The Dentist
Emily went to the dentist on Wednesday. It was the second time she'd ever been; her first time was in September. I wanted to blog about that first appointment at the time, but it never happened. [What, ME not getting around to blogging? Preposterous.] I gotta tell ya, I was pretty nervous about how she'd do that first time. I mean, you never know what'll happen... a kid just might decide to shut his or her mouth, refuse to open it, and not budge... but Em
did great. Actually, I think she thought the whole thing was kinda cool. Maybe it made her feel grown up, who knows? But she listened to directions very well, she did everything the hygienist and the dentist asked her to do; she was fully cooperative. I was so glad (and relieved!). At this second appointment, they reminded me that I should bring Leah when she's two years old so that she starts getting used to it early. Em was
three-and-a-half when she went in for the first time, so I was worried that she wouldn't take too kindly to it, but boy was I pleasantly surprised. She was SUPER easy. It couldn't have been a better experience! Oh, and not only was she cooperative and easy, but her teeth did really well, too. No cavities (yay!), no tartar, no problems.
The only thing was that not long before I took her in for that first appointment, one of her top front teeth developed a blue tinge. The dentist told me that she probably hit it on something at some point. He told me that more than likely it would be okay, but to bring her back in if she developed a pimple-like bump on it (which would indicate infection), or if it were to change. Anyway, it never got worse -- in fact, it's now much lighter blue than it was six months ago. (It's still there, but it's awfully slight.) I think it might be sorta common in little kids. Other than that, there were no issues. Everything looked great!
This time, however, the hygienist told me that there was some build-up on her lower, inner teeth (mainly the molars, I believe). She was able to get it off with her scraper, and then she told me that Stephen and I can continue to let Em brush her own teeth, but that we really should then go in and brush them again ourselves. I asked the lady (a young, very kind, pregnant woman -- the same woman you see in these pictures,
which are from Em's first appointment in September) if she could help us out and tell Em that she's gonna have to let Mommy and Daddy help her brush. I think that helped. Now when she brushes, I tell her, "Okay, you go ahead and brush, but remember what the lady said... she wants you to let me or Daddy brush your teeth after you do..." and that's worked so far. Before this, she would let us brush maybe 50% of the time, but since her appointment, she's let us help her every time.
Other than the build-up, the hygienist (I can't remember her name, darn it!) told me that Em's teeth look great. Again, no cavities, no problems. Since she turned two, or somewhere around there, I've always been pretty good about making sure we brush her teeth every night before bed, and since she started school, we of course make sure to brush every morning before she leaves. I just hope she grows up understanding that it's very important to keep her teeth clean and healthy, and to do that she needs to brush often, floss, and go to the dentist regularly. Look at what a big girl my Pookies is -- and this was already six months ago!
Emily went to the dentist on Wednesday. It was the second time she'd ever been; her first time was in September. I wanted to blog about that first appointment at the time, but it never happened. [What, ME not getting around to blogging? Preposterous.] I gotta tell ya, I was pretty nervous about how she'd do that first time. I mean, you never know what'll happen... a kid just might decide to shut his or her mouth, refuse to open it, and not budge... but Em
did great. Actually, I think she thought the whole thing was kinda cool. Maybe it made her feel grown up, who knows? But she listened to directions very well, she did everything the hygienist and the dentist asked her to do; she was fully cooperative. I was so glad (and relieved!). At this second appointment, they reminded me that I should bring Leah when she's two years old so that she starts getting used to it early. Em was
three-and-a-half when she went in for the first time, so I was worried that she wouldn't take too kindly to it, but boy was I pleasantly surprised. She was SUPER easy. It couldn't have been a better experience! Oh, and not only was she cooperative and easy, but her teeth did really well, too. No cavities (yay!), no tartar, no problems.
The only thing was that not long before I took her in for that first appointment, one of her top front teeth developed a blue tinge. The dentist told me that she probably hit it on something at some point. He told me that more than likely it would be okay, but to bring her back in if she developed a pimple-like bump on it (which would indicate infection), or if it were to change. Anyway, it never got worse -- in fact, it's now much lighter blue than it was six months ago. (It's still there, but it's awfully slight.) I think it might be sorta common in little kids. Other than that, there were no issues. Everything looked great!
This time, however, the hygienist told me that there was some build-up on her lower, inner teeth (mainly the molars, I believe). She was able to get it off with her scraper, and then she told me that Stephen and I can continue to let Em brush her own teeth, but that we really should then go in and brush them again ourselves. I asked the lady (a young, very kind, pregnant woman -- the same woman you see in these pictures,
which are from Em's first appointment in September) if she could help us out and tell Em that she's gonna have to let Mommy and Daddy help her brush. I think that helped. Now when she brushes, I tell her, "Okay, you go ahead and brush, but remember what the lady said... she wants you to let me or Daddy brush your teeth after you do..." and that's worked so far. Before this, she would let us brush maybe 50% of the time, but since her appointment, she's let us help her every time.
Other than the build-up, the hygienist (I can't remember her name, darn it!) told me that Em's teeth look great. Again, no cavities, no problems. Since she turned two, or somewhere around there, I've always been pretty good about making sure we brush her teeth every night before bed, and since she started school, we of course make sure to brush every morning before she leaves. I just hope she grows up understanding that it's very important to keep her teeth clean and healthy, and to do that she needs to brush often, floss, and go to the dentist regularly. Look at what a big girl my Pookies is -- and this was already six months ago!
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