Preparing Your Child for His First Visit to the Dentist

Preparing​ ​Your​ ​Child​ ​for​ ​His​ ​First​ ​Visit​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Dentist

It​ ​is​ ​never​ ​too​ ​soon​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​your​ c​ hild’s​ ​dental​ ​health​.​ ​There​ ​will​ ​be​ ​steps​ ​you need​ ​to​ ​take​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​first​ ​visit​ ​goes​ ​smoothly.​ ​After​ ​making​ ​it​ ​through​ ​the​ ​visit,​ ​each

experience​ ​should​ ​become​ ​easier.​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​tips​ ​to​ ​use​ ​when​ ​preparing​ ​your​ ​child​ ​for​ ​his first​ ​visit​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dentist.

When​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Right​ ​Time?

Many​ ​parents​ ​wonder​ ​when​ ​they​ ​should​ ​begin​ ​taking​ ​their​ ​children​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dentist.​ ​A​ ​good​ ​time​ ​is when​ ​their​ ​first​ ​tooth​ ​erupts​ ​or​ ​near​ ​their​ ​first​ ​birthday.​ ​Keep​ ​in​ ​mind​ ​that​ ​baby​ ​teeth​ ​are​ ​more

susceptible​ ​to​ ​decay,​ ​in​ ​comparison​ ​to​ ​adult​ ​teeth.​ ​Therefore,​ ​an​ ​early​ ​intervention​ ​could​ ​help

ensure​ ​that​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​baby​ ​teeth​ ​stay​ ​healthy.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​waited​ ​until​ ​after​ ​their​ ​first​ ​birthday, bring​ ​them​ ​in​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​possible.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​never​ ​too​ ​late​ ​to​ ​take​ ​your​ ​child​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dentist.

Oral​ ​Care

You​ ​should​ ​start​ ​brushing​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​teeth​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​they​ ​come​ ​in.​ ​Practice​ ​makes​ ​perfect.

Plain​ ​water​ ​and​ ​soft-bristled,​ ​baby​ ​safe​ ​toothbrushes​ ​are​ ​what​ ​you​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​use.​ ​Make​ ​this​ ​a group​ ​activity​ ​that​ ​your​ ​children​ ​can​ ​do​ ​together,​ ​or​ ​with​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​spouse.​ ​However,​ ​make sure​ ​you​ ​explain​ ​that​ ​toothbrushes​ ​are​ ​not​ ​toys.​ ​Your​ ​child​ ​should​ ​always​ ​be​ ​supervised​ ​when using​ ​this​ ​dental​ ​tool.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​allow​ ​him​ ​to​ ​practice​ ​various​ ​motions​ ​of​ ​brushing​ ​his​ ​teeth,​ ​but make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​are​ ​there​ ​to​ ​help​ ​him​ ​brush​ ​properly.

To​ ​make​ ​brushing​ ​easier​ ​in​ ​the​ ​beginning,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​encourage​ ​participation​ ​from​ ​your​ ​child.

Establishing​ ​good​ ​oral​ ​hygiene​ ​and​ ​habits​ ​early​ ​can​ ​follow​ ​your​ ​child​ ​into​ ​adulthood,​ ​and​ ​help him​ ​maintain​ ​healthy​ ​teeth​ ​and​ ​a​ ​healthy​ ​smile.

Attitude​ ​Matters

It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to​ ​be​ ​positive​ ​and​ ​relaxed​ ​when​ ​taking​ ​your​ ​child​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dentist.​ ​Children

are​ ​very​ ​sensitive​ ​and​ ​perceptive​ ​to​ ​their​ ​parent’s​ ​attitudes.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​mirror​ ​the​ ​behavior​ ​of​ ​their mothers​ ​and​ ​fathers.​ ​Therefore,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​relaxed,​ ​your​ ​child​ ​will​ ​be​ ​more​ ​at​ ​ease​ ​on​ ​their​ ​first dental​ ​visit.

Choosing​ ​a​ ​Dentist

Find​ ​a​ ​great​ ​dental​ ​office​ ​that​ ​is​ ​conveniently​ ​located,​ ​offers​ ​flexible​ ​appointments​ ​and​ ​is kid-friendly.​ ​You’ll​ ​want​ ​to​ ​choose​ ​an​ ​office​ ​where​ ​the​ ​dentists​ ​and​ ​staff​ ​are​ ​caring,

compassionate​ ​and​ ​helpful.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​comfortable​ ​with​ ​the​ ​dentist,​ ​this​ ​will​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a​ ​positive outcome​ ​for​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​child.

Prepare​ ​a​ ​List​ ​of​ ​Questions

You​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​as​ ​much​ ​about​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​dental​ ​health​ ​as​ ​possible.​ ​The​ ​more​ ​you

know,​ ​the​ ​better​ ​your​ ​chances​ ​are​ ​of​ ​protecting​ ​their​ ​teeth​ ​from​ ​damage​ ​and​ ​serious​ ​health

issues.​ ​Although​ ​learning​ ​about​ ​how​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​children​ ​from​ ​cavities​ ​is​ ​extremely​ ​important, there​ ​are​ ​other​ ​important​ ​facts​ ​that​ ​you​ ​should​ ​know,​ ​such​ ​as: • • • • • •

How​ ​to​ ​care​ ​for​ ​a​ ​child’s​ ​mouth How​ ​to​ ​use​ ​fluoride​ ​properly

Bad​ ​oral​ ​habits,​ ​including​ ​thumb​ ​or​ ​finger-sucking How​ ​diet​ ​affects​ ​oral​ ​health

Ways​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​accidents​ ​that​ ​damage​ ​the​ ​face​ ​and​ ​teeth Teeth​ ​development​ ​and​ ​important​ ​milestones

After​ ​the​ ​first​ ​dental​ ​visit,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​have​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​what​ ​your​ ​responsibilities​ ​are, pertaining​ ​to​ ​caring​ ​for​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​teeth.​ ​You​ ​should​ ​also​ ​know​ ​about​ ​your​ ​child’s

developments,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​likeliness​ ​of​ ​cavities​ ​and​ ​bites.​ ​Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​the​ ​dentist​ ​when​ ​you should​ ​schedule​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​next​ ​visit.

You​ ​deserve​ ​a​ ​gold​ ​star​ ​for​ ​putting​ ​the​ ​dental​ ​health​ ​of​ ​your​ ​children​ ​on​ ​the​ ​right​ ​track.​ ​Good

oral​ ​care​ ​could​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​healthy​ ​smiles.​ ​With​ ​the​ ​right​ ​type​ ​of​ ​assistance​ ​and​ ​preparation,​ ​your child​ ​will​ ​have​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​first​ ​dental​ ​experience,​ ​and​ ​many​ ​more​ ​visits​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future!