Your child’s first day of school is fast-approaching, which likely means that you’re quite busy making appointments and shopping for supplies. One item that you may have forgotten to add to your to-do list is to schedule your child’s dental check-up! There are a number of reasons to have your child visit the dentist before school begins. In particular, visiting the dentist will help your child to avoid getting cavities, which causes more than 51 million school hours missed each year. Luckily, visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a major hassle. Here are a few things you can do to make this process as easy as possible.
1. Help them maintain a good dental hygiene routine.
The best way to ensure your child’s check-up is simple and pain-free is to protect their teeth from oral health issues between visits. If your child is under the age of six, this may entail helping your child to brush their teeth, particularly the molars in the back. As they get older, be sure that they continue to brush at least twice per day and floss every night. This will help them to avoid painful cavities that would need to be remedied during their routine check-up.
2. Schedule their appointment at the right time of day.
It is important to be careful about which time of day you schedule your child’s dentist appointment. For young children, try to avoid scheduling them during a period in which they would typically be napping. Otherwise, your child’s lack of rest may add to the stress of their appointment. For your older kids, avoid scheduling appointments after a long day at camp or school. A well-rested child makes for smooth sailing during a dentist appointment.
3. Allow siblings to set the example.
When scheduling your children’s appointments back-to-back, make sure your older child (or the child who typically does well during dental appointments) has their check-up first. This will allow them to show their siblings that dentist appointments can be a care-free experience.
4. Always eat a light meal or snack before the appointment.
The last thing you want is a hungry child in the dentist’s chair. Not only will a hungry child be less cooperative during an appointment, but feeding them during a teeth cleaning is quite difficult. To avoid any issues, be sure to eat beforehand. Remember: brush and floss after your meal!
5. Create a stress-free environment.
Children tend to read their parents to determine how they feel in a new environment. Meaning if you appear to be anxious or afraid in the dentist’s office, your child will be as well. To ensure your child remains calm in the chair, be certain to hide any stress or anxiety you may be feeling! Also, if your child has a toy or stuffed animal that keeps them calm, they can certainly bring it with them to the office!
Ready to schedule your child’s appointment? Call Manus Dental today to schedule their visit!