A dental office can appear to be a scary place for young children. The unfamiliar sights, sounds, and odours may cause them to be nervous and want to avoid sitting in the dentist’s chair. How do you help make your child comfortable at a children’s dentist in Calgary?
Tips for a Happy Experience at a Calgary Dentist for Children
- Entertainment - Prove to your child that the dentist is a safe space by reading them fun books on the topic. The characters in the story can help your child understand why going to the dentist is needed. Children relate well to images that present happy scenarios. You can even act out a dental experience at home by role playing. First, you can act as the hygienist then let your child take on the part. Include things like brushing and flossing to checking the teeth and gums with a special round mirror for a magnified view. Add some music and sing a song about going to the dentist together. Little things like these will help your child feel at ease in preparation for their checkup.
- Comfort – Let your little one bring their favourite stuffed toy to the dentist. They can squeeze it to help release anxiety similar to an adult’s stress ball. Go with your child into the dental room and hold their hand through the treatment. This way they feel comforted knowing you are there for them.
- Bring Your Child to Your Appointment – Next time you go to the dentist take your child with you so they can see what happens at your checkup or cleaning. This will give them a real-life example of how a dental visit goes. Soon they will realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Visuals help many people understand things more clearly.
- Reward Your Child – Make a visit to the dentist fun by letting your child look forward to something after. If they behave wonderfully at the dentist, then reward them after with a visit to a park or their favourite ice cream store.
- Visit the Office – Visit the dental office with your child before their appointment to allow them to get acquainted with the new space and the people that will surround them on the day of their booking.
Age to Take Your Child to the Dentist
When should you take your child to their first dental appointment? The Canadian Dental Association suggests bringing your child to the dentist within 6 months from when their first tooth pokes out from their gums. It is important to take your little one to a children’s dentist in Calgary to prevent issues like tooth sensitivity or infections from occurring. The changing structure of their mouth should be monitored to make sure their teeth and gums are growing normally and staying healthy.
What Happens at the First Dental Appointment
A happy greeting is the first thing to occur when you arrive at a Calgary children’s dentist. A routine exam of your little one’s teeth and gums help the dentist discover any potential problems. The dentist will offer general dental health tips and let you know what to expect when the rest of your child’s teeth erupt. A review of bad habits to watch for like thumb sucking, crunching on ice cubes, and chewing on fingernails will also be discussed during your child’s appointment.
How to Brush and Floss Your Child’s Teeth
When you have a baby, you should wrap your finger in a soft washcloth then gently brush or wipe your little one’s teeth and gums with water. Toothpaste is to be avoided until teeth appear at which point a soft toothbrush should be used at a 45-degree angle and moved in small circles. When using toothpaste, use only a pea size portion then ensure your little one spits it all out when finished brushing.
Teeth flossing only occurs when teeth are touching each other. Wrap the floss around your fingers leaving a two-inch gap in between your fingers. Gently move the floss in a c shape around the base where the teeth meet the gums.
Help your child brush and floss until they are about three years old. After this age, you can just supervise their oral hygiene routine. Adult teeth will start to appear in their mouth around 6 years old.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid
It is important to also help your child take care of their teeth through diet. When you teach your child what foods and drinks are nutritious versus what will likely cause cavities you are helping create a positive dental path.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Cut Down on to Maintain Good Oral Health:
- Sticky candies
- Dried fruits
- Starch-filled foods
- Carbonated and sugary drinks
Results
By learning how to take care of their teeth and with frequent visits to a children’s dentist in Calgary, your child will slowly become more comfortable at every appointment. At Glenbrook Dental, we make sure to care for your child’s oral health by using tools specific to their age and size of their mouth. You can rely on us to help make dental treatments comfortable and relaxed during every visit.