Parents, do you remember your first trip to the dentist? For many of us, dentist trips are scary or unnerving, and we continue to dread dentist trips into adulthood. It’s perfectly natural for children to be wary or scared of strangers, and this is especially true for dentists – strangers who poke your mouth with strange tools. However, this doesn’t mean that there’s no hope for your own kid’s experience at the dentist.
With the right tricks, you can encourage a trend of positive dentist visits for your kid from an early age. This will help relieve the stress of visiting the dentist for both you and your young one, but it will also translate into better dental health and habits as your child grows up. While it might be tempting to put off your child’s first visit to the dentist, this can end up doing more harm than good. Instead, use these three tips to turn a dental visit into just another day!
Remember to Stay Positive
Like with all of their other experiences, your child will be watching your mood, listening to your words, and paying close attention to how you feel about the dentist, too. When creating a friendly environment at the dentist, it’s crucial that you stay positive! Try to use kind language that’s easy for children to understand. Don’t focus on anything that might sound painful or intimidating. When explaining the dentist visit, use phrases like “counting your teeth,” “tooth picture,” and “sugar bugs” while avoiding complicated or scary words like x-ray, decay, or drill. Friendly words are super important for kids to feel safe and comfortable in a new place like the dentist!
Teach Your Kid What to Expect
Another important step to ensuring a great visit is to talk to your child about what the dentist will do and why it’s important to go. This is a great way to practice using positive language when talking about dentists! Kids are often afraid of the unknown and new, and they’ll be much less anxious about the visit if they understand what to expect before the big day.
You’re not limited to just talking about the trip to the dentist. There are plenty of other resources for you to teach your kid that the dentist can be safe and fun. Practice going to the dentist at home by playing pretend. This will help them get more familiar with the process and experience. You can also read kid-friendly books about the dentist, like Dr. Seuss and Curious George, which will help prepare them for their big day at the dentist!
Reward Good Dentist Days
Kids respond to the mood of the day, so turn your first visit into something that they’re looking forward to! Build excitement for the visit by telling them about the importance of this step in becoming a “big kid.” If you can turn the visit into something truly fun, you’ll have an easier time bringing your kid to future appointments. With young children, make sure to make every step of the journey fun with books, games, or rewards for great behavior. Bring a favorite toy to share with the dentist so that they feel more comfortable. A great idea is to even prepare a “report card” and reward so that they can have a prize after the visit! With a rewarding experience, you’ll be able to make the dentist a normal, fun part of your child’s health routine as they get older – the most important part of a bright, happy smile!
