So, your little tike is getting ready to visit the dentist for the first time? Think about all of those parents out there – what was your first visit like? If it was anything like most Americans in the yesteryear, it was a very traumatizing time. These days though, dentists are younger, and they understand that kids are extremely resilient, but very fragile emotionally. Fortunately, you can help your kids’ first dental visit be a good one, but you can’t just rely on the dentist to do it themselves. We’ll tell you some pointers that can help!
Talk About It
First thing you should do of course is practice good hygiene at home and talk about the good things that a dentist does. Don’t talk about them drilling into your face, and giving you a shot that lasts 10 minutes – anyone who knows that this happens on a regular basis knows they don’t want to see the dentist for much of these reasons. And don’t mention the forceps and pliers either that are used for extracting teeth. What you do want to point out is the good things – how the dentist can help keep your teeth clean, shiny, and healthy. And let your kids know they can fix certain problems they may have with their teeth, and leave it at that!
Oral Exercises
There are many oral exercises that can help your child says Yen Dentistry. You want to teach them how to open their mouth real wide, and teach them how to hold their mouth open for long periods of time if need be. Dentists often need this to be done, so letting your child know that you can make it fun by having contests can make them feel better when they do it at the dentist.
Read Books
There are many educational characters who have provided fun experiences and discussions about visiting the dentist. You don’t want your kid to fear the dentist (although we all do over time), but you do want them to know things that they can do. Read books, watch cartoon specials, and more to help your child prepare for their first dentist.
Don’t Take Them Tired
One big mistake that some people make, is taking their kids in the afternoon for a dentist appointment. Unfortunately, especially if your child is in school, the later they’re awake, the more tired they’ll be. This doesn’t make things any better, and can make the whole experience worse. Take your child to their first appointment in the morning. And more than anything, make the first appointment not be a very serious one. Just an analysis on your child’s teeth, a treatment option, and maybe a good rinsing can go a long way at the dentist office.
Conclusion
You’re allowed to be in the dental exam room with your child, and if you ever face a dentist that tells you that you can’t be, then you need to put them in their place. Your child is your baby, not theirs, and if you find the right dentist though, then you’ll know that they are as family oriented as you are!
These are really great tips! I think reading books helps a lot.
Hey Raina! thanks for sharing tips for our child’s first dental office visit. It helpful for us, the part which I like most in your article is about the timing to take the child to the dentist. Some doctors are creating a friendly environment for their patients, especially for Children.
Find the best Houston Family Dentist, that often treats both children and their parents.
Thanks for sharing this article with us. This will really parents understand their children’s problems and make them ready for dental treatment.
Wow its really well written, you really shared a wonderful information. It help the parents whose children affraid to go to dentist.
It really helped when you said that I should talk about the good things that a dentist does before taking my child to a dentistry clinic. It might be a frightening experience for them, so I need to ease them into it before actually taking them. I’ll try to follow your tips and ensure that they feel comfortable with getting their mouths checked.
Never easy to take your child to dentists. Thanks for sharing useufl tips.