How to Put a Positive Spin on the Dentist to Your Child

Let’s be honest, unfortunately, most people are not a huge fan of going to the dentist. Most dental officers know this and always try and help people, however, their fear may have stemmed from a younger age and it’s not going away. With that said, most children are not born fearing the dentist. The main reason they may not like the dentist is that the fear is being passed from their parents. This sets the child not only not wanting to go to their next appointment, but not liking the dentist for their entire life.

There are things you as the parent can do to help avoid any fears being passed on. You can encourage them to not just fear the dentist, but actually love forward to going to the dentist! Keep reading to learn how Swartout Dental tells parents how to talk to their children about going to the dentist. You really will be putting a positive spin on it with these tips!

Don’t make it a big deal

It’s important to not make going to the dentist a big deal. There’s a fine line between explaining that it is important, and showing how it’s a big place that you must go regularly. Just make it a casual day and let them know a few days before they will be having an appointment. If you know you may come across with a negative voice, try and pep yourself up a little bit. Just talk to your child in a casual way to allow them to understand what is going on.

Explain

It’s important to let your child know what will happen at the dentist. You can talk about who will be seeing them if they have been to that dentist before. You can highlight the positives that will happen during the appointment. If the office gives a prize for coming after, you can talk to them about that and get excited for them with what they are going to choose.

Keep the routine fun

It’s important to keep the oral care up in between dental appointments. One of the ways you can do this is by making a fun routine when you are at home daily. One idea is to brush your teeth together. Another is to play their favorite song when they are brushing their teeth. Then they have to brush their teeth throughout the entire song. There are lots of options of toothbrushes for children out there, let them pick out their favorite one so they want to use it. There are also a lot of different kinds of toothpaste that children can use. Let your child pick which flavor they want or grab a fun flavor you know that will make brushing their teeth an exciting task.

Educate them beforehand

It’s important to let your child know why they are going to the dentist. Just like you explain to them why it is a good idea for them to eat their fruits and vegetables, it’s also a great idea to let them know why their oral health is important too. Explain what can happen to them in a nice way if they do not brush their teeth and go to the dentist regularly. Explain to them what the dentist is doing when checking their teeth and what can actually happen if they don’t take care of their teeth and gums. Children understand and starting young is a great way to help children have great oral health their entire life.

Start them young

A child can start going to the dentist when they are only 6 months or 1 year. One of the reasons why this is a great idea is so that they start getting into the habit of seeing the dentist regularly. Since your child won’t even remember their first visit, they will already be in a routine of going when they do remember. If you have not taken your child to the dentist yet, that’s okay. We encourage you to bring them to the dentist as early as possible.

Right verbiage

When talking to your child about going to the dentist, be selective with which words you use. Don’t use words and phrases like “it may hurt, but…” or “if you have a cavity you may get a painful shot…”. This does not keep the appointment in a happy place. Many dental offices understand exactly how to speak with a child about their appointment. When they come in they make sure to go through the appointment with them and ensure they use positive words. If you are ever unsure of what you should be saying and how to put a positive spin on it, simply contact a dental office that specializes in children’s visits.

Encouraging your child to enjoy the dentist and making sure any fears you or adults around your child have of going to the dentist is so important so that your child does not fear the dentist. A healthy mouth is so important for people of all ages. As your child’s teeth are coming in and adult teeth may soon be appearing, it makes it even more important that they have healthy and strong teeth. This will be the teeth they have for the rest of their lives, it’s critical to have great oral health. For more kits on helping your child like the dentist or learning how to put a positive spin on it, contact us today!