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Helping children prepare for a dental visit
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Posted on Thu, January 21st, 2010
Written by: Steve Wood, Resource Coordinator with REACH CNY
email: editor@syracuseparent.net

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. According to the American Association of Endodontists 80 percent of Americans have some amount of fear or anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist. Over half of them claim that this fear or anxiety keeps them away entirely from the dentist! If that many grown-ups are afraid of dental procedures, how do you think your kids feel about it? It doesn’t have to be that way, because childhood is a wonderful time to reduce your child’s stress around dentistry and set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.
The American Dental Hygienist’s association has several suggestions that parents can use to help their children actually enjoy a first dental visit. First, parents should talk about the appointment in a positive way. Do not tell your children that you may have had negative feelings or anxiety or that a certain procedure is going to hurt. In particular, don’t tell tall tales or exaggerate procedures, and make sure that you explain that the over-the-top depictions of dentistry in cartoons or on TV are not real.
Once the dental appointment is made, a parent can use a toothbrush to show how teeth might be cleaned by a hygienist. Parents should also explain that there may be some noise and that the hygienist and dentist will be wearing gloves on their hands and masks on their face. Explain that the masks are not scary Halloween masks but white strips that cover the nose and mouth so no one passes any germs to each other. Many hygienists recommend that parents let children watch parents get their teeth cleaned. Kids may realize that if it doesn’t scare or hurt mom or dad, it won’t hurt or scare them.
The American Dental Hygienists Association recommends that children visit a dentist for the first time around age one. Remember though, it is important to practice good oral hygiene right from birth. Cleaning a baby’s teeth should include a good cleaning of the mouth and gums with a gauze pad or an infant wash cloth after feedings and before bedtime.
Once a baby’s primary teeth appear, use a small, soft bristled infant toothbrush with water and gently clean the teeth. By the age of two or three, parents can teach their kids how to brush with a little fluoridated toothpaste. One of the best ways to demonstrate good oral hygiene is for parents to set a good example by brushing and flossing together with their children every day. Lastly, parents should keep helping their children care for their teeth until they are seven or eight years old. By that time they should be able to brush and floss alone.
Many grown-ups are nervous about the dentist. For many of us it began in childhood. Get your children off to a healthy start by encouraging good dental practices and “no fear” when it comes to the dentist!
For more information and resources for you and your children, check out the American Dental Hygienists Association website at adha.org/kidstuff
Steve Wood is the Resource Coordinator and a trainer at REACH CNY.
REACH CNY works to ensure access and support for the full range of quality, culturally-sensitive health and human services; to reduce teen pregnancies; and promote the health and well-being of individuals and families; through education and advocacy

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