A new environment, new instruments, strangers – it’s completely expected for a child to be frightened their first couple of times visiting the dentist.
So how do you make a trip to the dentist less scary? Here are a few suggestions.
- Start early by introducing your child to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits.
- Skip complicated phrases and jargon your child may not understand when talking about the dentist.
- Use an older sibling or cousin to demonstrate the best behavior at the dentist.
- Use a stuffed animal and let your child pretend to be the animal’s dentist while you explain different parts of the mouth and the dental visit process.
- Read books. There are a lot of great books out there about the dentist that illustrates the process and focuses on what to expect at a visit.
- Make it fun. Utilize fun videos and other rewards systems to make brushing a fun activity for kids to enjoy.
There is no substitution for great oral hygiene & the better the habits you instill the more likely it is that good oral hygiene will be second nature for your child.
If children sense that a trip to the dentist, while essential, is as ordinary as getting a haircut, they will treat it as such.
At Jackson Dental, we offer preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry services for the whole family.
Give us a call today at 573-243-5200 to schedule the comprehensive exams, x-rays, and regular cleanings that are essential to your overall oral health.