3 Ways to Prepare Your Child For The Dentist

Prepare Your Child For The Dentist

As your little one gets to the age of two or three years, he or she begins to have his/her own opinions, tastes, and preferences about most things. Although independence is a good quality to instill in your children, it can sometimes become frustrating if you can’t get your kids to see things your way, like the importance of good dental care and dental checkups.

While a trip to the dentist can be mysterious and scary, Dr. Deanna Risos’ tips can help you get your child prepared for the dentist:

1. Be a good example

Children learn a lot of good and bad things from observing so they can know how to respond to many things. If their parents and bigger siblings are nervous about dental checkups, this can be a big problem.

Once the child witnesses reluctance and odd behavior towards visiting the dentist, he/she will naturally assume that there is something to fear about seeing a dentist, and will probably throw a tantrum when you try to take them.

So, make sure that you act excited and cheerful about attending your own dental checkups, and when at home, brush together so they can learn. Take the chance to teach your child about the benefits of proper oral care and seeing a dentist, so he/she can also look forward to the dental visit and feel more confident about it.

2. Encourage proper oral hygiene at home

The healthier your child’s mouth is, the less time they will spend in the dentist’s chair. You should try to make at-home dental care, which includes brushing and flossing, more enjoyable and thorough for your children so they feel less anxious about seeing a dentist.

There are a number of ways to make at-home dental care fun, including buying a colorful toothbrush, such as one with the image of their favorite cartoon character or hero and matching colors. Pair the toothbrush with appropriate toothpaste. Children love flavored toothpastes, such as mint or watermelon.

3. Make the dentist appointment fun

The first step to making the dental appointment fun is choosing a friendly dentist and dental team. The environment should also be inviting and relaxed. The dentist could provide some form of entertainment, like a HD flat screen TV mounted to the ceiling so the child can watch their favorite cartoon or show while lying back on the dentist’s chair. Posters of cartoon characters around the dental practice can also make the atmosphere relaxing.

If you get anxious about seeing the dentist, it can seem like an impossible task to get your children excited about seeing the dentist themselves. However, using these tips, and perhaps providing some kind of reward or incentive can help them get excited about dental checkups.