If it’s time for your child’s first dental visit, you may wonder how to prepare for it. After all, you want to ensure your child has a positive experience. Otherwise, they could develop dental anxiety, which will make subsequent appointments more challenging. Ensure the first trip to the dentist is a success by taking the following steps.

3 Tips for Preparing Children for Their First Dental Cleaning

1. Bring Along a Distraction 

Especially nervous children may need a distraction to mitigate acting out. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal or doll, bring it to the appointment to provide comfort. Consider letting your child play with your smartphone or tablet during the visit. If you limit daily screen time, this will be a special treat, which will help to cement a positive association with the dentist. 

2. Familiarize Them With the Process 

Parents should start teaching their kids about oral hygiene as soon as they're old enough to understand the basics. Since there are tons of children’s books on the subject, reading is a fun place to start. Bring your child to your own dental appointments and brush and floss together, so oral care is not foreign to them. You can also talk about your favorite parts of visiting the dentist, like getting bubblegum fluoride and going home with a brand new toothbrush.

3. Tour the Office in Advance 

Arranging a tour of the office will give your child a chance to meet the staff in a low-stress environment. This is especially helpful for older children — they will know what to expect when they return for their cleaning, and they may even be excited for it after seeing how happy the other kids in the waiting room are. 

If you need a friendly pediatric dentist in Northern Kentucky, look no further than North Ft. Mitchell Dentistry. Since 1969, this local practice has cared for the oral health needs of families throughout Kenton County. At their state-of-the-art office, they provide comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. Whether your toddler needs a dental exam or your teenager needs braces, turn to them for quality care. To learn more about the services they provide, visit their website. To make an appointment, call (859) 331-0763.