It can be hard for parents to find time to bring their family to the dentist, but regular check-ups are necessary to produce happy, healthy children. Getting started right can produce lifelong benefits. Choosing the right dentist, like B&G Family Dentistry in Livingston, can make the experience much better for your whole family!

When Should I Consider Dental Care for My Child?

You should bring your child to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. Many parents wait until it’s too late. The correct time is not when you encounter a problem, and certainly not when your child’s adult teeth come in. Your child’s “baby teeth,” or primary teeth, are extremely important and just as prone to cavities and other problems as adult teeth.

Problems with baby teeth can result in everything from advanced infections to a lifetime of orthodontic problems. Make a point to visit a dentist as soon as your baby’s first tooth begins to erupt, and no later.

The Parent’s Role

Just like any new experience, a trip to the dentist can be scary, but a child’s attitude can be shaped for the better over time, so too can a child’s relationship with dental visits. It’s important to choose a compassionate dentist, but also to encourage your child. If you show fear or resign yourself to the idea that your child will not react well, this is palpable to your child, who will respond in kind.

We know it can be difficult, but try to be strong for your child, and encourage them to interact—to ask questions, to keep a fun “dental visit report card,” and other such things that make the visit more fun.

What Can You Do?

There are a number of things a parent can do to make a visit better for a child:

• Comfort and talk to your child throughout the visit
• Bring their favorite toy or blankie
• Introduce them to the idea of dentists beforehand, through interactive online activities from the American Dental Association
• Choose a great, caring dentist