4 Tips to Try if Your Child Doesn’t Like Going to the Dentist
Unless directed otherwise, you should prioritizetaking your child to the dentist every six months. Regular checkups, and preventive dental care as a whole, are key. They allow our Hudsonville, MI, family dentist and trusted staff to monitor oral development as well as perform a more thorough teeth cleaning.
Not all children are enthusiastic about going, however. The dentist’s office can seem like a scary place for a variety of reasons. For one, there are new people there that your child doesn’t know. There are also dental tools that make loud noises. It’s a location that’s largely unfamiliar to them and can essentially be boiled down to a fear of the unknown.
Here are 4 easy .
Finding Out the Cause of the Anxiety
When it comes to , there are a multitude of explanations. Discovering why your child specifically feels apprehensive can prove difficult at first as even they may not know the source. Our local children’s dentist recommends leveling with them and patiently listening to their concerns. Using easy-to-understand terminology at this time can also make the discussion more productive.
Your child could have dental anxiety because of:
- A negative or painful past experience
- How dental tools look or feel
- Someone in the family who also has dental anxiety (learned behavior)
- Lack of preparation for the first dental visit
For children who have a tougher time and need extra help to get through their appointment, we do offer dental sedation in the form of laughing gas. Once administered, your child may feel a little tired, but they will remain awake and responsive the entire time they are inhaling the gas through a small nose piece. Ask us today about this option if you think your child may benefit from sedation.
1. Above Everything, Stay Positive
It’s important that you remain calm when speaking to your child about visiting our Hudsonville, MI dental office. Making them any more afraid is not going to help anyone. Steer clear of complex language that will only confuse and don’t pass along your own phobias. Try to be completely objective and don’t emotionally charge the conversation.
Related Post → Getting Your Toddler Ready for the Dentist
In other words, explain plainly what the dentist and hygienist wants to do. You can say they will check their teeth, brush them, and teach them about keeping their mouth healthy. Don’t make hard promises, however, as you never know what your child may need procedure-wise. Of course, you can positively ensure that they are in good hands.
2. Read or Watch Dental Related Content
There are plenty of helpful picture books and friendly online videos about dental visits to choose from. Prepare your child by taking the time to read through an easy-to-understand book or watch a relatable video.
Any digestible content on the subject of going to the dentist will work wonders. Even better if you can find a book or video that features your child’s favorite character. They’ll be able to see that individual experience the same thing and know that if that character can do it, so can they. Suddenly the dentist won’t seem so scary.
After you’re done reading or watching, ask your child to share their thoughts. You may find that they now have a more positive outlook of the dentist.
3. Play Games
One thing all parents can agree on: children love games. So, use this shared appreciation to your advantage. Create a game centered around their next or first visit to the dentist.
A great place to start is by playing pretend. All you need to do is assume the role of the dentist and have your child be your patient. Use a toothbrush to carefully brush and count their teeth. As you “work”, be sure to speak to your child about what you’re doing and the importance of oral health. When you’re done, let your child swap roles and try.
With any game you try, avoid anything that may further scare your child. What we mean by this is if you play pretend, do not make drilling noises or go into detail on procedures your child may not even need. This can be counterintuitive and frighten them more.
4. Strategically Plan Their Appointment
You know your child better than we do. If you’re aware your child is at their crankiest early in the morning, wait to schedule their appointment until later in the day.
Make sure your child has eaten a meal recently and gotten enough sleep the night before. This way, they’re more likely to be in high spirits when they’re sitting in the chair. Tantrums and bad moods are hard to predict but planning ahead decreases the likelihood they’ll happen.
You can also bring their favorite stuffed animal along for the visit to increase their level of comfort. Sometimes knowing they have a friend with them is all they need to feel confident.
Give Our Office a Call Today
Our family dentist in Hudsonville, MI, has seen their fair share of anxious children wanting to be anywhere but the office. You can rest assured that everyone on our staff is trained to explain all that is going on in easy-to-grasp language. Schedule an appointment for your child by calling Hudsonville Dental Kids at (616) 209-4039 or by completing our online contact form.
This blog post has been updated.
