Let’s be realistic — going to the dentist will never be in the top 10 of your child’s fun things to do. In fact, for some children, having their teeth examined is one of their most feared activities, and can even be expressed in a severe phobia of going to the dentist.
This could be due to a previous unpleasant examination, the child being particularly anxious or aware of their dental issues, or even the transference of a parent’s own dental anxiety.
But we all want the best for our kids, so how can you make visiting the dentist as easy as possible?
Making visiting the dentist fun
Be assured that there are lots of coping strategies to help make taking your child to the dentist a manageable, and even enjoyable, experience.
Helping your child to develop a healthy relationship with their oral hygiene — including visits to the dentist — needs to start early.
As soon as your child’s milk teeth appear, brush them regularly. Once they’re big enough, let them take hold of the brush themselves and clean their own teeth under supervision.
Set a timer so that they get used to brushing for an appropriate length of time (two minutes is recommended).
Take your child to the dentist from an early age, when their milk teeth start to come through. This helps with familiarising your child with the environment, and helping to take away anxiety about the unknown.
You can prepare your child for their first trip to the dentist by role-playing with your child’s toys or reading books about going to the dentist to set their mind at rest.
It’s also a good idea to get into the habit of taking younger children along to their older siblings’ dental appointments so they can see for themselves that there is nothing to fear.
Don’t forget to reward your child with a treat (non-sugary, of course!) after their visit. This way, they might even start counting down to the next trip!
Sleep Dentistry Melbourne melts dental anxiety away
At Sleep Dentistry Melbourne, nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing our smallest patients build up their confidence in coming to visit us.
As well as providing routine dental care, we offer advice on keeping your little ones’ teeth healthy, giving them the best foundation for lifelong dental health.
It goes without saying that we believe in a gentle and reassuring approach to inspire confidence and help your child to enjoy visiting the dentist.
Reach out to us to know more about our family dentistry services for children by contacting us at (03) 9087 2683.
