A parent, you understand the importance of your child’s dental health and want to encourage the best possible practices. At Pediatric Dentistry Kahala in Honolulu, Dr. Allen K. Hirai is eager to help children develop not only shiny beautiful teeth but healthy habits to last a lifetime as well.

This pediatric dentist is here with a few tips to help you promote optimal dental health and make routines fun:

• Visit Your Dentist Early: Ideally, a child’s first dental visit should be before age one when the first tooth erupts. In addition to beginning necessary care, at the right pediatric dentist’s office, you’ll introduce a warm, calming environment that is familiar and nurturing.
• Visit Often: Regular visits to your pediatric dentist will keep kids on track with their dental hygiene and establish a lifelong commitment to strong teeth and gums. Checkups are recommended every six months to prevent cavities and maintain standards of excellence.
• Offer Control: Children enjoy a degree of autonomy when it comes to self-care. Allow them to choose their own toothbrushes and toothpaste. Younger children might like character-themed or novelty brushes. Older kids may gravitate towards electric toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity that work with smartphone apps to track progress.
• Motivate: Ensure your child is brushing at least twice a day with motivational charts, and offer stickers or small prizes as daily rewards. Use positive praise and language. To guarantee two full minutes of brushing, add a cheerful visual time tracker to your bathroom countertop. Anything that makes brushing more fun will incentivize kids.
• Set Prime Examples: What better way to keep children engaged than to model superior dental care yourself? Try brushing together, and show that a bright smile is important to you, too.

Your local pediatric dentist will support you with all your child’s dental health needs. Dr. Hirai and the team at Pediatric Dentistry Kahala are dedicated to delivering outstanding child-focused care in a pleasant, stress-free atmosphere. Call the office today at (808) 737-0076 for a consultation, and visit them online for more information.