My children have had a cavity after every single checkup. Now that we are under quarantine, I can’t take them to the dentist. We had a cleaning scheduled for next week, which had to be rescheduled. Is there anything I can do to up their chances of a healthy checkup when this is all over?
Sandy
Dear Sandy,
These are uncertain time, for certain. I think that uncertainty can lead us to worry more than we normally would. So, the first thing I want you to do is to take a deep breath. I’m confident this will all be over sooner rather than later. Then, you and your lovely children will be back at the dentist getting their teeth cleaned and checked.
In the meantime, as you are concerned, there are some things you can do:
- Oversee their nightly and morning brushing. You can make it into a game where you sing a song for the duration of time they have to brush. If it is time for them to move to a different “quadrant” you can hop or clap. This is a fun way to keep them brushing for the right length of time.
- Floss their teeth every night. You didn’t say the ages of your children, but many of them have trouble flossing properly. You can have a floss line at the end of the night where you can floss their teeth for them.
- Limit snacks. This is hard during the quarantine. However, if you have a special snack time where you all cuddle up and read together, it can also be a special time to look forward to. Plus, it will help pass the time. After their snacks, have them go brush (this time themselves) one more time.
Do these things and when your children do get to see their pediatric dentist again you’ll be able to go with the confidence you did everything possible to keep their teeth healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This blog is brought to you by Libertyville Dentist Dr. David Potts.