It’s normal for a routine trip to the dentist’s office to invoke fear in a child, but it doesn’t have to. Proper oral health care for kids begins at home, and the more this is practiced and becomes a natural everyday habit, the less often they will have to visit the dentist and undergo painful and scary procedures. Many parents don’t realize the importance of taking their young children to the dentist soon after their first tooth has arrived. This will aid in preventing tooth decay and teach parents how to accurately take care of their child’s teeth until they are old enough to learn on their own. Early and frequent visits to the dentist also familiarizes children with the dental process and helps them to become more comfortable in that environment when it comes time to lie back in the seat and open up. If you’re worried about a stressful, tear-filled battle every time there’s a dentist appointment looming, try these tips to help your child overcome their fear.
Practice Simplicity
Of course honesty is the best policy, but sometimes it’s just simply smarter to choose your words cautiously and sparingly and omit certain information that could cause your child distress. Talking about some of the tools a dentist uses and what a cleaning involves may be all your child needs to know for the moment. Giving them extra details about other procedures and using negative words, even unintentionally, can cause them to become anxious and upset before an appointment even begins, making it difficult for them to calm down once in the office. However, limiting the amount you talk about it and using positive terms doesn’t mean insisting that everything will be fine just in case that doesn’t turn out to be so.
Explain the Importance of Good Oral Hygiene
Teach your children early on how important it is to take care of their teeth and give them examples of what can happen as a result of poor oral hygiene. They should soon learn that when they practice good oral hygiene at home they won’t have to go through other uncomfortable procedures at the dentist. Guide them to understand a dentist’s role in helping them to achieve strong, healthy teeth and a nice white smile and in keeping cavities from developing. It will also be helpful if your child knows that going to the dentist is a necessity and not a choice.
Find a Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist is specially trained to deal with younger patients. They will understand the significance of being patient with children who seem anxious and upset, have the ability to make them more comfortable and at ease and create an office setting that promotes a welcoming and soothing experience.
Congratulate Them
Positive reinforcement will help boost your child’s confidence, and once they have gotten through their dentist appointment, it’s a good idea to emphasize the favorable elements of the visit and reward them as you see fit. Reminding them of the control they have at home over their oral hygiene in between dentist visits gives them a sense of empowerment and may motivate them to get excited about taking care of their teeth.
A child’s fear and hesitance towards the dentist shouldn’t be disregarded, but trying to alleviate their anxiousness with these tips while standing firm on their need to go will ensure a better experience and healthier mouth in the long run.
Author Bio: My name is Tiffany Olson and I live in beautiful Northern California (Redding to be exact!). I love to blog on day-to-day health and wellness topics. My best girl friend is a parent, and has received great help from Dr. Rooney, a local Redding dentist who specializes in children’s dentistry.
