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 VISITS
As 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 HABIT
In 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.
3. BOOSTS THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE
Your child’s self-confidence is significantly tied to their smile. While it might not affect their self-esteem when they’re little, it will as they get older.
By prioritizing dentist visits when they’re young, you can help your little one’s confidence in their smile grow as they mature. Since they’ve received dental care over the years, it will help ensure that their smile is as bright as can be.
Once they lose their teeth, you can then transition them into receiving orthodontic treatment as well to get straightened teeth. Straight teeth offer many benefits such as improved digestion, increased self-confidence, better speech, and a healthier smile.
Straight teeth can also affect your child’s craniofacial growth, making sure that the soft and hard tissue in your face grows proportionally.
4. LOWERS RISK OF TOOTH DECAY
Unfortunately, the rates of tooth decay continue to rise. Why? Because fewer people are being taught good dental habits as a child. The way they care for their teeth when they’re young will stay with them as they grow older.
Frequent dental visits can show the importance of good oral health habits. The dentist can help educate your child on what a proper oral daily routine consists of and why it’s so important.
As a result, your children will be able to avoid diseases such as gingivitis, as well as tooth decay, cavities, inflammation, and so much more.
5. NUMEROUS HEALTH BENEFITS
Not many people realize the importance that teeth play in your diet and speech. It’s important to prioritize dentist visits to ensure that both are taken care of.
Teeth are used to carry sounds and make clear and concise words. If the teeth are crooked or missing, it can play a factor in the clarity of your child’s speech.
As far as your child’s diet is concerned, missing or crooked teeth might make your child unable to chew and properly digest certain foods. Frequent dentist visits will ensure that their teeth can be used to eat all types of foods so that they can get the nutrients they need.
PRIORITIZE DENTIST VISITS FOR YOUR CHILD TODAY
Now that you have seen the importance of dentist visits and orthodontist visits for your child, be sure to schedule them both right away.
Be sure to read this page for more information on our doctors and why Indian Land Orthodontics is the perfect fit for your child’s orthodontic needs.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out to us either by phone at 803.442.1080 or by email at [email protected].