Now, you probably aren’t totally thinking about your kid the
second it comes out, and instead you’re working through the hurdles of being a
new parent. But, it’s actually very important that this responsibility is put
there. While general healthcare is the main focus, you should also consider the
dental care of your child as well. You might be wondering when you should see
the dentist for the first time. In truth, it’s a lot earlier than you might
believe, it’s actually supposed to be before their first birthday.
Why is that? Well, it might seem super weird to you to bring
your child to the dentist at such an early age, but the visits are actually
super important, since it will help not only to prevent the cavities that might
come about in the future, but also to help become aware of any behaviors and
habits that could affect the facial development in a child.
Now, one of the big things to watch out for is actually
sucking your thumb. This can actually change not only the mouth, but the teeth
and the facial structure. That, coupled with the cavities that are mostly seen
in young children due to a diet of sugar, it’s causing a lot of trouble for
some children to have healthy mouths, and that is why the dentists encourage
you to come in early.
There are also some risk factors that can come along with
this as well. Your child’s mouth can show a lot about the child’s future,
including allergies, problems in behavior, breathing problems, chronic stomach
issues, any facial issues, leachates that might be there, issues with learning,
bad posture, and even speech disorders. All of these are there, and they are
present, you just need to talk to the dentist about this. This can all be
ascertained at a very early age, and while cavities are important to prevent,
there is so much more that needs to be prevented early on that you should
totally do so.
Plus, this will instill a great behavioral habit at an early
age. That, is the factor that your child should care a lot about their oral
health. Now, as a parent, ensuring this will help the child feel better about
taking care of their teeth. Most children groan at the idea of going the
dentist, but if you show your child that it’s actually really good that they
go, and that the dentist isn’t some big, scary thing, it actually can help you
a whole lot, and it can even be seen as an adventure. You should talk to your
child before the first visit, telling them what they’ll be doing. Obviously,
don’t instill fear into them, because that’s going to make them nervous, and
don’t explain it to them in complicated terms, but instead show them that the
dentist isn’t anything to fear, and that they should go in.
You can even bring their favorite toy for them to hold while
they’re in the chair. You can hold their hand, and give them praise. Obviously,
the dentist isn’t that fun, but you have to do it, for it’ll get them on the
right path to a healthier mouth.
The dentist will also work with you on this as well. If you
are having trouble explaining to your child why it’s important to care about
your oral health, have the dentist do it for you. The dentist will tell you as
well about some of the helpful tips as well, such as various care factors, the
importance of fluoride, and what to avoid in particular. They’re great with
this, and they can definitely help you.
The Eugene Dentist isn’t some big, scary thing that should be
avoided. Rather, it should be encouraged to g, for it will help with a child’s
overall oral health. By working with the child, having them understand the
importance of all of this, it’ll help them have a much better time getting the
most out of their oral health. If you instill these habits into them early on,
it will be something that they’ll take with themselves for a long time too.
