Why people avoid the dentist.

6  most popular reasons why people avoid the dentist: 

1 - I cannot miss work 

2 - I am afraid 

3 - I cannot find a dentist 

4 - It costs too much 

5 - It is too far to travel 

6 - I do not want to go to the dentist 

Which category do you fall into. Comments are appreciated:) 

Yours truly,
Olga Markiza 

Children and the Dentist

I had the most wonderful patients today, as young as 3 years old! With a lot of patience and basic tricks, I find that cooperative children are the easiest to treat. Children’s fear of the dentist originates or from an experience gone wrong or from an anxious parent that themselves are afraid of the dentist. 

Here are couple of tips that I have for parents:

1. If you are an anxious parent, especially regarding dental care, please control yourself:) A child will feel any anxiety or fear displayed by you. It is normal to have a child that is fearful from the unknown or from being separated from the parent and they don’t need the extra stress! 
2. Couple of days before the child’s dental appointment, mentally prepare him or her about the visit, with the least possible details. Avoid words such as “pain”, “It won’t hurt” or “needle”. Children don’t know these things if you don’t tell them! 
3. Don’t share any personal negative experiences with your child. 
4. Chose a kid-friendly dentist. 

Parents and dentists play an important role in making a child's dental visit a positive experience. 

Yours truly,

Olga Markiza 

Baby's first dental visit

When should you bring your child for a first dental visit? 

Olga at 7 months

If we were in dental school, we would have a clear-cut answer: within six months of the first tooth’s arrival or around the age of one. This is what most dentist recommend. But the reality is that many parents don't bring their child to the dentist that young. They usually wait until the child is 2-3 years old. 

The goal of the first dental visit is simply to detect first signs of child decay and to see if the parents are brushing their child's teeth properly. The sooner you bring your child for a check-up, the better.  

True or False: Baby teeth don’t hang around forever, but  decay in primary teeth may damage the hidden permanent teeth that are forming inside the gums: TRUE!  

Good oral hygiene starts from an early age and it's the parents duty to keep their children's teeth healthy.

Happy brushing!

Yours truly,

Olga Markiza  

You don't need to floss all your teeth...

This week's dental blog:

Like Baz Luhrmann mentioned in his Sunscreen song, using Mary Schmich's words of wisdom, FLOSS!

Whether it’s waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, regular or tape, flossing can reach areas that brushing alone can not clean. It reduces your chance of getting tooth decay and gum disease.
Start flossing today. 

A fellow colleague's look of the day

Yours truly,

Olga Markiza