4 Tips to Help Your Child Overcome Their Fear of Dentists. People of all ages are known to be afraid of dentists and in many cases, this fear stems from childhood. As a child, who has never visited a dentist in their life, this fear is usually the fear of the unknown, the fear of pain, and simply not knowing what to expect.
Fortunately, there are ways to help your child overcome the fear of the dentist. With the fear out of the way, dentist visits will become a routine. If your child learns that there is nothing to be afraid of at the dentist’s office, they won’t have problems or fears as adults.
So, here are some tips that you can use to help your child overcome their fear of dentists.
1.     Find a good dental office
The first experiences for children are everything. That’s why you should ask around and find a dentist that is really good with children. A good dentist will know exactly how to talk to children and what words to use.
A good dentist will know not to use words such as pain, shot, hurt, and other trigger words that can upset and scare the children. Many times the dentist’s approach can mean a world of difference, so choose carefully your child’s first dentist.
2.     Take your child to a dentist when they are young
The younger your child is when you take them to the dentist, the better. These first visits aren’t necessarily for any real work but as a way to introduce your child to the dentist and help them familiarize themselves with the dentist’s office.
These first visits are crucial as the dentist can help them get to know the instruments, the chair, the staff, and only after your child has seen that there is no threat and that everything is familiar – the dentist can take a look at their teeth.
Just like visiting the dentist at an early age is important, so is visiting an experienced orthodontist. The earlier they start checking up on your children’s teeth, the less dental issues and orthodontic treatments they’ll need in the future.
These early introductions can be a great way to help your child lose the fear right from the beginning.
3.     Be a good role model
Another good way to help your child overcome the fear, or to prevent the fear altogether is by bringing them to your dental checkups. If you show them that going to the dentist is nothing scary and that it can even be pretty fun, they might forget their fear.
When you’re at the dental office, smile as much as you can, and tell them that going to the dental office is a good thing because it’s beneficial to your health. Be relaxed and cheerful and in that way, your child will see that there really is nothing to be afraid of.
4.     Award your child but avoid bribery
There is a huge difference between an award and bribery. It’s ok to award your child for being brave at the dentist’s office. However, telling your child that they will get a treat if they behave or not cry is bribery.
Avoid doing that to your children because it can send the wrong message. Instead of giving them unhealthy sugary treats try to find different ways to award them for being brave – praise them, take them somewhere they like, or surprise them with a small toy. Simply use positive reinforcement instead of bribery.
It’s really important to teach our kids that visiting a dentist’s office is necessary for their health. Promoting dental health and good oral hygiene is something that should be done from an early age.
Similarly, visiting a dentist is another thing that we should teach our children from an early age. Start taking your children to the dentist early, and make sure you take them to a good dentist and they will see that there is nothing to be afraid of and that these visits can only benefit them.
