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Our Dental Blog

5 Tricks to Help Your Child Love the Dentist

Posted on: May 9th, 2017 | Posted in Pediatric Dentistry
Tips for Helping your child to love the dentist Blog Post Header Image Warshauer & Santamaria Back Bay Boston Dentists

One of the more common phobias is the fear of going to the dentist, people of all ages get a bit cagey at the idea of getting in that exam chair. However, the dentist is obviously much more confusing and difficult for a young mind to process and understand.

By using these simple tricks, and being sure to choose the right Boston area pediatric dentist you can help your child to not fear the dentist and make sure they grow up with the right attitude towards good dental hygiene!

1. Start them young

Find a dentist that you plan on taking your child to for the foreseeable future, and make sure to introduce them to their dentist early on. This introduction ideally takes place before any actual appointment takes place. This humanizes the dentist, and allows them/you to explain to the child the concepts of oral health and why it is crucial.

2. Choose your words carefully

Make sure to maintain a positive tone with your word choice. Make sure to make your child understand that their friend (the dentist) is going to clean their teeth with a ‘special toothbrush’. Avoid negative words like ‘pain’ or ‘hurt’, and focus on the positive.

3. Practice at home

Before their first cleaning/checkup, stage a “pretend” dentist visit with your child. Explain what the dentist will do and why, and make sure to make it fun! This will help them develop a positive attitude towards the experience, and give them a better understanding of why they have to go to the dentist.

4. Avoid bribery

Although it’s tempting to coax your child with the promise of reward, it’s best to avoid this technique. By offering a bribe you immediately enforce the idea that the dentist visit is an unpleasant experience that needs to be compensated for. Instead constantly commend your child on his/her bravery, maturity, and good attitude throughout the visit.

5. Emphasize the importance

Make sure to convey the importance of regular dental check-ups to your child. Be sure to highlight how visits will keep their teeth strong and healthy, and prevent problems down the road.

If you need additional advice on how to ease your child into their first visit to the chair, give Warshauer & Santamaria a call to consult our team of dentistry professionals.

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