3 Reasons to Bring Your Child In For a Dental Appointment Before School Starts

Your child needs to visit the dentist in Westlake, OH, at least once annually and, ideally, will see the dentist every six months. Many parents find that the best time of year to take their child to the dentist is just before school starts. In this article, we’ll go over some reasons that parents have discovered this is a great time of year to bring their child to the dentist.

1. Teach your child the importance of maintaining good oral health.

It’s important to bring your child to the dentist on a regular basis to ensure that your child will have good oral hygiene. Taking the time to bring your child to the dentist regularly also ensures that your child will understand how important good dental health is. By making your child’s dental appointment like clockwork before your child starts school, you help your child maintain a steady habit of seeing the dental professional.

2. Going to the dentist gets harder during the school year.

Children become busy during the school year, and scheduling a dental appointment becomes much harder once school begins. If you’re serious about ensuring that your child will see the dentist on a regular basis, take advantage of this time when your child is not expected to be in class five days per week.

3. Taking your child at the same time of year makes it easier to remember.

It’s easy to forget when you’re supposed to bring your little one to the dentist – unless you have a specific time of year when you take them. By deciding to take your child to the dentist every year at the same time, you’ll make it easier to remember this important task.

Need a pediatric dentistry appointment in Westlake, OH? Call today to make an appointment.

Portrait of unhappy mature man suffering from toothache

Time is of the Essence When Seeking Help for a Dental Emergency  

Do you have a toothache keeping you up at night? Do you wince in pain every time you drink or eat something hot or cold? Did you recently knock out part of a tooth playing baseball on a Saturday? Each of these are typical examples of a dental emergency in Westlake, OH that requires prompt attention.

Why Receiving Immediate Help for Your Dental Issue is So Important

Even if you feel uncertain that what you’re dealing with is a true dental emergency, we urge you to err on the side of caution and have the situation evaluated as soon as possible. Some dental traumas cannot begin to start getting better until after we identify and treat the source of the discomfort.

How to Handle Certain Types of Dental Emergencies

Knocking out a tooth or a portion of a tooth is more common than you might think. Should this happen to you or your child, grab the tooth by its root, not the crown, if possible. Run the tooth under some warm water and place it in a plastic bag. The team at Walter R. Below, D.M.D., may be able to reattach it. If you can locate the entire tooth, attempt to hold it in place in its socket until you reach our dental practice.

For a severe toothache, we recommend that you take a non-prescription pain reliever and avoid any food or drink that may aggravate your symptoms. For example, don’t eat ice cream or drink coffee if the temperature of these foods bothers you.

If you’re in a car accident or experience another type of sudden blunt force trauma to your face, you should go to the nearest emergency room rather than the dentist. However, Dr. Below is available to work with you regarding oral surgery and potential facial reconstruction after you receive emergency care in Westlake, OH.