5 Tricks to Help Your Child Love the Dentist

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Uncategorized

What is one of the most common phobias? You guessed it—the fear of going to the dentist! People of all ages get a bit cagey at the idea of getting in that examination chair. However, for a young mind, the dentist is obviously much more confusing and difficult to process and understand.

Luckily, there are some simple tricks, and if you make sure to choose the right dentist, you can help your child to not fear the dentist and make sure they grow up with the right attitude towards good dental hygiene!

Start them young

Find a dentist that you plan on taking your child to for the foreseeable future, and make sure to introduce them to their dentist early on. This introduction ideally takes place before any actual appointment takes place. This humanizes the dentist and allows them/you to explain to the child the concepts of oral health and why it is crucial.

Choose your words carefully

Make sure to maintain a positive tone with your word choice. Make sure to help your child understand that their friend (the dentist) is going to clean their teeth with a “special toothbrush”. Avoid negative words like “pain” or “hurt”, and focus on the positive.

Practice at home

Before their first cleaning/checkup, stage a “pretend” dentist visit with your child. Explain to them what the dentist will do and why, and be sure to make it fun! This will help them develop a positive attitude towards the experience, and give them a better understanding of why they have to go to the dentist.

Avoid bribery

Although it may be tempting to coax your child through the stress of the dentist with the promise of reward, it’s best to avoid this technique. Offering a bribe immediately enforces the idea that the dentist visit is an unpleasant experience that needs to be compensated for. Instead, constantly commend your child on his/her bravery, maturity, and good attitude throughout the visit!

Emphasize the importance

Make sure to convey the importance of regular dental check-ups to your child. Be sure to highlight how visits will keep their teeth strong and healthy, and prevent problems down the road.

If you need additional advice on how to ease your child into their first visit to the chair, give us a call to consult our team of dental professionals.

Source

Beaver Enamel: What Can We Learn?

When you think of the paradigm of good oral health, you may not think immediately of beavers. However, it’s true—these constructive little critters have good oral health, despite the fact that you don’t see beavers brushing and flossing! So what keeps their teeth in such good condition? They’ve got help right from the get-go with […]

Why Add Mouthwash to Your Oral Health Routine?

Maybe you’ve seen the multi-colored bottles of minty-fresh mouthwash in the supermarket and have been wondering what the benefits are of adding mouthwash to your routine. Mouthwash won’t be the answer to all of your oral health needs, so read on to figure out what mouthwash can and can’t do for you. When adding mouthwash […]

ADA Recommends Earlier Fluoride Distribution for Children

When you think about dental hygiene for your kids, are brushing and flossing the only things that come to mind? These two items are highly important to maintain good oral health, but recently, the American Dental Association “recommends earlier fluoride distribution for children,” meaning parents will have to put a tad more effort in caring […]

Three Foods that Keep Your Teeth Healthy

We all know that brushing daily is a must if we want clean teeth and a healthy mouth. But, have you ever wondered what are some of the natural ways you can maintain your oral health? To satisfy your curiosity, here is a list of natural foods that help keep your teeth strong and healthy. […]

Mouth Guards: The Best Way to Save Hundreds on Dental Procedures

It is estimated that 200,000 football mouth injuries are prevented each year through the use of protection. Proper protection gear not only protect you and your loved ones from injury, but also from the cost of the procedures involved in healing in the injury. When it comes to protecting your mouth during physical activity, there […]