I'm famous!! I'm kidding, I'm really not. But, I was on the local St. Louis morning show, "Great Day St. Louis." One of the anchor's brought her son into the office where I work to do an interactive interview for a child's first dental visit and what you need to know as a parent. It went well and the little boy, Riggs, did great. I'll add a few of my own tips, because I work with a lot of kids for their first visit and do most of the leg work.
1. Use good associative words when discussing the dentist. Even if you're reassuring them that it "won't hurt," the word "hurt" is in their mind and they then think that there is a possibility that it could hurt.
2. Bring your child with you to one of your routine dental visits. Even if they don't have an appointment, it's important that they see the dental office and can go into the room with you to see what the hygienist and dentist do. It will give them a better understanding for when it's their turn to get their teeth cleaned. (Please ask the dental office if this is ok before doing so, some offices have strict rules)
3. Let your child brush their own teeth. Tell them how good they've done and then follow behind them to make sure the plaque is all brushed away.
4. Prevention, Prevention, Prevention! Every parent wants what is best for their child so, if you can prevent a child from having a cavity with fluoride or sealants, do it. It's in the child's best interest!
5. Be nice to your hygienist and be on time to your appointments...we're type A and OCD :)
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