As a parent, teaching your children the importance of oral care at an early age is crucial. By embracing a healthy dental hygiene routine, you'll set your little one up for success and a healthy smile that does not require advanced dental care and restorative work in the future. If your child is fearful or hesitant when it comes to visiting the dentist, here are a few helpful tips to minimize stress.  

4 Tips for Helping Children Get Comfortable With the Dentist

1. Start Young

Children should visit the dentist as soon as their very first baby tooth appears or by the age of 12 months. This is because children can start to get cavities as soon as one tooth erupts. By visiting the dentist this early, your little one will become accustomed to the experience. These first few visits won't include a comprehensive cleaning, but a check-up to identify any mouth injuries, abnormalities, or signs of decay. After this initial trip, your dental care team will want to schedule follow-ups every six months. 

2. Talk About the Process

As your child gets older and you're able to communicate more, brief them on visits to the dentist a week or two in advance of each appointment. Talk about the experience in positive terms and remind them the visit will keep their smile beautiful. Refer to their oral care team with admiration and discuss how fun it will be to show the dentist they've been brushing and flossing every day. 

3. Stage a Run-Through

When your child seems anxious about their upcoming visit, ease their worries by playing pretend. Walk through the dental cleaning process at home using stuffed animals. Allow them to practice sitting in an imaginary dental chair and smiling big for the dentist. Having beloved toys involved in the run-through can help them relax while eliminating fear associated with the unknown. 

4. Offer Positive Reinforcement

Leading up to, during, and following the appointment, offer your child plenty of positive reinforcement. Praise them for their bravery, ability to sit still in the dental chair, and how successful their visit was thanks to their at-home oral hygiene routine. In lieu of bribing your little one with the promise of sweet treats or gifts, schedule wisely to ensure there is time for play, a park visit, or a game together, so they associate the dentist with preferred activities.  

If you're looking for a compassionate, caring dentist that strives to put patients of every age at ease, Gladstein Dental Center is the practice for you. Situated in the heart of New Britain, CT, residents throughout Hartford County have counted on this family dentistry clinic for lifelong oral care since 1983. To schedule a cleaning, call today at (860) 223-1162. For more information on their advanced dental care services and commitment to beautiful, healthy smiles, visit their website.