The best time to instil healthy, sustainable dental health habits is during childhood. Strong dental habits, learned and reinforced from an early age, can prevent the necessity of extensive kids’ dentistry later on.
The Importance of Early Dental Care for Kids
Kids’ dental habits not only establish healthy routines for ongoing oral health, they also help to impact their overall health and wellbeing.
Oral health is now recognised to be enormously impactful on one’s general bodily health. Some recent studies have linked gum disease and heart disease even more directly.
However, kids’ dentistry is trickier.
There can be anxiety and fear associated with dentist visits–which are critical for oral health check-ups. Fortunately, there are a few strategies you can employ to help reduce the level of negative emotion your children might feel heading to the dentist.
- Start visiting your dentist early.
Early exposure to general dentistry will help them become familiar with the dental environment and understand the reality of routine check-ups.
- Speak positively about the dentist.
Promote words like clean, healthy and strong so that association with the dentist is non-threatening and friendly.
- Set a good example.
This applies both to daily oral health habits but also to dental visits themselves.
- Role-playing dentistry at home can be both fun and helpful.
It can demystify the process and help your children become more familiar with the way kids’ dentistry works.
- Learning about the dentist is a great way to both bond and improve associations with dental care.
Read books, watch videos and discuss what goes on at the dentist to help prepare them. Check out our first dental visit tips for more ideas.
- Visit a paediatric dentist.
Paediatric dentists are trained and experienced in handling children and their associated anxiety or fear. Your children must experience a welcoming and comforting clinical atmosphere.
- For some children, consider providing some form of treat.
The use of rewards or incentives for good behaviour and bravery will help motivate them and make the experience more enjoyable.
- Stay by their side.
Staying with your child throughout the visit to the dentist will provide the necessary comfort and reassurance. Whether you sit by the dental chair or more actively hold their hand depends on you and your child.
- Practice relaxation techniques such as breathing or counting.
These methods can help manage and reduce anxiety before and during the appointment.
- Let your paediatric dentist know if your child is experiencing fear or anxiety.
It will help ensure that a calming environment can be tailored to help your child cope better.
- Schedule your dental appointments carefully.
Avoid times when they are likely to be tired, hungry or cranky.
- Last but not least: Be patient and understanding with your child’s fear and uncertainty.
Validating their feelings will give them the confidence that you are there to help.
When to Start Kids’ Dental Visits
It is generally recommended that you make your child’s first trip to the dentist around the age of one. If the first tooth appears before then, you can make this a little earlier.
Early, regular visits will not only help your kid become familiar with the process at the dentist, but it will also ensure their oral health. The earlier potential dental issues are identified, the easier the prevention and solution and the less invasive or extensive the dental work will be.
The importance here is to cultivate a positive relationship with your kids’ dentist. Remember to use positive language to ensure children understand the importance and benefits of visiting their dentist. Discuss the long-term benefits openly and help them understand that regular check-ups will help keep their mouth healthy and feeling great.
Key Dental Milestones
- 6-10 months – typically the first tooth erupts during this time. It is ideal to schedule the first dentist visit within 6 months of this happening.
- 1-3 years – by this point most children have a full set of teeth. Six-monthly check-ups and cleanings should begin by this point.
- 3-5 years – good oral hygiene, as well as ongoing check-ups, are essential at this age.
- 6-7 years – around this age, the first permanent molars begin to come through and their children’s teeth will begin to fall out. Around age 7 is a good time to evaluate the need for potential orthodontics
Commonly Necessary Treatments for Children
If speciality dentistry is required for your children, your paediatric dentist will speak to you about the various treatments recommended. In such cases, you must discuss strategies for further alleviating your kids’ anxiety and fear.
Some of the more common general dentistry treatments for children include:
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Cleanings and oral exams
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- These help to maintain oral health and identify potential issues as early as possible.
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Fluoride treatments
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- These treatments help to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities from forming.
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- These are protective coatings applied to the back teeth especially to prevent decay on surfaces exposed to and used for chewing.
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- When teeth are severely decayed or need to be removed to make space for permanent teeth, extraction may be necessary.
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- Your paediatric dentist can custom-fit mouthguards to help protect teeth during activity and sport.
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- This evaluation helps to determine your kids’ teeth’s alignment and identify any potential issues.
Keys Dental – a friendly, comforting kids dentist
From maintaining good dental habits at home to ensuring regular, relaxed and comfortable visits to the dentist, the earlier you can establish good routines for your kids’ oral health the better.
Remember: Early dental visits framed around positive language can ensure that your kids’ anxiety and fear is reduced as much as possible. Always choose an experienced paediatric dentist to help make the experience more kid-friendly.
To find out more about how the team here at Keys Dental provides positive kids’ dental treatment and check-ups, contact us today.
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