Parents may have to put in the work to make attending a children’s dentist appointment so much easier, allaying any unnecessary fears. And this is important because studies show the leading cause of childhood illness is a result of tooth decay – it can affect your kid’s wellbeing, health and enjoyment of life.
Here are some tips you can use to make acclimatising your child to kid’s dentistry easier from an early age:
- Let them know what’s likely to happen. It's important to tell your child about what happens at the dentist rather than leaving them in the dark. The unknown only exacerbates fears – especially if older siblings and friends are negative about visits to the dentist. An excellent time to reinforce positive messages about oral health and dentistry is when you're teaching your child to brush regularly. Answering questions in a direct, straightforward way and non-threatening or negative language can go a long way towards making the visit more successful. And never tell them about a bad experience at the dentist you've had!
- Read them appropriate bedtime stories. It's natural for kids to worry about going to the dentist. That's why there is a raft of books designed to make them feel more comfortable. Start reading one to them from a young age, and you'll find a trip to the dental surgery goes far more smoothly. Look for these titles: “Just Going to the Dentist” by Mercer Mayer; “Have You Ever Seen a Moose Brushing His Teeth?” by Jamie McClaine and April Goodman Willy; and “Dentist Trip with Peppa Pig” by Scholastic.
- Get them super excited. Make the whole process enjoyable for them by characterising your children's dentist as a superhero whose job it is to help your child grow big and strong. Play pretend dentist games at home where you each get a turn in the chair – use a mirror and encourage your child to count their own teeth and role play the process of drilling a cavity (without making it seem scary!) Take a fun tour of the dental surgery, treating it like a big adventure. Enlist your dentist in the fun; introduce them and the nurses to your child to help dispel any doubts.
- Stay in the room with them. When the big day comes, keep calm and relaxes so your little one doesn’t pick up any negative vibes. Kids naturally pick up cues from us, so it's crucial your anxiety doesn't squeak through. Hold their hand throughout the procedure, telling them how good they’re doing when appropriate. Agree on a hand safety signal beforehand if you think your child may panic – being in the dentist's chair can feel strange and vulnerable. Let them know if they feel worried, they can make this signal, and you'll ask the dentist to step back briefly so both of you can work on calming breaths.
With a little home preparation and positive reinforcement, your child can learn to enjoy going to the dentist every time. And that's vital because oral health is important to their future quality of life.