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Toddlers are notoriously balky about strangers. But their first dental visit should not be cause for fear and tears. Nor should you assume that getting your toddler to Cardinale Dentistry is going to involve a full-blown tantrum or Mafia-style bribery. “Honey, don’t worry. We’ll go get ice cream after…” sort of defeats the purpose of making that first dental appointment.

These five tips will make your toddler’s trip to see Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody as fun as a stop at an amusement park.

1. Before you make a dental appointment for your child, take him or her on a ride-along to one of your dental appointments. Let your son or daughter experience the office and get the lay of the land. Toddlers don’t like surprises. But if your little one is already familiar with the big chair that goes up and down, the next time he or she will have no problem taking a seat.

2. About the big dental chair … well, it’s really an amusement park ride. See how it goes up and down? Toddlers love games, and turning the trip to the dentist into a game is among the oldest (and most successful) tricks in the parent playbook.

3. Positive reinforcement is a good thing. That's why Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our staff hand out cool toothbrushes or stickers to children after their appointment. A fun-colored toothbrush with a suction bottom is a good incentive to come back for another cleaning.

4. Timing is everything. Don’t take your child to the dentist an hour before the daily nap. Make the appointment with your child’s schedule in mind. This increases the chances of success.

5. A few days before the scheduled appointment, start reading your toddler bedtimes stories about what happens at the dentist. Dora the Explorer’s Show Me Your Smile, written by Christine Ricci, is a popular dental story that your child might relate to.

The community health awareness group Oral Health America has reported that 82 percent of adults are unaware of the role that infectious bacteria can play in tooth decay or cavities, and almost three out of five children aged 12 to 19 have tooth decay. Since June is National Smile Month, Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody and our team at Cardinale Dentistry thought we’d remind our patients about the importance of good oral hygiene visits between office visits.

To keep your family’s smiles healthy and beautiful for years to come, be sure to:

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day to clean between your teeth
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
• Visit Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody for scheduled appointments

If you want to know more about healthy home care habits, feel free to ask our team at your next appointment, or ask us on Facebook!

We love hearing for our amazing patients! Take a look what they're saying about their experience in our office.

"Kenny does a great Job. He is a huge asset to your practice."

"I arrived a few minutes early and they took me straight back.  The front desk people are always great and the doctor and Jayme were awesome.  Can't recommend this office enough."

"I have always come away very satisfied with the office staff as well as the professional staff (Kenny and Vin)"

"Great cleaning today"

"Excellent service"

"I honestly can't think of a thing to improve upon."

"You guys are the very best.  Jayme has done an amazing job with my cleanings, everyone is super friendly and I'm happy I found you."

"Excellent experience"

"My hygienist is Jayme.  I was going away for 3 months and I needed an emergency cleaning (after I broke a few appointments)  Jayme was booked, but I was assigned Kenny.  He was informed how I like my teeth cleaned before I arrived.  He is fantastic."

"Kenny does his job expertly and professionally.  I know when I leave there I have been in the best of hands."

"It is with great confidence that we continue to use the services provided"

"Very happy with the service"

"I liked the new music you were playing on 5/4/2015!"

"We are very satisfied with the service we receive at your office and sure spread the experience we had with you."

"My hygienist is simply delightful, she makes every trip as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist can be =-)  I recommend this practice to everyone, you guys are the best!"

"Jody was terrific.  She explains well and carefully.  Thanks, Jody."

"I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!"

"Dr. Moody was awesome, very caring and worked diligently to make sure everything was done correctly."

"First class"

"Dr. Moody did a great job of reinserting my crown which had fallen out.  He was fast, efficient and pain free.  He has always been very personable and professional in his interactions with me."

"Always at ease with your patients, making sure that they are comfortable with any procedures being done."

If you are unhappy with the color of your teeth, teeth whitening may be an excellent choice for you. Many patients of Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody suffer from darkened teeth due to the natural aging process, regular consumption of coffee or tea, or nicotine staining from cigarettes.

Some people may have darkened teeth due to long-term use of medication. Certain medication-related stains on the teeth cannot be lightened, but virtually every other type of teeth stains can be effectively lightened using either professional dental whitening or at-home whitening.

While both types of whitening have benefits, at-home kits are less expensive and less effective overall. Professional teeth whitening is a highly effective option, but it requires a bit more of an investment. Here is the basic info on each type of whitening.

At-Home Whitening

At-home whitening is done in a number of different ways today. Some of the most popular options include:

• Whitening strips that are applied to teeth and then removed after a specified period. These will typically be used once a day for at least a week.
• Whitening gels or pastes that are placed in a one-size-fits-all plastic tray. These trays are worn, retainer style, for a set period of time once a day.
• Whitening toothpaste, which is used daily, and whitening mouthwashes are also available today. These products require constant use to realize results.

In-Office Whitening

In-office whitening is the fastest way to achieve whiter teeth. If you want an almost immediate difference in the color of your teeth and their overall appearance, this is probably the option for you.

Dr. Vincent Cardinale and Dr. Chris Moody will typically apply the whitening formula directly to your teeth. Following the application, we will have you relax in our office between half an hour and an hour.

Some office-whitening formulas are strengthened with the use of heat, specialized lighting, or laser application. Patients will usually notice whitening results after only one application, but it usually takes at least a few appointments at Cardinale Dentistry to notice a truly dramatic change in tooth color.