We all remember what it was like to be a kid and be told that we had to go to the dentist. Oh sure, now we look forward to our regularly scheduled appointments to get our teeth professionally cleaned and to take care of those nasty tooth pains. When you’re a kid, it’s a little different.
For children it is best to take them to a Paediatric dentist because they are child-specific dentists. So many children are still scared of going to the dentist, but we all know how important it is that they go regularly. If your son or daughter is doing everything that they can to escape the car ride to get their teeth checked, then you might want to consider the following options.
Take The Mystery Out Of It
The old saying that we fear what we don’t understand is especially true when it comes to children. When a kid goes to the dentist, they know that they are going to have to lie back with their mouth wide open while a stranger pokes around in there with a selection of scary looking metal instruments.
According to Brisbane City Dentist, one of the best ways to start helping your child to overcome their fear of the dentist is to demystify the process. Stop saying things like “Because you just need to go, that’s why” or “You’ll be glad you went when you’re older.” Try to explain to them who the dentist is, why they are doing what they are doing, and what they are looking for. You could even do a practice run trip to the dentist trip at home with a mirror (and be sure to tell them how well they’re doing). However, it is important for you to avoid words like hurt, shot or pain, because they will start to expect them.
Make Dental Hygiene Important At Home (For Everyone)
We don’t need to tell you how intuitive kids are, and if good dental hygiene is something that you are only impressing on them when it’s time to go to the dentist, they will start to associate looking after their teeth with something they’re afraid of. So, instead of making it something that’s almost a punishment, make it fun. Talk to them about the benefits of having good teeth and tell them about all the parts of their mouths that are relying on them to look after them. Make time to brush and rinse with your kids to show that you take responsibility for your teeth too.
Don’t Make It A Big Deal
As we mentioned, one of the most important elements in taking the fear out trips to the dentist is to make it as normal as possible, and you can help that by making it a regular occurrence. You should start taking your child to the dentist when their first tooth appears when they’re about one year old, and after that you should be going about once every six months. You should also try telling your child when you go to the dentist to remind them that it’s something that adults do too. Some dentists, like this one here, are also specially trained in paediatric dentistry, so they’ll be able to make it feel like a normal experience, even if it’s not.
It helps if you can keep going to the same dentist to help your child see that this is not a stranger, but a friendly doctor who is going to help them get better. If you want to learn more about what you should do during the appointment, Pure Dentistry in Brisbane has a handy guide. You can read more about their services at puredentistry.com
Remember To Stay Calm
Children will feed off your energy, and if you are feeling nervous about how they are going to handle being at the dentist, or indeed what the dentist is going to find, they will definitely pick up on it. Anxiety, agitation, worry, stress… do your absolute best to put all that to one side and be calm. Maintain a positive attitude about the whole process and avoid using negative words that they might latch onto.
One of the most important things to remember is that you need to be patient with them when they are worrying and understanding if they start to act up. If you lose your temper with them while they are scared at the dentist, they will associate this place with that negative energy. Stay calm, stay kind, and don’t forget to tell them how well they’re doing.
Don’t Offer Them Rewards
One of the most common mistakes that parents make is offering their kid a reward if they do well at the dentist. If you tell your child that if they get through the whole thing without crying or causing a fuss, they’ll get some sweets or an ice cream, then they will immediately question what is going to happen to them that would merit a treat. It must be something pretty bad if I’m getting an ice cream…
There’s also the fact that giving your child a lot of sugar after going to the dentist is undermining the whole thing somewhat. Finally, there are some worrying reports about how many kids have been missing out on dental care during the pandemic, so remember that it’s so important that they go.
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