Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Appointment

Good oral health habits start at a young age, so it is important to teach your child how to take care of their teeth early on.

Witnessing the scary-looking metal tools, drilling noises, and masked dentists prodding into people’s mouths can be quite intimidating and cause children to fear going to the dentist.

While brushing, flossing, and eating a well-balanced diet are all critical elements in maintaining good oral health, routine dental checkups are essential in preventing a handful of issues such as gum disease and cavities.

Dental professionals will be able to spot any trouble areas you cannot detect and will provide helpful tips on how to strengthen your teeth and keep up a beautiful, white smile.

Below are a few simple things you can do at home to prepare your child for their first dental appointment and ease their nerves before the visit.

Read Books and Watch Videos

There are plenty of children’s books and tv shows that are about visiting the dentist with fun characters that’ll put your child at ease.

Having friendly characters they can relate to will help relieve anxiety and possibly make them look forward to the appointment. Be sure to check the videos and books beforehand to make sure there are no frightening or graphic scenes.

Role-Play With Your Child

Hands-on activities are a great way to prepare your child to visit the dentist.

You can start the role-play by pretending to be the dentist and your child the patient. Try talking them through what you’re doing and discuss the importance of oral hygiene.

Then, switch things up and have them pretend to be the dentist, with either you or a stuffed animal playing the role of the patient.

Be Positive and Get Excited About Dentistry

Parents can pass their dental anxiety to their kids, which is why it’s essential to keep a happy and cheerful attitude when talking about the dentist.

Kids pick up on everything, so if you mention a bad experience or an approaching complex procedure, they might become nervous about their own visit. Always try to chat about the dentist in positive terms and when you accompany your child to the dentist, keep things upbeat and do your best to appear happy.

Bring a Comfort Item to the Appointment

With the bright lights, big machines, and a stranger poking around in their mouths, the dentist experience may be a lot to take in for little children.

In case your child becomes anxious and fidgety during their appointment, it’s good to have their favourite stuffed animal or toy close by. Children find a great deal of comfort in these items, which can help them calm down and relax during their appointment.

Schedule Your Child’s First Appointment With Sekhon Family Dental

All parents want to do everything they can to ensure their children are healthy. When it comes to bringing your child to the dentist, it’s best to begin their routine checkups after their first tooth has erupted or by age one.

Our dental specialists have the proper training and experience in all aspects of pediatric dentistry, dental anxiety management, and more to ensure a pleasant experience for you and your child. We offer a wide variety of preventative dentistry and oral hygiene services to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy.

Get in touch with us to learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and book your child’s first appointment today.