Dental Tips for Parents of Special Needs Children
When you have a child with special needs, having them practice good dental hygiene is another everyday activity that may be difficult for you and your family. A lot of developmental conditions can affect the health and placement of your child’s teeth and gums. There are some steps that you can follow that will make dental hygiene practices easier for your child.
If you child lacks the dexterity to work a toothbrush, attach a hairbrush handle to your child’s toothbrush. Another thing that you could do is make tooth-brushing time a more pleasurable experience. If your child refuses to keep up with their daily dental routine, try hanging fun pictures around the bathroom to a muse them or play music. You could also have your child pretend to be a lion and “roar” to open wide so that he can clean his teeth well. It is also critical to find a dentist that has some experience with special needs patients and can see your child each time he visits that practice. Seeing a familiar face can be a huge help when dealing with a very scary situation. Pediatric dentists also have a lot of experience with special needs patients and understand various techniques that can be used to relax your child. Pediatric dentists want your child to have an enjoyable time at their office.
Once you have found your perfect dentist, there are a few things that you should keep in mind that should help your visit go well. To have your child become more comfortable with the dentist, you should start taking them to get their teeth checked early in their life. For each appointment, ask the dental office if they could send the paperwork you need to fill out ahead of time so it would shorten your waiting time. Have your child to practice how to open their mouth wide and let them know what the dentist will be doing during the appointment. At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, you can be taken on a tour with your child of our facility, which is meant to alleviate some of the stress that your child may have. If your child has a comfort item that they want to bring to their appointment, ask your dentist if that is acceptable. Innovative Pediatric Dentistry has a few Comfort Buddies, which are stuffed animals that are given to a child that has a fear of the dentist. If during your child’s appointment he is squirming around and cannot remain calm, your dentist may be able to offer your child sedation medicine. Sedation dentistry uses sedatives, or calming drugs, to keep patients calm, cooperative and relaxed during a dental procedure.
Having a child with special needs can be very difficult at times. It can be especially difficult to have them maintain good dental hygiene. Try to make tooth brushing a fun and exciting task by hang some fun pictures around the bathroom. Make sure you look for a great dentist to take your child to his dental check ups. Pediatric dentists are there to help your child and as comfortable as possible. They care about your child’s dental health a lot and want them to live the healthiest life possible.
