Taking care of your teeth is a lifelong task. Developing good oral care habits is best done as a child. Teaching children to brush and floss from an early age sets them up for a lifetime of healthy oral care habits. But, brushing and flossing isn't enough, it’s also important to get children in the habit of visiting the dentist. Certainly, many children and adults don’t particularly like going to the dentist, which makes it important to choose the right dentist.

While all dentists have the training and experience to care for teeth, not all of them are good for kids. To be a good fit for kids, dentists and their oral hygienists need to show a little extra consideration. When looking for a kid friendly dentist, there are several qualities and traits to consider.

Foremost, is the office space inviting and welcoming to children? Child-friendly offices likely have a corner with toys for children to play while waiting. Televisions playing children’s movies are also a great addition to offices; however, toys and movies aren’t always necessary. At the very least, as a parent, you shouldn’t have to be afraid of your child breaking décor or other things in the office.

While a child proof office space is a great addition, it’s not the most important aspect of a child-friendly dentist. Though it may seem obvious, the dentist and their staff need to be child-friendly. Kid-friendly dentists should enjoy working with children and know how to speak to them on their level. Patience is also a necessary attribute for dentists who work with kids.

Children aren’t always the most compliant; they ask a lot of questions, and they may be afraid of visiting the dentist. Great dentists will be kind, compassionate, and approachable helping children to feel safe welcome. In addition to having a personality that works well with kids, dentists need tools that do the same. Children have much smaller mouths than adults. Using tools meant for adult mouths can cause children a discomfort.

Of course, child-friendly dentists need to be knowledgeable. Though teeth are fundamentally the same, children’s teeth are prone to different problems. Kid friendly dentists should recognize problems caused by thumb sucking, pacifiers and other potential problems that children face. Before choosing a family dentist, be sure that they have what it takes to work effectively with your kids.