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There is plenty that you can do to ensure that your child enjoys their trip to the dentist. Taking care of their dental health is one of the life skills that your little one will have to learn.
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Some kids are naturally relaxed about all medical appointments and take the whole visit in their stride. Others find the surroundings and equipment at the dental surgery terrifying.
Establishing a good dental hygiene routine is essential to prevent decay and cavities and ultimately avoids your child from having to endure a toothache and distress. There are a few useful ways in which you can make a trip to the dentist both fun and interesting for you and your child.
Start visiting the dentist as soon as you can
Choose a dentist that is experienced in working with children. When you visit Drs. Coakley, Trainor & Mancuso you get 30 years of experience and affordable financing so you will feel relaxed about the visit. This will put your child at ease too and make the trip less stressful for all of you.
The biggest mistake you can make is waiting until your child is in pain or discomfort. They will already be upset and will associate the dentist with a bad experience rather than a positive one.
Many parents start routine check-ups from around three to six months of age. The number of teeth that your child has is not important at this stage. It is all about getting them familiar with the experience. It is fine for the visit to be short. It could be little more than having a seat in the chair and having the light shone in their mouth.
Turn it into an educational experience
Children are naturally curious and like to learn about new things. The trick is to turn this into an interesting visit. Let them explore the equipment in the dental surgery as far as is safe. Your dentist may allow them to touch some of the equipment.
As your child gets older, your dentist can talk to them about the treatment room and what goes on in there. The chair is always good for entertainment because they can ride up and down in it! They may also like to listen to the drill.
Watch your language
Your child will take their lead from you so it is essential that you keep your tone light and casual. Prepare as if you are going to the park or to the library. This sends the message that the dentist is a fun place to go where your child will get encouragement and praise and will be the center of attention. What kid does not like that?
Use positive words and watch your body language, especially if you are feeling anxious yourself. You need to be a great actor.
Re-enforce what the dentist has said to your child when you get home but never threaten your child with the dentist if they are refusing to brush their teeth. The carrot is far better than the stick in this situation.