|
|
|
|
Be a Role Model for your Kids - Go to the Dentist
|
Posted on 7/25/2015 by Cynthia Pelley |
 If you want to raise your kids to be cognizant of their oral health and to keep up with their dental appointments, it needs to start with you. This does not mean that you need to lecture them or be on top of them about brushing their teeth (although this can help); it means that you need to go to the dentist too. If you are good about going to the dentist, your kids will see it as a natural part of life.
On the other hand, if they notice that you do not go - they will wonder what is so bad about it and start to get nervous.
Take Kids with You
Don't make going to the dentist a mystery. From the time your kids are a young age, you should let them see you sitting in the dentist's chair, getting your teeth cleaned and examined. Your kids will see you doing this without any fear or pain and will look forward to when their turn comes. Even if you are afraid of the dentist, as a parent, you know what you have to do. Don't take your kids with you during any type of procedure or exam that might cause you anxiety - instead bring them with for the routine exam and cleaning that will make them see the importance of oral health care.
Talk about Going to the DentistYour kids need to hear stories about you going to the dentist either as a kid or an adult. But, the stories need to be happy stories! Even if you have a fear of dentists, there has to be one or two stories that you can tell your kids about when you went. Maybe you got to pick out of a special treasure box or you went three appointments in a row without getting cavities. Whatever the case may be for you, let your kids hear the stories so that they can see that going to the dentist is a natural part of life.
Put the Dental Appointments on your CalendarDo you keep a calendar for the whole family to see? Make sure to notate when you have a dentist appointment on there in a way that they can see. If your kids cannot read yet, use stickers that show them the important dates, such as birthdays, holidays, doctor, and dentist appointments. Again, this will reinforce in their mind the importance of going to the dentist and see it as something that everyone does on a regular basis.
Going to the dentist does not need to be anxiety provoking for kids. The key is that the excitement or fear for it starts at home. You need to show your kids that going to the dentist is something that everyone must do, just like they get their yearly checkups. When you set a baseline with your child by bringing them in to see us at a young age, such as after getting their first tooth, we can develop a relationship with your child that helps them to connect the reasons for going to the dentist with someone that they trust. If you are anxious about the dentist yourself, come talk to us about ways to alleviate those fears so that your child can see you going to your own appointments.
You are your child's biggest role model - you cannot expect him to do things that you would not do, so start today by making your own dentist appointment and then bring him in to us for his pediatric dental appointment!
Please call us at (503) 235-0313 for an appointment for your child today!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
