8 Tips To Help Your Child Love Dentists

The idea of enabling children to actually love dentists may seem improbable but it can be done. However scared we ourselves may have been of dentists when we were young, we can turn the tide for our kids and help them not only to be unafraid of dentists but to actually be delighted with the thought of visiting the dentist. Here are some sure-fire tips to making your kids dentist-friendly.

1. Start them early.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should be taken to the dentist as early as 1 year old or as soon as the first few teeth erupt. At this age, the child has not yet been bombarded with notions of the stereotypical masked dentist armed with gray and cold objects out to poke mouths with scary instruments. Another advantage of starting dental visits when kids are still very young is that he will associate dentists not with painful emergencies but with preventive and pain-free oral care.

2. Use positive words.
In answering your curious child’s queries about the upcoming dental visit, avoid mentioning like the plague such negative words as pain, hurt or worse, blood. Instead, tell your child that the dentist will simply count her teeth, brighten her smile and clean sugar bugs off her mouth. Using kid-appropriate lingo is the secret to making them anticipate dental visits.

3. Be nonchalant.
Even if you knew your child will have a tooth extraction, try to be casual about it. When you elaborate much on the details, your child may see it in a negative light. On the other hand, if you dismiss her questions and promise that everything will be fine and dandy, she might soon lose trust in you or the dentist. The key is to tell the truth without overexplaining it and to not give false reassurances.

4. Play pretend.
Kids love the world of make believe and playing dentist with her could just do the trick. Play the dentist and count her teeth or use a mirror to look into her mouth. You can then let her play the dentist with her doll or toy as the patient. In the context of fun and play, pretty soon, she will look forward to her first dental visit.

5. Avoid bringing your kids to dental clinics for adults.
A common mistake parents often commit is to bring their kids along with them during dental visits. Unlike dental clinics for children, those for adults look too gray, too sterile and downright scary for your kids. Additionally, your child may even sense your own fear and anxiety and would thus feel the same way with her own dental visits later.

6. Be calm when the child is fussing.
A lot of times, no matter how well you have prepared your child for her dental visit, she may still end up fussing at the clinic. When this happens, try to be calm and just accept the situation. Scolding her in public will only cause embarrassment and may only serve to discourage her from going back to the dentist again. Remember that dental professionals are trained to handle children’s tantrums and are well able to handle the situation as well as guide you into how best to help your child relax.

7. Reward good behavior.
Whenever your child displays good and calm behavior at the dentist’s clinic, reward her with a word of encouragement or a toy. Positive affirmation will encourage your child to keep up her good behavior during the succeeding visits. However, be careful not to reward good behavior with sugary treats such as lollipop or ice cream as doing so would mean going against the dentist’s advice to avoid sugar-laden foods.

8. Always emphasize the importance of good oral hygiene at home.
At home, take the time to explain why your child should regularly go to the dentist. You need to let your child understand that she needs the dentist to keep her teeth healthy so that she can eat well, speak confidently and have a pretty smile. Tell her that the dentist will help her avoid cavities which are painful. When your child fully understands that going to the dentist is a necessity rather than an option, she will more readily consent to dental visits.

Sharky Liu is the founder of the #1 online dental directory for finding a dentist, DentistFind.com. Sharky loves building businesses and online marketing. He shares his insights on his blog about business and online marketing.

By a Guest Blogger

Are you a writer or a blogger? Do you have something to share with the world? Why not submit a guest blog post? You can write about any aspect of parenting and family, or anything that would be of interest to parents (which is just about anything!) Exceptional candidates who have contributed at least two guest posts, will be offered the opportunity to join our network of bloggers AND be able to post regularly on Surf Net Parents with a byline and biography.