Routine dental appointments are critical to the maintenance of our health, especially for kids. It’s important that parents instill this habit in their children at an early age. A trip to your dentist at Taos Dental Group in Taos may seem like a trivial task for adults who know what to expect, but can be intimidating – and even scary – for young kids.
According to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, the leading cause of childhood illness results from tooth decay. Approximately 16 million kids in the United States have tooth decay that has been left untreated. Tooth decay and oral problems from a young age not only affects teeth, but overall health and all aspects of life.
Getting your child to the dentist can be a daunting task for parents, especially if your child has peers with prior negative experiences. If you are unsure of how to get your child comfortable with dental checkups, you’re not alone. Below are five tips for helping your child overcome any fear and actually enjoy visits to the dentist.
Tell Them What to Expect
Fear can stem from the unknown. Getting on the website of the dental office you plan to visit to show your child pictures of the office can be helpful. When you call the office to schedule a visit, ask for a rundown of the appointment so you can later relay that to your child. As you brush your child’s teeth, explain that the dentist will also be doing the same type of thing. The more information the child has, the more empowered they can feel.
Be Honest and Understanding
If your child needs dental work, it can be tempting to lie about things like how cavities are treated. Honesty is the best policy, however, it is important to remember to use words that are non-threatening to your child. If your child has dental visit fears, ask them to tell you what they are specifically; try to listen and understand how they may be feeling. Answer their questions, and offer positive experiences of dentals visits you have had.
Explain that Dentists are the “Good Guys”
Children need to know that dentists are superheroes for their teeth. Explain to your kids that they only get two sets of teeth, and we have to take good care of them because they have to last a lifetime. Explaining that similar to brushing and flossing, visits to the dentist are part of that routine to grow big and strong. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you should take your child to the dentist twice a year. These visits should begin when your child starts getting his/her teeth, or around age one.
Make It Exciting!
Showing your child pictures of the dental office– as we previously mentioned in the first step – can inevitably spark some enthusiasm. Some dentists have really neat play areas and unique toys, which makes it something your child can look forward to. Going to the dentist is a new adventure! Using encouraging language such as, “We get to go to the dentist” instead of, “We have to go to the dentist” can also be helpful in making it a fun experience.
Be There
Being physically present during your child’s appointment goes a long way in ensuring they feel confident and safe. For a lot of kids, separation from their caretaker or parent can cause anxiety and/or fear. Make certain the person scheduling your appointment is okay with you staying with your child during the duration of the visit.
Other than eating healthy foods and practicing good oral maintenance, taking your child to the dentist is the single most important way to support healthy teeth. Utilizing these five tips will help ensure your child is not only comfortable visiting his or her dentist at Taos Dental Group in Taos, but they enjoy it too!
Yikes! I never knew about what you said on how tooth decay is the leading cause of children getting sick. With that, I thought that I should send all my children to a clinic that offers pediatric dentistry. With their help, they can keep it germ-free and help them eat properly with them too.
I appreciate that you mentioned that you should take your child to the dentist at least twice a year because I am trying to prepare on how to take care of my baby when she grows a little bit more. I think in general it is pretty hard to get children to go to a dentist, especially if they think they will feel pain when they go. When my child gets older, I will need to follow these ideas to make sure she has a good experience and cherishes going to the dentist.
Thanks for sharing such a nice and informative blog and your knowledge with us. Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen years.
My sister is looking for a dentist for her kids, but they are terrified about it. It says here that to make the visit comfortable, one should be direct is the best way to feat the fear. I’ll let her know to explain to them the prosses so they won’t have to worry.
My sister is going to take her daughter to the dentist for the first time. I like how you mention using encouraging language to make their trip to the dentist exciting. Thank you for the advice. I’ll share this information with my sister so my niece won’t get nervous during her appointment.
It’s crazy to know that 16 million kids in the US have untreated tooth decay. I haven’t started taking my kids to the dentist yet because I thought they were young enough they didn’t need to, but maybe I should start preparing them to go by telling them how it will be. We’ll want them to take care of their teeth and be happy getting checkups, so we’ll want to help them be prepared for it.
Thanks for letting us know that dental health impacts our overall health, not just the health of our mouths.
As parents, a child should have the first dentist visit by his or her first birthday. Dental appointments at a young age allow you to assist children’s parents in developing a healthy diet and identifying areas of their children’s mouths that are at risk for dental decay.