Dentists and children often have a close relationship. Dentists can often be seen as the child’s first doctor, and this relationship usually starts with the child’s first visit to the dentist.
They can often build trust with their young patients, and this trust can help ensure that the child gets proper dental care throughout their life. A good dentist-child relationship can also help make visits to the dentist less scary for the child. However, not every child is the same. To a certain extent, your child might have some dental anxiety. When they do, managing the dental life of your family can be very hectic.
It is vital to find a good balance between work and home life to maintain your sanity. Moreover, you must treat your child’s dental anxiety if they have one. Here are some tips on how to manage your dental life with children.
Talk to your dentist
It’s estimated that about 9% of children have dental anxiety, which can lead to many problems, including avoiding the dentist altogether. So if your child is one of these children, the first thing you should do is talk to your dentist.
Dentists are used to working with children who have dental anxiety, and they can often provide you with some tips on how to help your child overcome their fear. In addition, your dentist can also offer some sedation options that can help make your child’s dental visits more comfortable.
Find a child-friendly dental office
One of the best ways to help your child overcome dental anxiety is to find a child-friendly dental office. Many dental offices cater specifically to children, and these offices often have staff trained to work with children who have dental anxiety.
In addition, these offices often have special amenities that can help to make your child’s dental visit more comfortable, such as TVs in the waiting room and toys in the treatment room.
Explain the procedures to your child
Another way to help your child overcome their dental anxiety is to explain the procedures to them before they even go to the dentist. This can help alleviate some of their fear by letting them know what to expect. Explaining dental procedures is crucial to your child’s dental anxiety, especially when it comes to essential procedures such as dental implants. Thankfully, you can find a number of resources online that can help you to explain the different dental procedures to your child.
Reward your child
One of the best ways to encourage your child to have good dental hygiene is to reward them for it. You can offer your child a number of different rewards, such as a trip to the amusement park or an extra hour of television time.
This will not only encourage your child to have good dental hygiene, but it will also help to teach them the importance of taking care of their teeth.
Choose the right time for dental appointments.
One of the best ways to manage your child’s dental anxiety is to choose the right time for their dental appointments. Avoid scheduling appointments during times when your child is tired or hungry.
Instead, try to schedule appointments early in the morning or after school so that your child is well-rested and has had a chance to eat. This will help to ensure that your child has a positive experience at the dentist.
Try to schedule regular dentist appointments and make sure that you stick to them. In addition, try to keep other appointments such as cleaning appointments on a regular schedule as well. This will help your child know when they need to see the dentist and when they don’t.
Teach your child healthy oral hygiene habits
Create a routine
About 43% of children have cavities, and this is primarily because of poor oral hygiene at home. One of the best ways to help your child with their dental health is to create a routine. This can include brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day.
Diet change
In addition, you should also limit the number of sugary snacks your child eats. Sugary snacks can not only cause cavities, but they can also lead to other dental problems, such as gum disease.
Make it fun
Finally, you can make brushing teeth more fun for your child by using a toothbrush that has a character on it or by singing a song while they brush their teeth.
Make sure to schedule regular dental check-ups.
Even if your child has good oral hygiene habits, it’s important to schedule regular dental check-ups. This will help to ensure that their teeth are healthy and that they don’t have any cavities.
In addition, regular dental check-ups can also help to detect early signs of dental problems, such as gum disease.
Dentists and children often have a close relationship that starts with the child’s first visit to the dentist. This trust can help to ensure that the child gets proper dental care throughout their life. To manage your dental life with children, find a dental office that is child-friendly, explain the procedures to your child, and reward them for good dental hygiene habits. Finally, make sure to schedule regular dental check-ups.
