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Stuff you wish you'd remembered to ask your kid's dentist
Took my 4-year-old to the dentist yesterday, and as usual, I walked out thinking "dang, should've asked about that." Happens every single time. Anyway, figured I'd share a little tip that's been helping me lately. Before the appointment, I jot down a quick list on my phone of stuff that's popped into my head randomly - like fluoride treatments, thumb-sucking habits, or even just how to make brushing less of a battle at bedtime (seriously, it's like wrestling an octopus sometimes).
Last time I remembered to ask about sealants and found out they're actually covered by our insurance - who knew? Saved us some cash and peace of mind. Also learned that gummy vitamins aren't exactly tooth-friendly (oops).
Curious if anyone else has tips or things they always forget to ask but wish they had later. Maybe we can build a handy little checklist here or something.
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4 replies
I always forget to ask about toothpaste - like, is the kids' stuff really necessary or just marketing? Last visit, finally remembered and turns out adult toothpaste is fine as long as it's a tiny smear...wish I'd known sooner, would've saved some hassle at bedtime.
"is the kids' stuff really necessary or just marketing?"
Honestly, it's mostly marketing. Adult toothpaste works fine - just keep it minimal. My grandkids switched early, and bedtime got easier without all those flavor debates... wish we'd known sooner too.
“Adult toothpaste is fine” needs a bit more detail, though. I’d ask the dentist which fluoride concentration they want and exactly how much to use for that child’s age. The key isn’t really the kids-versus-adult label, and the amount can change as children get older. A tiny smear for a young child and a pea-sized amount later on are common guidance, but the dentist can tailor it, especially if there’s a higher cavity risk.
The fluoride concentration and age-specific amount are the important details, not whether the tube says “kids” or “adult.” Another useful question for future visits is whether the child should spit without rinsing afterward. Rinsing can wash away some of the fluoride, but that advice needs to match the child’s age and ability to spit safely.