4 Tips for Easing Your Child's Fear of the Dentist

The key to helping your kid have the healthiest teeth possible is visiting the dentist routinely from an early age. However, many children may have an extreme fear of doing so, and you may need to work hard to ensure your child makes this visit. There are specific things you can do and tips you should use to make these critical appointments on time and regularly.

Tip #1: Answer questions

One of the causes of your child's fear may be not knowing what to expect. It's a very good idea to sit down with your kid and address any questions that may be asked.

Listed below are additionally some details you can provide:

1.    What's involved in getting a dental exam and cleaning.

2.    The various tools that will be used during a routine appointment.

3.    The dental chair and how it will adjust up and down.

4.    The importance of healthy teeth and how these will strongly impact the entirety of the child's life.

In fact, it's not a bad idea to do a pretend visit at home to help ease some of the anxiety of your kid.

Tip #2: Start early

The sooner you begin taking your child to the dentist, the more routine these appointments will become. Starting regular dental visits early in life can make this a priority for you both, and the result will be healthier teeth that will last a lifetime.

Tip #3: Expect some resistance

Despite your best efforts, you can typically expect some kids to continually fuss and complain about going to the dentist. However, you should be firm and be prepared for this by ensuring all dental appointments are kept and made as necessary.

Tip #4: Offer rewards

Not all parents may agree that rewarding your child for going to the dentist is ideal. However, this may be one of the most effective tips for making sure you kid gets there with less fuss about the visit.

The key thing you will want to do is help your child have healthy teeth that will make for a higher quality of life at a later date. This isn't something that may be easy to start with, but with the right attitude by you and your child it can be done. Be sure to make an appointment today with a pediatric dentist in your area, such as one who works at Kenai Dental Clinic.  

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