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Home › Articles › Health Issues › Tooth Time!

Tooth Time!

Taking Your Preschooler to the Dentist

By Shel Franco

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

What to Do
After reading what goes on, that first visit might not seem like a big deal. But for some children, it can be very scary. Fortunately, you as a parent can help alleviate the stress.

"Children model their behavior after their parents," Dorfman says. "If a child is particularly apprehensive, they might do better if they first watch mom or dad get treated."

In addition, Dorfman suggests that if the child still seems worried, parents can give them permission to stop the dental exam whenever they feel uncomfortable.

Sherri Ramsey from Erie, Penn., and her husband tried to prepare their 4-year-old for her first trip to the dentist. "We talked to her about it, and we showed her how to open her mouth," Ramsey says. "She went to the check-up with her dad, and she did very well."

Back at home, parents can help ensure good dental health by keeping the following tips in mind from Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, a dentist in general practice and assistant professor at Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, in New York, N.Y.

  • Sugar is really the cause of cavities.
  • Dental floss is very important, even for young children.
  • Proper tooth-brushing skills should be learned.
  • An over-the-counter fluoride mouthwash should be used by children who understand to spit it out and not to swallow.

    • Pages:  1  2  3  4  

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