Good oral hygiene starts early in a child's life. It's the responsibility of parents to not only make sure their child receives the dental care they need but also to help their child feel comfortable visiting the dentist. Dental anxiety is one of the main reasons why people, even adults, will sometimes avoid visiting the dentist. You can help your child avoid developing dental anxiety, by properly preparing them for early interactions with the dentist. This quick guide will give you some tips on how to prepare your child for their first appointment.

What Causes Dental Anxiety?

Often, dental anxiety is a result of negative experiences with a dentist, especially in childhood. Even if you have a wonderful kids dentist, your child might have a negative experience if they're not properly prepared for their first encounter with the dentist. Beyond this, it is also important that you monitor your child's visits to make sure nothing is happening that makes them overtly uncomfortable or scared.

Make Introductions

Many child experts recommend giving your child the opportunity to meet a medical or dental professional first before an actual appointment. This prior appointment gives your kid the chance to see the facility, meet the professional who will be checking their teeth, and get comfortable. When they come back for their actual appointment, they are already comfortable, familiar, and hopefully excited to start their dental care journey.

Choose the Right Pediatric Dentist

It's also important that you choose a professional that specializes in treating children. This will make a huge difference in your child's comfort level. Pediatric dentists have been specially trained to deal with the emotions and reactions of child patients. This can be much different from adult patients. You want a professional who will be kind and compassionate with your child if they are feeling anxious or having a problem.

Don't Delay

Parents are sometimes tempted to delay dental care for small children because the parents feel anxious about how their kid will react, but it's not a good idea. The truth is that the earlier you introduce a child to something the more quickly they will come to terms with it and adjust. It's recommended that most children start dental care around the age of one. When dental care is introduced this early, children are often at ease pretty quickly.

Dental care is an important part of your child's overall health. By staying up to date on appointments, you can avoid dental emergencies. It's estimated that almost 34 million hours of school are lost each year because of dental emergencies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This loss greatly affects U.S. productivity by as much as $45 billion each year. You can prevent many dental emergencies with good routine dental care. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment for your family at Campos Family Dental.