Dental Health

 

Your Choice For Pediatric Dentistry in Hawaii

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Dr. Allen Hirai and the Pediatric Dentistry Kahala team work tirelessly to provide the highest quality of dental care to young patients. Our Honolulu, HI office has the expertise, training, and patience to care for your child's teeth, gums, and mouth. We want to make sure your child grows up with strong and healthy teeth, while providing parents with early dental care tips to ensure great habits are maintained between appointments.

The Importance of Early Dental Care

From the moment children begin to get their first set of teeth during the first six months of their life, a good oral hygiene routine becomes necessary. Taking a proactive approach to early treatment can help prevent bigger problems down the line, such as tooth decay, cavities, and oral disease. In fact, one of the most common childhood diseases is tooth decay, affecting about 50% of first graders and up to 70% of 17-year-olds!

Your child's oral health should be a top priority, and it's critical to instill a good oral hygiene routine as early as possible. For infants with no erupted teeth, we recommend to clean their mouth and gums with a soft, water-soaked infant wash cloth after feeding to stimulate the gums and remove debris. Dr. Hirai recommends parents participate and assist their children from birth until at least 8 years of age with flossing and brushing. Upon your child's first visit to our office, Dr. Hirai and staff will teach every parent the proper oral care techniques which include:

  • After flossing, use a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, on a soft bristle toothbrush, using small circular motions on the tooth surfaces angling the toothbrush toward the edges of the gum margins. You should teach your child to brush the inner surface, outer surface, and chewing surface of their teeth, as well as their tongue.
  • As soon as the teeth begin to erupt, the process of daily brushing and flossing is highly recommended. Holding floss between the thumb and index finger, teach your children to slide the floss up and down gently through the teeth and under the gumline.
  • Encouraging your child to openly discuss any oral health fears or issues, and bringing them to our office for regular checkups and cleanings.

How to Encourage Great Oral Health

If you're having trouble getting your children to brush and floss, there's a couple of ways to get them more excited. Creating a progress calendar is a fun way to engage your children, as they can add a check mark or sticker on each day they complete their oral health routine. You can even offer them a small reward at the end of the month, like a game night at home or later bedtime.

The most important tip of all is to lead by example. When your children see you brushing, flossing, and eating healthy, they'll be encouraged to do the same. You have the power to establish the foundation for their lifetime, so take excellent care of your teeth!

Contact Our Office Today!

If you have any questions about different ways to protect your child's teeth, or would like to learn more about pediatric dentistry, contact our office today! One of our dedicated staff members will be happy to assist you. You can schedule an appointment or ask any questions about any of our services by calling us at (808) 737-0076. We look forward to seeing you soon!