few suggestions, but the keys for quality tooth brushing are to be able to brush along your child’s gumline, which a lot of times is easiest to visualize if they are laying down or at eye level.

Wrapping a child in a towel and lying them down on a bed can help you to brush your child’s teeth more effectively by limiting their mobility.

3. Until what age should I brush my child’s teeth?

I recommend helping to brush your child’s teeth at least one time per day until they can tie their own shoelaces. Children may like to start brushing their teeth solo but that doesn’t mean they are capable of doing a good job. Most kids under four simply suck the toothpaste off and chew on the brush.

For young children, think about it like this: If you put your three-year-old in the bathtub and told them to wash – how good of a job would they do? Then apply that logic to toothbrushing.

If your child is older and learning to brush solo, make sure to inspect their teeth after brushing and look for any orange staining along their gum lines. Orange staining is what color plaque bacteria turn after food has been left along the gum lines for a few days and it means that your child needs to be brushing better (aka you need to be helping!)

4. What kind of toothpaste should we be using?

There are a lot of toothpaste companies that market “Infant Toothpaste” which does not have fluoride for use when your child is under the age of three. However, it is not necessary to use infant toothpaste if you are using the recommended dose of toothpaste. As stated in a previous blog post, for children under the age of 3, you can use a “smear” of regular toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). This is an adequate amount of toothpaste to brush all of your child’s teeth and also does not have enough fluoride to cause fluorosis.

5. Should we floss first, then brush or brush then floss?

I get excited when I hear parents ask this question because it means that they are really trying to optimize oral care for their children. My first answer to this question is “If you’re brushing and flossing every day – then I’m happy. The order is not that important.”

But scientifically speaking, it is best to floss first as it loosens any debris and food between the tooth when then you can brush away. If you’re using a mouth rinse, use that last in order to swish the last bits of food away and to optimize fresh breath.

Lastly, I have some good news. If your child has a lot of spacing in between their teeth, guess what? You don’t have to floss! Your toothbrush is sufficient.

6. Should we be taking getting fluoride from more than just our toothpaste?

“It depends.”

In the Portland metro area there are several parts of town that aren’t fluoridated. The science on fluoride states that it is effective on reducing cavities and creating stronger enamel for teeth. The decision to use supplemental fluoride depends on a few things:

1. Even if a patient doesn’t live in a fluoridated area, it is possible that the patient is getting fluoride from other areas that are fluoridated. For example, If your child goes to daycare in Beaverton, then it is likely that they are getting fluoride throughout the day from water sources there. This is called the Halo Effect.
2. Does the patient have cavities? If the patient has minimal plaque, clean teeth and no cavities, but lives in an area that’s non-fluoridated, then they are considered to be a low risk for getting cavities. Therefore they may not need supplemental fluoridation. Ask your dentist if you are unsure!

7. Why do we need to do fillings on baby teeth if they’re just going to fall out?

Baby teeth do eventually fall out, but the timing of when is another matter. The average age for a baby molar to fall out is around 9 years old and your child can be as old as 12 or 13 before their last tooth falls out. For kids that are getting cavities in their molars at age 4 and 5, do you really want your child to have decay and infection in their mouth for 4-8 years before it falls out? I would hope not. Studies have also shown that infection and cavities in baby teeth can adversely impact grown up teeth as well. It can cause adult teeth to grow in the wrong place, to have discoloration, or to even get cavities in it before it even comes into the mouth.

The other reason to fix cavities in baby teeth is to lessen the bad bacteria that lives in your child’s mouth. Cavities are caused by three main factors 1. What you eat 2. How well/often you brush and floss 3. What type of naturally occurring bacteria live in your mouth?

We have all kinds of bacteria that live in our mouth. Some are “good,” meaning they help fight cavities and some are “bad,” meaning they create cavities. (I use quotation marks to label good and bad bacteria because it’s a simple way of explaining how cavities are caused.)

If you allow cavities to go untreated for months or even years, what starts to happen is the “bad” bacteria that causes cavities starts to grow stronger and stronger – which makes it more difficult for the “good bacteria” to make their home in our mouth. When we fix cavities, we upset the bacterial balance/load which greatly lowers the bad bacteria that causes cavities and allows the good bacteria to grow.

8. How do I get my child to stop sucking their thumb, fingers, pacifier?

This is a great question. For many children, sucking on a finger or pacifier is self-soothing. As a pediatric dentist, I recommend to start thinking about breaking your child’s non-nutritive sucking habits around age two-and-a- half. Sucking on the thumb, pacifier, or fingers can cause the upper front teeth to flare out, causing your child’s palate to narrow and cause problems with their bite later on. It can also cause your child’s permanent teeth to come in the wrong place.

The good news is that most children stop without any additional help by age three. That’s why it’s a good idea to start encouraging them to stop around age two and a half. You can start by trying to restrict use to bed or naptime. Also, many children respond positively to hearing that “they are growing up to be a big kid, and big kids don’t suck their thumb/finger/pacifier.” An older brother, sister, or cousin can also help to encourage them as young children often look up to older siblings. But nagging them usually has the opposite effect so try to talk about it in a way that makes them want to stop.

