What to do When Your Child is Afraid of the Dentist

Going to the dentist can be a troubling experience for children. They are going to a new place, to meet new people who will poke and prod around inside their mouths. It’s unpleasant for adults, and even more so for children who don’t at least have the understanding of the benefits they’re getting. Because of all this, it’s not uncommon for children to develop a fear of the dentist. If this happens, you’re going to have an even harder time getting them to go. So, what can you do? Here are a few strategies to try:

Start Out Young

One of the best things you can do is start taking your child to the dentist early. This has a few benefits. First, going to the dentist is important for your health, and this is especially true for kids. Even if those teeth are soon going to the Tooth Fairy, you’ll want to take care of them. But besides the health benefits, by taking your child to the dentist early, they become more comfortable with it. Soon the dentist will be just another part of life, and not something you need to be afraid of. We develop a lot of our fears when we’re young, so getting your child used to the dentist early can be a large help.

Don’t Show Fear Yourself

Often, our children pick up their fears from us. They see us getting anxious around something – like bugs, heights, wild animals, or the dentist – and think that there is something to fear. Even if they aren’t consciously aware of what they’re doing, these fears are embedding themselves within our kids. To keep this from happening, you’ll want to avoid showing fear when it comes to the dentist. Try not to say things like “I know it’s scary but…” or “I’m scared too.” No matter how you actually feel about the dentist, put on a brave face, and show your kid there is nothing to worry about.

Don’t Take Them with You on Your Appointment

A lot of parents think it’s a good idea to bring their kids when they go to the dentist. The idea is that the kid can see how the process goes, and that there is nothing to be afraid of. However, this method could backfire. For starters, sometimes we are unable to hide our fears no matter how much we may try, and your child will pick up on this. Even if you’re just antsy in the waiting room, this will rub off on your child.
Second, most adult dentist offices aren’t designed for children. There are no toys in the waiting area, no colorful pictures on the wall. Your child’s dentist’s office will likely be much different, and friendlier towards kids. This is the type of office your child should associate with the dentist, not the stuffy, boring one you go to.

Talk to Them About the Importance of Good Dental Health

Sometimes you just need to reason and explain things to your kid. Talk about all the benefits that come with taking care of your mouth, and all the consequences they could face if they don’t. Show them pictures of healthy teeth. Tell them how mature it would be if they went, and how proud of them you would be. If your kid is old enough, this approach may just work.

Make a Fun Day Out of It

No child wants to spend their Saturday sitting in the waiting room of a dentist’s office. To help make the experience a little more enjoyable, make the entire day fun. Go play at the park before the visit. See a movie after. Grab some ice cream before you have your teeth cleaned. If you plan out an entire day of fun, they won’t mind having to go to the dentist if it means getting to do all the other fun things. And, if you can do this every time, before long Dentist Day will be something that your kids look forward to.

Avoid Bribing

Finally, while it’s important to make the day of the visit fun, you don’t want to bribe your child. Avoid saying things like “If you go to the dentist, we’ll get you ice cream.” This puts in their minds that the going to the dentist is something bad for which they need a reward for doing. It’s okay to find ways to make the day fun, just make sure you aren’t setting it up as a prize for doing something hard or scary.

Don’t Give Up on Trying

No matter how scared your child is of the dentist, don’t give up on getting them to go. Sometimes we as parents are so busy with other things, that if our child puts up too much of a fight on the dentist, we are more than happy to put it off. But according to Celebrity Dental, “Regardless of how busy your schedule is, it’s important to squeeze in those regular visits to the dentist to stay on top of your oral health and your overall well-being.” So, try out the methods mentioned above, reframe the dreaded dentist visit into something more positive, and get your kid over their fear once and for all.

What to do When Your Child is Afraid of the Dentist is a collaborative post.