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We’ve all been there. Your kid has a toothache or a minor cavity and it’s the night before their appointment with the dentist. You know how it goes: they cry, you panic, and you end up just gritting through it. It’s no fun for anyone and you wish you could do more to make it more enjoyable for them. Luckily, your child doesn’t need to be scared of going to the dentist. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so if your child gets used to visits from the hygienist early on, they’ll have much less trouble later on in life when things get more serious or their teeth start rotting. Here are some ideas to help your kids love their next dental appointment so that they’re excited about it instead of dreading it like we do as adults…
Schedule a regular check-up
Schedule a regular check-up with your hygienist or dentist, especially if your child has been having trouble with their teeth. If your child’s not used to seeing the hygienist or dentist, this will be a chance for them to get comfortable in the office and make sure that they’re ready for whatever procedures are coming up.
Have a game plan
It’s imperative that you plan ahead for the visit. This might seem like common sense, but your child needs to know what they’re doing at each appointment and in between appointments. They should know that they can tell the hygienist what hurts and that they’ll get a sticker for every time they do. The more fun your child has with their visits, the better chance they have of remaining pain-free over time.
Talk about what’s going to happen
When your kids sit down for an appointment, talk about what’s about to happen. They’ll be less apprehensive if you’re comfortable with them knowing what’s going to happen and they’ll start getting excited right away. You can also ask your kids questions beforehand so that they get used to the idea of a dental visit. Let them know what the dentist will do, who their dentist is, and how long the appointment is going to last. This way, when it comes time for the appointment, they won’t be surprised by anything.
Let your child help pick out their outfit before their appointment
Your child might be nervous about having to see the dentist but dressing them up helps. Let them pick out their outfit and make it a fun experience. You can even help with this if they want by picking out the color scheme or picking out their favorite character from a movie or TV show!
Let them touch and feel the instruments on their hands
This might seem like a no brainer, but it’s a surprisingly effective strategy. Kids react surprisingly well to touching as a fear coping mechanism so let them experience the tools on their hands before letting it go in their mouth.
Don’t be afraid to sing or dance with them
The dental chair is a place where a lot of us get anxious so there are really no limits when it comes to what you can do to make your visit fun. If you’re the type who gets nervous, try singing or dancing with them while they get their teeth cleaned. It’s easy to find songs and dance moves on YouTube that will have your child giggling and participating in no time.
Play music or narrate while they’re getting cleaned up and get your kid involved in the process
Playing music or listening to a story while your child is getting cleaned up may seem like a small thing, but it makes the process much more fun for them. This is also a great way to get them involved in the process and not just sit there and watch.
Get this signed before you leave
Make your child’s visit with the hygienist or dentist more entertaining by getting them to sign a book. Let them write down their favorite things about the appointment (like how they got to use the cool tools) and then have them sign it before you leave. You can make it a countdown until the appointment, too.
