Toddlers And Dental Care

Toddlers, those cute little humans that bring so much joy into their parent's lives. That is, until it comes to brushing their teeth or getting them to sit still in the dental chair. Then, those lovable toddlers suddenly gain the strength and will of 5 weightlifters. However, no matter how much of a fight they put up, those teeth have to be brushed and those dental exams have to take place. This article is going to help you to get past those tooth brushing fights and have an easier time getting your child to sit for the dentist. Here are some different strategies you can try with your child, as well as important information you want to know about your toddler's teeth.

The primary teeth are important

It can be tempting to let your toddler win some of those dental care battles and figure those teeth are only their first set anyway. However, those primary teeth are very important because they are the placeholders for their adult teeth. Also, if the primary teeth become decayed and/or damaged, this can cause problems with the permanent teeth. This is why dental care needs to start early and be consistent.

Your toddler will mimic your actions

Instead of trying to talk your toddler into brushing their teeth, try placing their toothbrush and toothpaste next to yours. When you go to brush your teeth tell the you are going to brush your teeth, so they stay strong and pretty. Your toddler will more than likely follow you while telling you they want strong teeth too. Brushing your teeth with your toddler is also a great way to show them how long they should brush them for and how they should brush them.

The dentist's office can be fun

If you always show your toddler a good and exciting attitude about the dentist, then they won't have any reason to think negative thoughts about going to the dentist. In fact, you can buy books to read them that familiarizes them with the dentist in a positive manner. Make sure you don't allow others to speak negatively about the dentist around your child. Also, watch out for saying things that can get the opposite reaction you want from your child. For example, "There's no reason to be scared of the dentist". Things like this can make your child wonder why you would even mention being scared. Instead, say things like, "The dentist office can be so fun, there's so many cool tools to look at and new things to see". This will help your child actually look forward to their exam.

Contact a pediatric dentist for more advice.