It's not unusual for kids to fear dentist visits, but this fear can be crippling to your child and their oral health. Your child should form a good relationship with their oral hygiene from an early age, and that starts with regular visits to the dentist.
Dentist visits don't have to be, and shouldn't be, something that is feared. With the right tools, habits, and encouragement, you can get your kids excited to go to the dentist.
With these tips, you can ensure that your child will enter the dental office with a smile, and leave with an even bigger one:
Go on a Practice Tour
The fear of the unknown plays a significant role in a child's apprehension towards dental visits. When you choose a dental office like Ocean Dental Studio in Boynton Beach that offers practice tours, you can eliminate this anticipation.
Practice tours give your child the chance to get used to a dental office environment before it's time for their appointment. Treat this tour like a "field trip" of sorts that will get your kids looking forward to their next dentist visit.
Encouraging Oral Hygiene
Encouraging hygienic habits like flossing and brushing their teeth will help your kids start some good habits and give them less reason to fear their dentist. Often, kids think that going to a dental office will result in needles or fillings due to cavities or other dental concerns.
But by instilling these habits, you can help your kids feel more confident about their oral health and going to the dentist.
You can always make a game of these habits to provide further incentives for your little ones. Have your kids accumulate stars or points of any kind when they floss or brush their teeth so that they can get excited about taking care of their oral health.
Lead by Example
Your kids look to you for guidance. If you're excited about going to the dentist, chances are your kids will be too. Engage in good habits with your kids; make toothbrushing a dance party, or whatever else it takes to lift your child's spirits when it comes to dental care.
Consider making your appointment on the same day as theirs and go first. This way, they can see you test the waters and be more confident when it's their turn.
Make Going to the Dentist a Family Event
Consider making going to the dentist an event for the entire family. Schedule an appointment for every family member on the same day, and after everyone has their turn, plan for something fun to do together. See a movie, go out for dinner or celebrate whichever way you choose. This way, your dentist visit is a family day date that the kids can look forward to.
Ask Questions
The reality is that there may be some concerns or misconceptions your child has about going to the dentist that you don't even know. If they are scared to go to the dentist, ask them why.
Maybe something happened during their last visit, they are afraid of having cavities, or their friend told them that they would need to get a big needle the next time they went to the dentist. You never know until you ask, and you can't reassure your child unless you understand why they are nervous.
Ask them why they are scared and then gently explain what the dentist can do for them. Give them some realistic expectations because sometimes all your kids need is for you to tell them that everything is going to be okay. Explain that the dentist only wants good things for them and that going to the dentist will make their quality of life better, not worse.
