Is Your Child Overly Scared of the Dentist?

Your child’s first visit to the dentist can be very scary as he does not know what to expect at his appointment. All the strange looking tools by the dental chair and the strange smells and sounds can make him very uncertain. To make this visit easier, it is important to teach him proper dental care from early on so that all those tools and sounds won’t seem as scary to him.

Because the future health of your child’s teeth is dependent on how well you help him take care of his teeth while he is small. It is important that soon after a baby is born that you start wiping his gums and inside of the mouth with a cloth after each meal. When teeth start poking through the gums, start brushing the teeth with a soft brush without toothpaste. Then, when the child turns three, you can begin flossing, as long as there is enough space between the teeth. It is not recommended that a child take a bottle of juice or milk to bed as the sugars in them can cause cavities to form on the early teeth. This can make a trip to the dentist much more difficult which can lead to scary and painful early dental appointments.

It is easy to think that because they are baby teeth it is not as important to take care of them as they are only temporary. However, they act like cement is to a house, as a base for the permanent teeth. Having proper dental care also helps the child to be able to chew and speak properly as well as have healthy smiles. If a child loses a tooth too early, other baby teeth can move into the space where the tooth was lost, which causes crooked teeth. If a child does lose a tooth, then he should visit a pediatric dentist right away.

There are different recommendations for when a child should see a dentist for the first time. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry makes a recommendation that children have their first visit to the dentist 6 months after the first tooth pops through the gums. The American Academy of General and Pediatric Dentistry, however, makes a recommendation that the child should be seen for the first time between 18 and 24 months. Many dentists don’t see children until they are age 3 to allow or all baby teeth to come in.

The earlier a child sees a dentist the better he will feel about the visit. To make the experience better don’t pass on negative information to the child, such as using the words shot or hurt. You should also work around your child’s schedule so that he will be the happiest. Keep your expectations low, so that you can be surprised at your child’s reaction.

Making the dentist visit as positive as possible is only good for the health of your child and will result in good visits to the dentist for the rest of his life.