Many adults who feel fearful or anxious about their dental appointments report that it is because of a bad experience they had at the dentist as a child. For this reason, it is very important that you help your child acclimate to visits with the dentist, so they can feel comfortable and confident about going to the dentist in the future. Your Prosper dentist shares a few tips on how you can make dental visits pleasant and fun for them.
Lead By Example
Let your child watch you brush and floss your teeth at home. This will pique their interest and they'll want to follow suit.
Also consider bringing your little one along to your own dental cleaning and checkup. This will give them an idea of what happens during this type of visit to the dentist, and they will see that it's not scary.
Support Your Child's Oral Health at Home
Help your child learn proper brushing and flossing techniques by showing them how to do it and supervising their home care routine until they are at least seven or eight years old.
Offer them healthy snacks, and discuss the important role that good nutrition plays in their oral health and overall health and well being.
Keep Dental Visits Upbeat
If you had a bad experience at the dentist when you were a child, be careful not to project these feelings and fears onto your own little one. Talk about the dentist in a positive way and strive to make their dental visits interesting and fun for them. You could even bring along a stuffed animal "friend" or favorite blanket that they can take to the dental chair with them to help them feel more comfortable.
At Prosper Smiles Family Dentistry, we love children and welcome them as early as one year old. We hope to build a positive relationship with your child by providing children's dentistry in Prosper that is positive and caring. Contact us today to schedule your child's next visit.