Dentists offer parenting advice

John Thompson

Print

Despite the stickers and lollipops on offer, persuading children to visit the dentist can sometime be a difficult task for parents.

In order to help moms and dads with this issue, the Chicago Dental Society recently polled over 300 dentists and collated their parenting advice, State Point Media reported.

Among the parenting skills mentioned when it comes to dental visits is the recommendation that parents should try and play down the importance of a visit to the dentist and not build up fears before going.

One of the main things they can also do is to begin taking their son or daughter to the dentist from an early age. The dentists questioned suggested six months - or around the time when the child's first tooth appears - as a good time.

In addition, parents could find it useful to distract their kids with toys, cartoons or coloring books while in the waiting room to keep them calm.

However, the key thing mentioned by dentists was the importance of parents themselves relaxing, so that their children do not pick up on their anxiety.

When it comes to other aspects of their child's oral care, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents should also try to make tooth-brushing a "fun" experience in order to encourage their kids to get into good habits.
ADNFCR-1662-ID-18606774-ADNFCR

Subscribe to the pregnancy newsletter or 4-8 year olds newsletter.

Email this | Print

Login with Facebook

Post a Comment


First Name:
City:
Email Address:
Comments:	Total Words: (400 words*)
	Enter the characters you see in the image. They are case sensitive.

Shopping

Article List

	Yes, you can help your son survive puberty!
	Will your kids become emotionally damaged after a big move?
	Are you a great dad - or just a pushover?
	Tough-but-fair punishments for misbehaving children
	Can children actually become responsible pet owners?
	When can I leave my children home alone?
	Has fatherhood changed in the digital age?
	Understanding the risks and dangers of SIDS
	How do I know if my child has a severe food allergy?
	Did your teenage son recently start dating? Some things to consider
	Help! My children are becoming couch potatoes!
	Don't panic - it's only your child's first cold
	Running errands with the kids - yes, it's possible

All section articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42