First Dentist Visit
There’s a way to make your child’s dental visits pleasantly ordinary and a part of their normal routine. It all starts with their first experience in a dentist’s office. If you’re not sure when to take your little one to the dentist for the first time and how to make it work, here are a few tips that will make this experience care- and cry-free.
The fear of the dentist
The first dental visit can be quite a stressful experience for a child, which can result in their fear of dentists. Therefore, you should make sure to prepare them for their first dental check-up. You should explain to them why they need to take care of their teeth and why it is important to visit a dentist regularly. You can even use exciting activities to make dental hygiene fun. Explaining how their first visit will look like can also help them calm down. Most importantly, you should never use dental visits to threaten your child when they misbehave. Instead, help them understand that visiting a dentist is a normal part of their everyday life that will help them stay healthy. Furthermore, you should be careful about your own attitude towards dentists. You can easily pass your own fear onto your child.
Your child should visit a dentist as soon as their first tooth comes in and no more than six months after. First dental visits are typically short because they don’t usually involve any treatment. However, this is an important experience for several reasons. This will be an opportunity for your child to meet their dentist and get familiar with the new environment. This is important for establishing the relationship between your child and the dentist. Since this visit typically doesn’t involve any treatments, the atmosphere will be cheerful and relaxed, which will result in your child’s positive experience. Furthermore, you will be able to discuss different issues and common dental problems that you need to be aware of. You can ask the dentist any questions regarding your child’s dental hygiene. During the first visit, your child will also be able to sit in the chair and get familiar with all those instruments. Finally, the dentist will be able to check your child’s existing teeth and see whether there are some possible problems.
After the first visit, it’s recommended that you schedule regular appointments every six months. The dentist might apply certain treatment later on, such as brushing your child’s teeth with polishing paste or adding fluoride. If your child is nervous, you can arrange with the dentist for you to come in with your child.
Common dental problems in children
There are some common dental problems that your child may experience, especially at an older age. It’s important that you schedule an appointment with the dentist as soon as you notice any of them so that they can prevent the problem from becoming more serious.
Tooth decay is one of the most common dental diseases that can occur between ages six and eleven. To prevent the development of this disease in your child, you should limit their intake of sugar. Gum disease is another serious issue that can lead to tooth loss if not treated. Common symptoms include bad breath, bad taste in the mouth and bleeding gum, so if you notice any of these signs in your child, make sure to visit the dentist immediately.
Crowding, spacing, open bite, overbite and underbite are all forms of misaligned teeth that can occur during the formative stages of your child’s teeth. They are often caused by thumb sucking, a common habit among children. However, since most children stop sucking their thumbs between the ages of two and four, the misalignment can be reversed. However, if they continue sucking their thumbs, this can cause different dental problems. Fortunately, the oral medicine has greatly advanced over the years, bringing new solutions along with the standard braces. For example, there are popular alternatives to braces that can create a perfect smile by gently moving teeth into the right position.
Regular dental visits are of the utmost importance for your child’s health. However, the first visit is the one that can affect their general attitude towards dentists, so make sure to make it a pleasant one.
Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Higstylife Magazine.