If your child is older than three and you are starting to notice changes in their front teeth, you may want to step up the methods. First, I always recommend going with positive reinforcement. One idea could be to set up a chart for your child and reward them daily with stickers that they can place on the chart for every day they don’t suck their finger. At the end of a week, if they have enough stickers, they could earn enough stickers to pick out a prize at their favorite store. You can also praise them for not sucking their fingers, when they are not doing it or when you notice they catch themselves doing it.

Then there are what we call “reminder” techniques, such as placing a mitten on your childs’ hands at night, putting a bandaid on the fingers they normally use, or purchasing a brace for their thumb, or placing something that tastes bitter on their hand like Mavala. These methods can also help.

If your child is older than 5 and still has a sucking habit, then there are appliances that your friendly, neighborhood pediatric dentist can place for you. The one that I like to use that I have had very good results with is called a Blue Grass appliance. It’s glued onto your child’s back teeth and has a little ball that sits on the roof of your child’s mouth. The idea is the place makes it uncomfortable for a child’s finger to sit on the roof of their mouth, and the fact that the ball spins give your child something else to do instead of putting their finger in their mouth. Your child will most likely wear the appliance for 4-6 months, but they normally stop sucking within the first couple of days.

9. What are foods that cause cavities?

Great question. Most people probably feel like they know what causes cavities…

SUGAR!

And they’re right! But there are some sneaky things that can cause cavities that parents may not think about. Any of these things can be okay in moderation, but should not be used every day if you’d like to prevent cavities from forming.

1. Drinks: Soda, Juice, Gaterade, chocolate milk, even almond milk with vanilla. These all have a lot of sugar. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 2-6 only have 4oz of juice per day and that children under 2 get no juice. A lot of parents think they are avoiding all that sugar by watering down their child’s juice. This is a good idea, however, if your child is allowed to sip on watered down juice throughout the day, they are still getting sugar on their teeth. Teeth need time to recover from sugar. It’s a process called remineralization. They need a minimum of an hour between meals or drinks with sugar to re-mineralize. So the best course of action is to give your child some watered-down juice with a meal and then stick to water in-between.
2. Sticky foods: Foods that are both sugary and sticky like caramels, gummy bears, fruit leathers, etc. are the WORST thing your child can eat for causing cavities. This is because it’s a double-whammy. 1. These usually have a lot of sugar (even the ‘organic/natural’ fruit leathers still have a ton of sugar). 2. If a food is sticky then it will most likely get stuck on the little grooves and fissures in your child’s back teeth (their molars). It’s hard to brush these spots.
3. Sugary Foods that take a long time to dissolve. Anything that you have to suck on like lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, are also really bad for teeth because they keep the sugar circulating in the mouth for much longer.
4. Any other food that can get lodged in the grooves of your child’s teeth. Like goldfish or pretzels.

10. When should my child see an orthodontist to check if they need braces?

It depends.

Most orthodontists (the dentists who place braces) like to see kids around age 8 or 9 for evaluations. That doesn’t necessarily mean that your child is ready for braces at that age.

Most children are ready to get braces by the time they are 12 or 13, but sometimes orthodontists want to start earlier depending on what kind of bite your child has, how much crowding they have, or if it seems like your child’s upper jaw and lower jaw are not growing at the same rate.

Your child’s pediatric dentist has received special training in understanding the growth and development of a child’s mouth so they can help to let you know when it’s the best time for your child to see the orthodontist.

An example of teeth crowding that would benefit from braces (above). And an example of an underbite (below) that would benefit from getting braces earlier.

These are some of the most common questions that I get asked. Remember to have your child see their pediatric dentist every 6 months starting around age one! I hope this was helpful to answer some questions you may have whether you have kids or not. Keep brushing and flossing!

 

Your darling three-month old is crying and fussy—can she be teething already? Or, your happy baby boy has just celebrated his first birthday—with only one tooth in that beautiful, gummy smile. Is this normal? Probably! While baby teeth do typically erupt (come in) in the same order for all babies, and around the same time, there is still a lot of flexibility in the time it takes for a full, healthy smile to develop.

Baby teeth actually form before your baby is born, and those 20 teeth are there under the gums waiting to come out and shine. And even though there are no firm and fast dates for each of these primary teeth to erupt, it’s helpful to have a general overview of typical teething patterns so you know what to look forward to.

Incisors

These little teeth create a charming baby smile, and, if your finger has been in the wrong place at the wrong time, a very sharp one as well! That is because these tiny incisors are made to bite into foods. You might notice this when you introduce solid foods, even if the majority of your child’s “chewing” is done with her back gums. These teeth are the earliest to arrive.

• Six to ten months old: The lower central incisors (bottom front teeth) are often the first to come in.
• Eight to 12 months old: The upper incisors (8-12 months) are the next to show.
• Nine to 13 months old: The upper lateral incisors on each side of the front teeth arrive.
• Ten to 16 months old: The lower lateral incisors appear.

