Thank you The Smile Generation for sponsoring this post. Contact The Smile Generation today to see how they can help you and your family become healthier and happier!
Tips for First Dental Visit With Your Child
Do you have a toddler or a child you are looking to take to the dentist? Use these tips to anchor your way through the new adventure.
Tip #1 – Find a trusted-kid friendly Dentist
This may seem simple but sometimes it’s not always an easy discovery! There is a great service you can start with called The Smile Generation.
It is a referral service that will connect you with a trusted, local dentist in your area. Currently, there are more than 650 (and growing) offices trusted by The Smile Generation across our country.
The Smile Generation offers a wide variety of services – including orthodontics, periodontics for tackling periodontal (gum) disease, endodontics (root canals), oral surgery, teeth whitening and more. It really is a great place to start to see if they offer what you are looking for, for you and your family. For your children, there are pediatric-specific offices with specially trained pediatric dentists which is a huge plus for your first visit with your child!
Our local office is in a convenient location which is a super big plus for us!
Tip #2 – Create healthy habits at home
As soon as your little ones get teeth start teaching your kids about their teeth, mouth and taking care of their teeth through brushing! To prepare for a first dentist visit, it starts at home! Create a plan, a routine of healthy habits and make a daily teeth-brushing routine FUN!
As a parent, you brush your little ones teeth first, then let them explore brushing their own teeth. You going first shows an example of “how” they should properly brush their teeth, then letting them explore gives them a sense of independence and being included in this daily routine.
Brushing your teeth together is always fun too…they learn so much by watching!
As they grow up – give them the freedom to do their own teeth, once you feel secure they have the right method down pat!
Tip #3 – Talk through a Dentist Visit
Don’t just walk into a dentist office with your child and not talk through what the process is. Begin to talk about a dentist, what they do and what the office may look like. Have imaginative play with a puppet and help your child understand what is going on.
Tip #4 – It’s Prize Time
I have no problem bribing my child, at the right time and for the right reasons!!! Talk through their first dentist visit and if they are well behaved reward them.
Reward them for a good healthy daily routine…A simple high-five after each brushing makes it fun…it’s simple to reward!
You can also consider a cleaning chart where they can see their progress and reward them after so many check marks. There really is a no wrong way to reward them, just stick to what you plan!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Hi I’m Erin a Southern mama from South Mississippi, owner and chief editor of Sixth Bloom a blog helping mom-tographers capture their kiddos and life, talking all things home, parenting and how we navigate through life. You will find me living life to the fullest with my mister (aka husband) and our little one year old, Miss E, in our 500+ sq foot cottage as we build our dream house on our two acres! We are blessed beyond measure, love to travel, involved in ministry at our church and in between all of that I run three successful businesses! Follow me at: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST
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