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128 Birch Street
Boston, MA, 02131
United States

(617) 390-4076

Invent Boston designs and develops original products to add science + whimsy to  every day tasks at home.   Our first product is a Two Minute timer, Two Minute Turtle, a visual timer. The Two Minute Turtle helps children and adults focus on two minute tasks such as brushing teeth, physical therapy, taking a shower and speaking (practicing a presentation or learning a language).

Invent Boston™, Home of the Two Minute Turtle Timer™

Invent Boston™ blog offers tips and stories by parents, for parents of children ages 4-12 to make toothbrushing and other healthy habits at home, more fun. We write about simple tactics to help kids do what they like to do-touch, seeing, play games and strive for independence. We recommend products to help stay healthy while being kids. We share stories to transform daily healthy habits from something kids resist (for example, toothbrushing, handwashing, toilet training, organizing, taking time-out or pausing, yoga, and taking turns) into something children are motivated to do independently, without parents’ reminders. The original physical product Invent Boston has designed for families is the new light-up Two Minute Turtle Timer, an analog, interval toothbrush timer to make brushing teeth fun for kids. Kids like to press the button, follow the flippers and brush until all the lights blink—the Victory Lap signals to brush the tongue.

Lesson#8: The Truth Behind Caring for Your Child's Oral Health

Virginia Berman

Lesson #8: Ask Your Dentist More Questions

You are the one who cares most about your child’s dental health.  We put a lot of trust in the dentist and we need to also keep learning and asking questions.  If your dentist sees a cavity, ask her how big it is and where it is. If the dentist recommends doing something--filling or pulling the tooth, for example, then ask the dentist to explain to you why until you understand it.

We have to work- tooth and nail- to take care of our children’s oral health. Ask the dentists questions.

We have to work- tooth and nail- to take care of our children’s oral health. Ask the dentists questions.

Go a step further and ask the dentist for the evidence that shows why this is the best solution and why it will help solve the problem.  Ask the dentist about applying fluoride. Floride application by the dentist may be able to prevent the cavity from going deeper, through the enamel, requiring a filling. You are not undermining the dentist by asking for an explanation; you’re simply acknowledging you are partners and ultimately responsible for your child’s oral health.

One example of this approach happened in our own lives. Our daughter’s endodontist recommended oral surgery for her (she had lost a tooth from a fall in 2nd grade and the area appeared infected). The surgery would be a big deal to us and our 14 year old—financially and health wise. She would not be able to go to school for a couple of weeks. No trumpet playing (she’s a trumpeter).

So, we got a 2nd opinion from the local children’s hospital. That visit for the 2nd opinion did cost us a lot (about $175) but the dentists did not recommend the surgery for her! So we didn’t. What a relief that has been!

Now, if you’ve gotten through this blog, reward yourself with an entertaining and informative article exposing American dentistry and the importance of asking questions: Atlantic Magazine article, the Truth About Dentistry. I hope you start to speak up at your child’s dentist visits. Here’s to our healthy teeth and smile!

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categories kids timer