How To Help Your Child Get Over Their Fear Of The Dentist

Did you just find out you've got some tooth decay? Learn about some dental care tips that can prevent the problem in the future.

How To Help Your Child Get Over Their Fear Of The Dentist

How To Help Your Child Get Over Their Fear Of The Dentist

8 March 2017
 Categories:
Dentist, Blog


It is common for many children to develop a fear of the dentist. The problem occurs when that fear becomes intense and to the point where your child is refusing to go for dental checkups or experiences an extreme amount of anxiety when going. This is why you will want to take action to help your child overcome his or her fear of the dentist.

Watch Some Fun Videos

Take a little time to search the Internet for fun kid-friendly videos about going to the dentist. Make sure that it is a fun video and not a plain boring one. Otherwise, your child may lose interest and he or she will not gain anything of value from the video. You might want to watch the video a few times with your child and talk about everything you see in it.

Set Up A Pretend Dentist Office In Your Living Room

A couch or a recliner can act as the dentist chair and a small end table can be where all of the tools for the dentist are placed. A small flashlight, a tooth brush, and a wooden tongue depressor can be the tools for the person pretending to be the dentist. First, allow your child to be the dentist, as this may help him or her feel as thought they have some control over the situation. Have your child shine the light in your mouth and gently poke at your teeth with the wooden tongue depressor. Once your checkup is done, it is time to switch places. This way, your child can now begin to get used to the idea of being the patient in the dental office. Make it fun and do this several times over the course of a few weeks before the scheduled dental appointment. Before you know it, your child will feel ready to go to the real dentist.

Reassure Your Child That You Will Be There

Some dental offices do not let anyone back to the exam room with the patient, even if the patient is a child. This is not good for children who have a fear of the dentist. Therefore, you will want to focus on finding a pediatric dentist who will most likely allow you to go back to the exam room with our child. Just knowing that you will be there every step of the way can help your child put some of his or her fears aside.

Do make sure that you are scheduling the dental appointment for your child as soon as possible, especially if he or she will be a new patient. This is because it can take a few weeks before you are able to have your child seen due to their scheduling needs.

About Me
Got Tooth Decay? Finding Dental Care Tips Right For You

When it comes to my dental care, I only use the best toothbrushes, toothpastes and flosses. But sometimes, even after being vigilant and careful with my oral care, I experience problems like toothaches. Last year, I developed a small cavity in one of my back teeth. I didn't want to bother my dentist about it, so I simply took pain medications and hoped for the best. But after my jaw began to swell up, I sought professional dental help. My small cavity was actually a large hole filled with infection. I ended up having an extraction. Now, I visit my dentist as often as I can, because I can't afford to lose anymore teeth. I want to share my experiences with other people, so I created this blog. I offer tips on how to keep your teeth healthy and when to see a dentist. Thanks for visiting.

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