First Molars

Because these are larger teeth, babies often experience another bout of teething discomfort at this time. The large flat surface of each molar helps your child to chew and grind food, so he can handle a wider variety of foods and develop his chewing skills.

• 13 to 19 months old: You can generally expect to see the upper first molars arrive.
• 14 to 18 months old: The lower first molars appear.

Canines (Cuspids)

Fitting between the first molars and the incisors, the strong, pointed shape of the canine teeth allows your child to grip food and break it apart more easily.

• 16 to 22 months old: The upper two canines make their way into the space between the incisors and the first molars.
• 17 to 23 months old: The two lower canines appear.

Second Molars

By the age of three, most children have a full set of baby teeth.

• 23 to 31 months old: The second pair of bottom molars start erupting—you are in the home stretch!
• 25 to 33 months old: The upper second molars come in—completing that beautiful set of 20 teeth!

Baby teeth are extremely important, as our will tell you when you visit our office. They help your child eat and chew, develop face and jaw muscles, assist proper speech formation, and provide space for the adult teeth to come in properly. Now that your child’s smile is complete, keep providing him with the same care and attention you have been giving those little teeth since the arrival of the very first incisor.

It seems that so much of new parenthood is scheduling—when to feed her, when to put her to bed, how many hours between naps. But we soon find out that every baby is not on the same schedule, and the same is true for the arrival of their teeth. We should see your baby when that first tooth comes in, or by his or her first birthday. And if you ever have concerns at any time about your child’s teething schedule or teething delays, always feel free to give us a call.

Visiting the dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone, especially children who are still learning about the world around them and how to express and regulate their emotions. If your child starts to panic at the first mention of a dental check-up, you’re not alone! Fear of the unknown or potential pain, sensory overload, and negative past experiences can all influence your child’s reaction to the dentist. However, with the right approach, you can turn these scary, stressful appointments into a positive experience for you and your child.

At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, our team understands that dental visits can be intimidating for children, so we focus on creating a calm, welcoming environment. With years of experience in pediatric dental care, we specialize in easing anxiety and helping children build positive associations with their dental health. Our compassionate staff is trained to work with kids of all ages, ensuring that each visit is as stress-free as possible. Trust us to guide your child through every step of their dental journey with care and comfort.

Strategies for Reducing Your Child’s Dental Anxiety

As parents, seeing your child scared and overwhelmed can be difficult. Understanding their concerns and providing tools to overcome them is a vital first step in creating a positive, lifelong relationship with the dentist. Many adults who grow up fearing the dentist will avoid necessary dental care that can cause harm to their overall health. It is essential you build a strong foundation now to ensure your child has quality oral health for the rest of their life. Fortunately, there are strategies you can take to help ease your child’s worry and make the dentist a stress-free experience.

Start Seeing the Dentist Early

Introducing your child to the dentist at a young age can help prevent dental anxiety before it has a chance to develop. It is recommended that you take your child for their first dental check-up as soon as their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday. Children who have dental check-ups as a normal part of their routine from a young age are less likely to experience dental anxiety. 

Prepare Your Child Before their Visit

Explaining what will happen before going to the dentist can help ease your child’s worry over the unknown. Make sure to use positive language even if you have your own anxiety about the dentist. Open communication is key here. Use basic language and answer all of your child’s questions about their upcoming visit. 

While preparation can be helpful, avoid over-preparing, as this may increase their anxiety. If your child is particularly nervous, consider reaching out to our office. We provide “social stories,” a resource featuring pictures of our office and a step-by-step guide of what to expect during their visit, which can be emailed to help your child feel more at ease.

Some other ways you can prepare your child for their visit include:

• Play dentist at home
• Watch videos together
• Visit the dentist’s office for a tour
• Pack a comfort item for your child

Taking the extra step to prepare your child before their appointment can go a long way in creating healthy connections around going to the dentist.

Choose the Right Dentist

Choosing a dentist who makes your child feel comfortable and supported can make a world of difference in easing their anxiety and providing a stress-free dental appointment. Compared to general dentists, pediatric dentists have additional training in working with children. Their offices are also designed to create a comfortable environment for young patients. At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, we are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care that ensures your child feels comfortable and worry-free throughout their dental journey.

Make Your Child’s Dental Visits Fun and Stress-Free at Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry

At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, we know a positive dental experience is key to reducing anxiety and fostering a healthy relationship with dental care. With years of experience working with children, our compassionate team is committed to making each visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible. From gentle, personalized care to a welcoming office environment, we focus on ensuring your child feels relaxed and confident during every appointment. We’re here to help guide your child on their journey to a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles.

We take pride in offering a dental experience tailored to children’s needs. Our skilled team is trained to address your child’s unique needs, creating an environment where they can feel safe and supported. We understand how important it is for your child to have a positive relationship with their dentist, and we work hard to ensure every visit is pleasant. To schedule your child’s next appointment, please give us a call at (503) 292-9274 or fill out our contact form.