Taking kids to the dentist could help allay their fears.
Children could find trips to the dentist less stressful if their parents go into the meeting with them and if they themselves get regular check-ups. 
The recent National Health Interview Study in the US showed that 77 children whose parents had made a trip to the dentist in the last 12 months were not worried about their own check-ups, compared to 63 per cent for those whose parents did not accompany them.
“We know for so many different behaviours that children pick up on their parents. In order for good oral health in children to occur, parents need to value oral health as well,” commented Mary Hayes, a paediatric dentist in Chicago and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association.
Elsewhere, research for the Cochrane Oral Health Group recently showed children’s teeth could benefit from fluoride-rich toothpastes.
The study showed a minimum concentration of fluoride in children’s toothpastes of 1,000 parts per million could have a significantly positive impact on oral health.
