How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Dentist Visit

by Portland Dental Portland Family Dental Network

Most parents take their kids to the dentist for their first visit when they are very young, but how do you prepare your child for the dentist? While early dental appointments are very important, you also need to ensure that your child develops a positive and comfortable attitude towards your dentist. This helps to cultivate a lifelong habit of visiting the dentist, ensuring that they keep their teeth healthy and develop a proper oral care routine.

Here are some ways to prepare your child for their first visit.

Stay positive

When visiting your Portland Children’s dentistry professional, parents who are scared of the dentist can sometimes transfer their emotions to their children. It’s important to show your child how much you like going to the dentist and how much importance you place on dental care. Talk about positive experiences, show them a variety of dental procedures and even let them ask the dentist questions. All this can help cultivate a happy child that won’t mind going to the dentist.

Ensure better experiences

When you take your child to a dentist in Milwaukie Oregon, you can use treats, games and other positive reinforcement to help them have a great experience. Many pediatric dentists have colorful wallpaper, fun toys, and even keep cartoons on the TV for children to watch. You can bring along your child’s favorite toy, buy them a treat every time they go to the dentist, and even talk and laugh with them throughout to ease their discomfort and make them feel safe, cared for, and secure.

Final Word

The above tips can help prepare your child to see a Gladstone dental expert. The better their experience is, the more they will keep their teeth healthy and strong as they grow up. We recommend that you see either a pediatric dentist or a family dentist who specializes in kids. For example, Plaza 125 Dental (www.Plaza125Dental.com) provides dental care to young children. Most dentists who care for young patients know of ways to keep kids happy and will have an array of fun toys, calming music, colorful instruments, and even TV shows for when kids come to visit. Some will even laugh and joke with your kids and show them it’s nothing to be scared of.