6 tips to get your kids to take care of their teeth and have a good relationship with their dentist

We were all at that stage in our life when we had to go to the dentist for the first time. Maybe we were lucky and got a good one or maybe we had a bad first experience. Either way, your kids should learn to be friends with their dentist from a small age, take care of their teeth the right way because I like to often say, it is better to prevent than to treat.

So I have decided to give you some tips as a dental student to take into consideration before picking a dentist or the right routine for your kid.

PIN ME FOR LATER

We are told at classes that the first thing that we should do when it comes to a parent and his child is to educate the parent first. Picture this – if a parent is really afraid of going to the dentist, the child will be too. The parent will not take a step into a dentist’s office because he/she is really afraid so the kid will do what they know the best: take after his parent.

It is important to take your kid to the dentist as soon as she (I will refer to the kid as she so it could be a little bit easier to read) gets a fair amount of teeth. It would be a simple trip, where the dentist will probably just count her teeth and make her feel a little bit comfortable with the environment. Then, take her regularly and she will learn not to be afraid of it.

One of the most important things is to find the right dentist.

It’s ok to make a short appointment for yourself only so you can get to talk to the dentist. Getting to know your doctor better will make a significant difference later when your kid will get to observe that her mommy or daddy is actually a friend of the doctor.

Don’t force them.

Talk to the doctor first. Make sure they are ok with every situation that may occur during the visit. If she doesn’t want to sit on the big chair at first find an alternative and maybe keep her in your arms. Going periodically will make her feel more comfortable as time passes and soon she will sit by herself.

Make sure the place is kid-friendly.

Kids like stuffed animals, toys, and drawings on the wall. Make sure that the place you are going to has at least one of those. There are a lot of places that offer free toys for kids that are nice during the appointment so this might be a nice way to make them stay still for a moment.

The education starts at home.

Make sure you start brushing your kid’s teeth as soon as she gets any. You should not use toothpaste until your kid is about 3 years old because she can swallow it so getting the toothbrush wet and cleaning every tooth will be enough. You can always invest in an electric toothbrush that has Disney drawings on it or the ones from Oral B come with apps that let your kid see how he brushes his teeth.

Very important step: if you decided to get your kid an electric toothbrush make sure you turn it on in front of her face first. Let her play with it for a bit. If you put it in her mouth then turn it on, it might scare her so much that she will refuse to use it after. You can also get a mirror like the one that you see in a dental office so your kid could get used to that too. It isn’t expensive at all and you can get them at the supermarket.

Don’t rush them.

When it comes to brushing their teeth. The toothbrush is something new for them so let them explore it in every possible way. Buy 2 or 3 just in case one gets in the toilet and the other one is used as a hairbrush for the dolls. There will be times when you will be tired and you will not have enough patience to watch your kid play with his toothbrush, but please, take a deep breath and wait for them to finish. It’s a new thing they have to discover and understand so please let them take all the time that they need.

A bribe is almost always an answer.

If you decide that you’ve tried everything and your little one is still refusing to cooperate, you can always bribe her a bit with a new toy or some ice cream if she behaves. No judging, everyone gets there in the end.