How To Prepare Your Child First Dental Visit
Few things are more worrisome for a young child than going to the dentist. Buzzing drills, loud noises, and mask-covered faces create a tense experience for even the bravest toddler. Even so, dental checkups are essential to any healthy smile. Therefore, it is important to ensure that a child’s first visit is relaxing and light-hearted. It will set the tone for how the child may view dental care in the future.
How to prepare for a first dental visit:
- Spend time talking to your child about what they can expect at the dentist office. Let them know it is a safe place and we are here to help them stay healthy.
- There are YouTube videos that shed a positive light on dental cleanings for children. You can view videos of popular characters like Daniel the Tiger or Blippi enjoying their visit to the dentist. Of course there are many books that you can find at the library that talk about this topic, too.
- Try to get the child excited about going to the dentist. Share happy stories or memories of teeth cleanings, or the kindness of dentists and dental hygienists. If you have dental anxiety, avoid relating those fears to your child.
- Play pretend dentists at home. Dress up in costume and play make-believe with toothbrushes and floss. This is a great way to get them to become comfortable and have fun at the same time.
- Be open with the child and encourage them to ask questions about what the dentist is like. Explain to them why it’s important to take care of your teeth and get a check-up.
Try some of these tips to get your child ready for their first dental appointment and let us know what you think! We look forward to seeing your family at our Canandaigua office soon.
