Parents should be easygoing about trips to the dentist to help their kids be more at ease, it has been claimed.
Local US newspaper the Gary Post Tribune advised against pressuring children into visiting the dentist, as this can lead to anxiety and an unwillingness to maintain proper oral hygiene in later life.
Failing to have regular check-ups could lead to an increased risk of developing oral health problems and, as such, it is important that children are willing to go to the dentist or they could face having to visit the emergency dentist when an oral health problem gets out of hand when they are older.
Elsewhere, a report carried out by Cosmetic Dentistry Guide recently showed that parents could be passing on their fears of the dentist to their children.
It showed the importance of having a positive experience the first time a child visits the dentist, as this can colour their feelings about having their teeth checked for the rest of their lives.