Tips For Your Child’s Dental Visit
When your child is preparing to go to the dentist, especially if it’s his first time, some apprehension is expected. Preparing your child for a visit can go a long way towards soothing their nerves and setting them up for an experience that will set them on the road to an excellent relationship with their oral health. Considering that the American Dental Association suggests that your child’s first birthday should include a visit to their dentist, there’s no such thing as getting started too early. Below we’ve provided some tips to help your child prepare for their visit and get the most out of their upcoming dental experience.
Boost Your Child’s Excitement By Getting Excited For Them!
Excitement can be infectious, and a good relationship with your dentist can prevent dental infections! Both of these mean that setting the right attitude for your child before their visit is essential. If you’re eager for your child’s visit and talking to them about their dentist and what to expect, they’re going to experience less anxiety when they get there. Do things right, and they’ll be excited about going and following good dental hygiene practices until their next visit.
Take Them To The Office Before The Appointment
Some offices offer tours of their location to help their younger patients be comfortable. As part of this, they’ll answer questions, show them the various tools, and help them learn what to expect so they can become comfortable with the experience to come. A lot of pediatric offices are geared specifically to their patients, meaning that there will be toys to play on and with, books to read, and a lot of fun things to experience while they’re waiting for their appointment.
Play Dentist At Home
Before the visit, you can go through a pretend dental visit with your child, demonstrating all the things you’ve experienced and helping them know there’s nothing to fear. You can also help them get the most out of their visit by teaching them how to hold their mouth open and what their dentist does to help stop decay. This is a great time to talk to them about flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash to keep their teeth sparkly clean.
Schedule Their Appointment After A Nap
You want to provide the best chance for their experience to be a positive one. To this end, it makes sense to schedule the appointment for after their usual daily nap. This will ensure that they’re well-rested and ready to take on new experiences in a positive light.
Helping your child have a great first experience at the dentist is the best way to ensure that they start a lifetime of good oral health practices. If you want to learn more about our office call today and schedule a tour for you and your child. Dr. John Batlle and his team are ready to welcome their newest dental patient by showing them what to expect at Southwest Family Dentistry. We look forward to seeing you at our Lake City, FL offices!
