{"id":26406,"date":"2018-03-26T10:00:27","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T10:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cityorthopeds.com\/\/?p=26406"},"modified":"2024-04-09T11:48:54","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T17:48:54","slug":"how-to-plan-your-childs-first-dental-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityorthopeds.com\/2018\/03\/how-to-plan-your-childs-first-dental-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan Your Child\u2019s First Dental Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Your kids are growing up faster than you can imagine. It seemed like just yesterday you were bringing them home. Now they\u2019re walking, talking, and sprouting teeth, which means it\u2019s time to take them to the dentist for the first time. This thought fills you with some worry. How will your child respond to the dentist?<\/p>\n

Download “Everything You Need to Know about Finding a Pediatric Dentistry Practice for Your Child” e-Book<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You haven\u2019t exactly enjoyed going to the dentist and you don\u2019t want your children to fear the experience as much as you do. You want your kids to start on the right foot immediately.<\/p>\n

Here are some things you can do to plan for your child\u2019s first dental visit and ensure it becomes an expected, appreciated, and enjoyed part of their oral health routine.<\/p>\n

Start Early<\/span><\/h4>\n

You should take your children to the dentist for the first time within six months of cutting their first tooth or turning one year old<\/a>. That may seem early, but by starting young, you are establishing good oral hygiene habits during the most formative years of growth.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it\u2019s helpful to have a pediatric dentist teach you proper brushing strokes for a baby\u2019s teeth. Starting early also means your pediatric dentist can watch for problems\u2014and help correct them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlay\u201d Dentist at Home<\/span><\/h4>\n

Playing dentist is a great technique as children get older. It can help expose them to the idea of going to the dentist. But when your child is just a baby, the play will be less impactful. Still, by getting your baby used to having fingers poking their mouth while at home, you can better prepare for that first visit.<\/p>\n

Start by wiping down your baby\u2019s gums with a wet washcloth after eating. You can also stimulate the mouth with a small, soft brush. By learning to accept this prodding when mom does it, your baby will be ready for the professionals.<\/p>\n

Learn By Seeing<\/span><\/h4>\n

For some kids, accompanying you to the dentist is a great way to say, \u201cSee? Mommy and daddy do it and there\u2019s nothing to it!\u201d Of course, there are several caveats to this situation.<\/p>\n

First, will your children be seeing your dentist or will you be taking them to a pediatric dental specialist<\/a>? Is your dental office kid friendly enough to keep them entertained?<\/p>\n

Most importantly\u2014how do you<\/em> respond to a dentist visit? If you fear the experience, it\u2019s best to protect your child from your feelings. They will pick up on how you feel about the dentist, so work hard to project positive feelings about dentistry and oral hygiene.<\/p>\n

Prep at Home<\/span><\/h4>\n

If your child is a bit older, make sure to create lots of space to talk about the dentist before going. Let your child ask questions and answer as honestly as you can. Talk to your child about what to expect and use colourful language they can understand to explain the procedures. It\u2019s best to avoid negative connotation terms, such as \u201cdrilling\u201d and \u201cpain\u201d; kids are intelligent and pick up on how you talk about the dentist<\/a>. This is a great time to bring in dentist-positive books<\/a> and games. \u201cI think Ms. Snuffle Bear wants to have her teeth examined\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Regular visits to the dentist are an important part of every child\u2019s health. Make sure you time visits appropriately (i.e., when you know your child is feeling good), stay positive about the experience, and just be there for them. In no time, your kids will be asking you excitedly, \u201cWhen\u2019s my next dentist visit?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Your kids are growing up faster than you can imagine. It seemed like just yesterday you were bringing them home….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26725,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Plan Your Child\u2019s First Dental Visit | Pediatric Dentist Edmonton<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When you\u2019re preparing to take your child to the dentist for the very first time, here are some things you can do to plan a positive experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorthopeds.com\/2018\/03\/how-to-plan-your-childs-first-dental-visit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Plan Your Child\u2019s 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