Good dental care begins in early childhood!
This is particularly important when it comes to helping them get over any fear of dentists that they may have. Roughly one-third of American adults report being afraid of dentists, and that gets in the way of their oral care. If your kids never develop a dental phobia, their oral health outlook is a lot better.
Here's how to help ensure your child isn't afraid of the dentist.
1 - Start taking them to the dentist when they're young
Your child's first dental visit should be around the time they're 12 months old, or around six months after their first baby tooth. Dentists can already tell a lot about their future teeth at this time, and possibly even prevent future problems.
Also, if your child starts visiting the dentist before they can even remember, they'll be much less likely to get scared on later visits.
2 - Don't suggest that the dentist is scary
Kids pick up a lot of cues from adults, sometimes ones we don't think about. If a parent tells a child "Don't be afraid of the dentist!" this can actually suggest that they should be scared, even if they weren't scared before. If they don't show any apparent fear, don't put the idea in their head. Just treat the visit like any other random outing.
3 - Emphasize the fun or positive aspects
A good pediatric dentist will have a clinic with toys, video games, and more things for kids to play with. Also, it's going to be full of cool machinery which may appeal to tech-focused children. So, if they're worried about what will happen at the clinic, focus on the parts of the visit you think they'll enjoy.
4 - Role-play
If your child is afraid of the examination process, role-play it with them beforehand. Have them open their mouth, say ahhh, and then you can tap on their teeth with a pen. Pretend to listen to their heartbeat, or check inside their ears. This will make them feel more comfortable with the exam, when it happens for real.
5 - Let them bring toys or distractions
Pediatric dentists will try to accommodate distractions for kids, as long as it doesn't interfere with the dental work. So, let them bring a favorite comforting toy, or a smartphone with music or movies to watch.
You can prevent dental phobia in your children - it just takes a little thought and care! Plainsboro Dental Care is a family friendly office. Give us a call at 609-799-4422 to schedule an appointment.