There are actually many adults out there who are absolutely terrified of going to the dentist and if you happen to be one of them, imagine how challenging it is for a child.
Fear of the dentist is common, even for you as an adult. It’s so common that there are even names for it, like dentophobia, odontophobia and dental anxiety. So, it isn’t surprising if your child is fearful or anxious about going to the dentist. Fret not, as there are ways to overcome your child’s fear of the dentist and make their trip to the dental office a more positive one!
How to Ease Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist
Start Them Young
- Help your child get used to the dentist by taking them as early in their life as possible.
- This will let them get more accustomed to and comfortable with the routine visits.
Keep Things Simple and Watch Your Words
- Keep the description simple when explaining to your child about the dental visit.
- Avoid overwhelming them with too many details.
- Avoid words, like “hurt”, “pain”, and “shot” when explaining a trip to the dental clinic.
- Keeping things simple and easy can help the child feel less confused or anxious.
Talk to Your Child about the Appointment
- Give your child the opportunity to express feelings they may be experiencing.
- Help them understand what may happen at or during the appointment.
- The more positive and calm you are about it, the easier it will for them to remain calm.
- This is a good time to make them aware of why brushing their teeth is so important.
- Help them understand why their gums and teeth health are important.
- Explain that the dentist is the friendly “mouth” doctor who helps them do that.
Play “Pretend” Dental Clinic Visit
- Make a game out of things can ease a child’s anxiety or fear of the dentist.
- This can also be applied to the dental clinic.
- Helps your child learn what to expect when seeing the dentist.
Emphasise the Importance of Good Oral Hygiene
- Make practising good dental habits an important part of your child’s daily life.
- The earlier you introduce the good habits of proper oral hygiene, the better.
- Start by cleaning the gums of your baby with a wet cloth or baby toothbrush.
- This helps them develop good oral hygiene habits early in life, and prepare them for cleanings and exams later on.
Avoid the Use of Bribery
- Bribing is not a healthy way to get them to go to the dentist.
- They will start expecting a reward every time they go to the dentist.
- This takes the focus off of the fact that good dental health is its own reward in itself.
Look for a Pedodontist
Alternatively, you can look for a pediatric dentist, a dental professional who specialises in dental health for children. They will know how to soothe and calm a scared or anxious child and ease their fears of dental visits.
Common tactics that pediatricians often use include distractions, positive reinforcement, sedation, or simple and easy instructions. The staff at the clinic are also trained in ways to put children at ease and make them feel comfortable. The office décor is kid-friendly with themes that appeal to children and waiting rooms equipped with games, movies, toys, and books.
Even the dental instruments are smaller, specifically designed to fit little mouths. They are also equipped to work with special needs children.
Now that you have learned some good ways to ease your child’s fear of the dentist, you can put these into action next time and have your child on their way to a healthier mouth in no time!