Pediatric Dentists Are Giving Out All The Tips ( And Amazing Hacks) On Instagram

A parenting thing you don’t realize is a thing until it becomes a thing for you… your kiddo’s teeth. As soon as that first tooth begins to break through, it becomes abundantly clear that teeth can not be ignored. No one warns you that everything from teething to building good dental hygiene habits can be challenging, and parents have questions. But thanks to social media, it’s easy to find some awesome pediatric dentists with advice to help us parents out!

Can we just start with teething? Who knew teething could turn your precious little angel into an irrationally irritable ball of slobber and you into a walking zombie willing to trade your left arm to put a stop to your kiddo’s pain. For starters, how do you know if your baby is teething or if their symptoms are from something else you should be worried about?

And what can you do to ease the pain for your slobbery little one? We have been told that teething gels and tablets have health risks, amber necklaces are choking hazards, and hard liquor is a definite no-no, even if your grandmother told you otherwise. So what are some of the best ways to soothe those teething woes?

Once those little teeth start budding, you begin to wonder what’s next. You want your kid to have good dental hygiene habits, but it’s not always clear when to start those habits and what to use. Do you start with a toothbrush right away? And what about flossing? Can you use toothpaste with an infant under 1?

And then there is brushing. Nobody tells you that trying to brush a baby or toddler’s teeth is like wrestling a Gila Monster with superhuman strength. It seems impossible to get through a brushing session without breaking a sweat. And how many times have you bumped your kid’s gums trying to shove a toothbrush in their mouth? I mean, how the heck can a parent get a kid to properly brush their teeth when it seems impossible just to keep them in one place long enough to get a toothbrush in their mouth?

Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy for the teeth brushing struggle at the end of a long day. It’s easier to send your little one to bed with just a quick rinse of their mouth. I mean, they will get a new set of teeth eventually. So should a parent even worry about keeping baby teeth healthy?

Speaking of healthy teeth, when does a dentist come into the picture? Do you go as soon as the first teeth break through, or should you wait till a certain number of teeth come in? Do dentists do a complete cleaning on the first visit? If not, what’s the point of the first visit to a dentist?

I don’t know about you, but I am no fan of letting a stranger reach into my mouth and poke around. And frankly, a lot of adults have anxiety about visiting a dentist. But I am willing to bet that most parents don’t want to pass that fear on to their kids. So what can a parent do to help ease anxiety around visiting the dentist for their kids?

And then there are cavities… Learning your little one has a cavity has a way of making you feel like a total failure as a parent. Most of us do our best to care for our kiddos’ teeth and hope that no cavities show up, but that’s not a foolproof method. What else can you do besides just brushing to prevent cavities?

I think all parents know that dental hygiene is important, but with all the things we have on our plate, it is impossible to know everything that comes along with parenting. Parents need to be able to lean on professionals like pediatric dentists to provide us with the information we need. And who cares if it’s by way of social media… Instagram and TikTok are good for something besides mindless scrolling from time to time.