THERE’S NOTHING BETTER than seeing a child’s smile light up a room. Parents understand the importance of keeping that smile healthy by regularly visiting the dentist, some children are a bit apprehensive about making that first visit.
There Are Many Potential Causes For A Child’s Dental Anxiety
There may be several reasons why your little one isn’t too excited about going to see the dentist. It could be fear of the unknown, or maybe a friend or a sibling has told them a scary story about what happens during a dental visit. A parent’s own apprehension about visiting the dentist can even influence their child’s opinion about their upcoming dental exam.
Whatever the case may be, we want to help you prepare your child for his or her upcoming visit and help to relieve some of that stress!
Here are some Tips To Help Them Prepare For Their Next Visit!
Start early. The AAPD recommends children see the dentist by their first birthday or whenever they start to get teeth. This is important not only to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy, it will help them get used to seeing the dentist on a regularly and have a good experience early on.
Explain what will happen during their visit. Fear of the unknown can be a major cause of stress leading up to a child’s first dental visit. A parent or caregiver explaining what will happen during their visit will help them know what to expect when they arrive at the dentist’s office.
Stress Can Affect Your Child’s Oral Health
Decreasing stress makes their appointment more enjoyable, lowering overall stress will also help their oral health too!
Studies have shown that children who experience greater levels of stress than their peers tend to develop a greater number of dental caries. High levels of stress increase the amount of salivary cortisols and cavity-forming bacteria in the mouth, making it more difficult for them to ward off cavities.
Stress can come from any number of sources in a child’s life. It may be the result of a big move or it could be caused by pressures at school such as difficult class work or trouble with friends. Whatever the source, if you notice your child seems stressed, there are plenty of ways to help such as:
- Spend quality time with your child daily
- Ensure they get enough sleep and eat a healthy diet
- Talk with your child about what may be causing their stress
- Schedule wellness visits with the doctor and follow-up visits to the dentist and let them know what they can expect at these visits
We Can Help Your Child Have An Enjoyable Visit!
As your child continues to grow, we want to ensure they develop a happy, healthy smile. We strive to help them feel comfortable during their visit so they can develop good oral health habits for a lifetime. If you have any questions about how you can prepare your child for their next appointment, let us know! We’d love to help you prepare them for the most enjoyable visit possible.
Thank you for being a part of our Dental practice family.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.