Many parents wonder how young they can start bringing their kids to see a dentist. Everyone has different opinions about this matter. Some bring their kids when they start school. Others wait until they start losing their baby teeth or even when they are in pain. Most of the time, treating kids with toothaches will leave a painful scar in their memory. This may result in a bigger oral health issue when they grow up.
Going to the dentist doesn’t have to be a dreaded experience. More often than not, it’s the parents’ own personal childhood memories (or nightmares!) that cause fear and anxiety in children.
Unpleasant dental experiences for children can be minimized or avoided. According to recent studies, it is highly recommended that children have their first dental visit within six months of getting their first tooth. Yes, you heard that. Parents can start introducing their child to the dentist at the tender age of one and every 6 months after.
Contrary to many beliefs, baby teeth also need special attention. Just because baby teeth will fall out anyway does not mean they don’t need to be checked by dentists. Children’s teeth play a major role in their growth process, speech development, confidence and not to mention, nutrition. Taking your child to see a dentist at a young age will also ingrain the importance of looking after their teeth.
Introduce your child to the family dentist early for a great start to having healthy oral habits
Some pointers on how to make your child’s first dental visit a pleasant and enjoyable one:
1. Talk to your kids about their teeth. Play and count them.
2. Make tooth brushing as playtime. Show them how you brush, floss and rinse your mouth..
3. Make sure your child is well rested before they see the dentist.
4. Schedule your child’s appointment at a time of the day when they are fully awake.
5. Reward your child after the dental visit. This will help associate dentist visits with a positive experience.
6. Look for a family dentist with good experience in treating kids. This will certainly make a big difference in your child’s first dental experience.
Taking your kids at the recommended age of 12 months will certainly reinforce the importance of good oral health but also help remove the fear of dentists that many older children have during their first visit. Positive dental experiences at a young age can cut down dental anxiety in the long term. Here at New Leaf Dentists, we encourage parents to come visit us with their children to introduce them to the dental clinic environment, even to just sit on the chair and have a little play, or to say hello to any of our dentists here at our Central Coast clinic. Familiarity will encourage trust and confidence in your child to start a good relationship with your family dentist.
If you have any further questions and concerns about your kids’ oral health, I highly recommend that you seek professional dental advice as soon as possible. Our dentists in Erina are all child-friendly and will welcome you with open arms.
Hope to see you soon!
Dr Rouel Vergara DMD
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Dr Rouel Vergara DMD – Principal Dentist & Director New Leaf Dentists. Rouel obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the University of the East in 1998. He holds a Certificate in Training and Assessment from Macquarie College in Sydney. He is a member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA and ADA NSW), a committee member of ADA NSW & a mentor for the ADA NSW Professional Transitional Support Mentoring Program. |