As parents, you want what is best for your children, and you try to start their lives out right by making sure they eat well, visit the doctor regular, and get physical activity. One issue that is commonly overlooked, however, is getting children on a regular schedule with their dentist. This happens for many different reasons, one of the biggest reasons being the intense fear that many children experience when it comes to visiting the dentist. Helping your child develop healthy feelings regarding the dentist will set them up for a lifetime of success when it comes to managing their dental health. Look below for tips and tricks to help your child reduce anxiety when it comes to visiting the dentist.
Start Early
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should make their first visit to the dentist by their first birthday, or six months after their first tooth has come in. If your child begins visiting the dentist at this young age, he or she will become used to them, reducing the chances of dental anxiety as they become older. Starting your child off on the right fit will pay off when they become older, both medically and emotionally.
Role Play
Playing pretend with your child can help them become used to the idea of visiting the dentist. Take turns with your child-- one of you pretending to be the dentist, and the other the patient. Letting your child feel in control of the situation in this way may make the dentist feel more like a fun game instead of something to dread.
Books and Movies
There are numerous books and movies geared toward young children visiting the dentist. Letting your child learn about other children who have had positive experiences at the dentist is likely to help them become less fearful of these important visits.
Rewards
While you certainly don't want to make a habit of bribing your child into doing things that are required of them, alleviating intense anxiety through the use of rewards can be very beneficial. Let your child know that once they make it through their visit at the dentist with good behavior, a new book, movie, toy, etc. will be coming their way. Just as getting through a long work week for the promise of a paycheck can motivate adults to do things they don't want to do, a treat or reward can motivate a child to get through an experience they are scared of.
Share13 January 2015
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.