Did you know that children should have
their first dental visit after their
first tooth appears or before their
first birthday? This visit is important
because as soon as your child's baby
teeth appear they can develop cavities.
In most cases, the first visit is mainly
for the dentist to examine your child's
mouth and to check for growth and
development. During the visit, you can
expect the dentist check for mouth
injuries cavities or other problems. If
your child is going through a tough time
with teething or in the habit of thumb
sucking or excessive pacifier use, ask
your dentist for advice on how to handle
these issues. When scheduling the
appointment, try to choose a time when
she will be more cooperative. Morning
appointments tend to be a good time. Try
to avoid scheduling an appointment
during her usual nap time since this
could lead to a cranky visit. Some dental
offices will give you the opportunity to
fill out paperwork ahead of time. If you
have dental insurance, be sure she's
included on the plan before the
appointment. On the day of the visit make
sure your child has had a light meal
beforehand. Some children may gag so you
want to avoid a heavy meal before the
appointment. Try not to give snacks in
the waiting room because those will be
all over her teeth during the visit
which will make the examination
difficult. Here are a few tips to help
make the experience positive. Try not to
let her know if you're concerned or
anxious about the visit. Children can
pick up on your emotions. Emphasize the
positive. Don't use a dental visit as a
punishment or as a way to bribe your
child. Talk with your child about
visiting the dentist. Let her know she's
going to meet new people and ride up and
down in a dental chair. Have her practice
opening her mouth so that the dentist
can count and check her teeth. Make it
fun and let her look and count your
teeth as well. There are many children's
books and videos that can help you
prepare for the visit. Reading stories or
watching videos about a first dental
visit may help your child be less
fearful and more
confident. If she's upset during the visit,
work with your dentist to calm her. It's
important that you trust the dentist and
let them lead the conversation. Give the
dentist a chance to turn the visit
around. Don't wait for your child to start
school or until there's a dental
emergency for her to go to the dentist.
Being proactive about the future of your
child's dental health today will help
her for the rest of her life. To learn
more about taking care of your teeth and
gums visit mouthhealthy.org