Are you curious about the effects that a dentist can have on a child’s growth? Do you wonder how important it is to make sure your kids are scheduled for a frequent checkup? If so, then you need to learn why dentist visits are so important for children. Doing so can help your child avoid the fear of the dentist as they grow up. It can also offer them several health benefits such as improved speech, a better diet, and boosting their self-esteem. See below for an in-depth guide on dentist visits and why they are such an important piece to the puzzle for kids as they grow up.
1. LOWERS THE FEAR OF DENTAL OFFICE VISITSAs with anything else that’s new, it might take your child a few visits to get used to visiting the dentist. However, the fear of dentistry doesn’t happen overnight. Contrary to popular belief, your child won’t grow out of that fear with age. In fact, studies have shown that over 60-percent of people suffer from dental fear. While they acknowledge the importance of routine dental and orthodontic care, their fear cripples them from visiting the dentist frequently enough. That fear starts when they’re children. Scheduling frequent visits to the dentist can help your child gain confidence in dental care. If they’ve been visiting the dentist frequently for as long as they can remember, they’re much more likely to keep doing so as they get older. Frequent visits with a trusted dentist can pave the way for their dental health for the rest of their lives. It can help with the initial visit to an orthodontist’s office when they get older. They won’t have the nerves and anxiety that most kids have to battle through. More importantly, they’ll listen to what the dentist/orthodontist says. They’ll take their instructions seriously and put them into practice in their lives.
2. TURNS DENTAL VISITS INTO A HABITIn his book titled The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg uncovers a psychological pattern known as the “habit loop”. He states the important role that a habit loop plays in establishing habits, whether they are good or bad. Without a habit loop, the habit cannot be formed. The more that you perform a habit loop with a certain routine, the more it is ingrained into your mind. In time, it becomes second nature to you. Each habit loop consists of three parts: a cue, a routine, and a reward, always in that order. Without either one of the three, the habit won’t stick. What does this have to do with dentist visits? It shows you how you can ensure that your children always take their dental health seriously. Here’s a potential habit loop you can form for your children’s dentist visits:
- The Cue– Getting in the car to attend a dentist/orthodontist visit.
- The Routine– Receiving the checkup and listening to the dentist, then having your child repeat back to you what the dentist said to them.
- The Reward– Making their favorite meal that night, Doing a fun activity with them after the dentist visits.