What Are the Tips for Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Visit

Children can be quite a handful, especially when old enough to walk and talk. Like adults, they tend to get anxious on their first day at school and are, therefore, likely to get nervous on their first dental visit. Consequently, we came up with this article to show you how you can best prepare your child for their first dental appointment. Follow the tips provided below.

How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Dental Visit

Schedule Their First Dental Visit Early

Many parents struggle to find out when the best time to take their children for their first dental visit. Some experts recommend taking your child to a kid’s dentistry even before they’ve grown their first tooth, while others suggest waiting a bit longer. If you think that’s too early, try waiting until your child develops their first tooth. Even at a tender age, your child’s dentist will still be able to tell if your child’s teeth are developing properly and recommend a diet to help strengthen their teeth.

Talk to Your Child About It

Is your child old enough to speak? If they are, try talking to them early to prepare them for their first dental visit. Children are smarter than we give them credit for, so talking to them early will surely help.We recommend not going straight to the point like you usually do with grownups.

Start the conversation by telling your child the importance of good dental hygiene and why brushing and flossing, their teeth regularly is important. Remember, kids, get bored easily, so don’t make the whole conversation technical, or they’ll lose interest before the conversation ends. For example, you can show them an animated video demonstrating the importance of dental hygiene and the benefits of seeing a dentist in Fanwood.

Practice Patients

Kids are not adults so don’t yours like one. Explain to your child what will happen during their first dental appointment but explain it to them in steps. If they aren’t paying attention or are showing signs of resistance, don’t punish or threaten them as this will make things worse. Not all children will be comfortable during their first dental visit, and that’s normal. Your child may refuse to fall all their dentist’s instructions, but that will change with time.

It’s vital that your child’s first dental checkup be comfortable regardless of how they’ll react. If they find the dentist friendly, they’ll be more relaxed and less anxious on their next visit. You can look for children’s dentistry with good reviews and recommendations from other parents to know who is best experienced at handling children.

Talk Positively About Your Dental Visits

You might not have noticed, but your children pay close attention to whatever you are saying, even when you think they aren’t listening. If you talk to your partner or friend about your dental experience while they are around, make it sound positive and less frightening. Also, calm down before your dental appointments, or your kid may sense your fear by reading your body language. Most importantly, don’t try to motivate your kid with stories of how you were strong and held yourself from crying during your first dental procedure, as it will frighten them even more. Instead, be positive when talking about your dental visits, and your children will borrow the same attitude when going for theirs.

Choose Your Child’s Dentist Carefully

First of all, a dentist that you find suitable for you may not be an excellent option for your child. Most adult dental offices are designed to only look appealing in the eyes of an adult. The benefit of choosing good pediatric dentistry near you is that they would have redecorated their clinic and offices to attract your child. You’ll find most dentistry for children with kid-themed wallpapers, some featuring popular cartoon characters.

Additionally, check how good the dentist is at handling children. A child’s dentist should be gentle and patient to handle kids of varying personalities. Visit Fanwood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for the best pediatric dentist in Fanwood, NJ. All our staff and dentists are trained to handle children with care, so you don’t have to worry about your child’s well-being when with us.