Taking your child to the dentist for the first time is a major rite of passage for any parent. However, many children are often afraid of going for dental appointments and can be hesitant. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a child should go to the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Here are some tips to prepare children for these visits.

Model Good Hygiene

Remember, as a parent, you are your child's first teacher. One way to prepare them for dental care is by modeling daily oral hygiene. Let your children see you brushing and flossing twice a day. You can also let them look in your mouth when you're finished, so they can see how nice and clean your teeth are. Then, you could start helping them practice on their mouth.

Talk to Them

Start talking to your child about what a dentist does. You can also tell them why it's important for them to visit a dentist regularly. Show them your teeth and how they are straight and clean. Let them know how dental appointments help you maintain them. You can ask them questions about teeth and gums and have a good question-and-answer session with them.

Let Them Practice

Watch your children as they practice brushing and flossing in their mouth. Let them know they are doing a good job when they remember to brush their teeth every day. Give them awards such as stickers or have a star reward system in the bathroom.

Read Books and Watch Videos

Children love media like cartoons and videos. Take advantage of that and find related children’s media about dentistry, teeth, and brushing. You can find old episodes of Sesame Street and other children’s shows. YouTube is a great source for old episodes of such programs. Find books to read with them as well. Have them read the books out loud with you and practice related dental vocabulary.

Dental appointments can be scary for kids, but you can ease the burden. By following the above tips and having the right dentist, your kids may eventually look forward to going there. Get the ball rolling on your child’s dental health and visit Dr. John Stivers today. We look forward to seeing you and offering you further tips.