Oral hygiene can have a greater impact on your overall health than many people realize. And while you might have created strong habits for yourself in this area, your children may not give this area of their health the time and attention it deserves. So when your child gets the news from their dentist that he or she has developed a cavity, it’s important that you get this taken care of quickly. However, dental procedures can be very scary for some children, especially if they already have a hard enough time just going to their regular cleaning. So to help everyone make it through this event with flying colors, here are three tips for preparing your child to have their first cavity filled.
Handling The News Correctly
The way your child reacts to having a cavity is going to be determined as soon as the news is shared with you by the dentist. While you might be disappointed and even a little nervous for your child and the prospect of getting this cavity taken care of, Renee Wilson, a contributor to Today’s Parent, warns against putting this event in a negative light. If you refer to the cavity as some type of punishment for your child not brushing well enough, he or she might expect there to be a lot of pain or turmoil associated with the entire event. And although there can be pain, you don’t want your child anticipating their filling to be a horrible ordeal that they need to fear.
Explain What Will Happen and Practice At Home
To help your child be ready for the procedure, you should explain what will likely happen when they go in to get their cavity filled. However, try to be as brief as possible so you don’t accidentally scare your child. If you sense some fear or apprehension from your child leading up to the filling, Maria Mora, a contributor to SheKnows.com, shares that you can practice at home by having your child lean back in a chair with their mouth open and having you take a look at their teeth. This can help them get more comfortable with having the dentist checking in their mouth in the future.
Have A Plan For Healing
As part of your preparation for the filling, you should also have a plan for how you’ll handle the healing process. Your child might experience some pain and tenderness associated with their filling, especially if they’re needing more than one. To help with this, Tricia Mool, a contributor to Colgate.com, recommends giving your child softer foods for the next day or two after the procedure, giving pain-relieving medication if necessary, and using a cold compress to reduce swelling and ease pain.
If your child will be getting his or her first filling soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you both be prepared for this event.
Originally posted on October 31, 2018 @ 2:40 pm