5 Tips To Help Overcome Fear Of Dentists

Let’s get one thing out of the way: it’s normal for kids to have a fear of going to the dentist. Our dogs or cats, even though they don’t speak like us, can signal their fear for going to the vet.

It’s a normal fear that your child can get over very quickly with a little bit of reassurance. It is important to tell your children that the dentist is not a bad person. Their job is to make sure that your child’s teeth are healthy so they can keep them forever.

We may not have them forever, but it’s this kind of approach that you can use on your child when you explain why a dental appointment is actually a good thing. Kids First Dental, your most trusted pediatric dentist in Columbia, South Carolina presents these 5 tips that you can use to help your child get over their fear of the dentist:

The Five Tips

1.Start Their Visits Early : Whoever said the phrase “start them while it’s early” hit the nail on the head. Pediatric dentists highly recommend that your child’s very first dental appointment should begin as soon as the teething process begins, which typically occurs at around 9 months to one year old. With regular dental visits beginning at this age, your child will naturally think that this is just one of those usual things to do. Do not wait until your child experiences a dental issue to visit the dentist.

2.Choose A Pediatric Dentist : One of the surprising misnomers about your child’s oral health is that it doesn’t really matter if you take them to a family dentist. Sure, while family dentists have patients ranging from children to adults, you should strongly consider a pediatric dentist in your local area. That’s because they are experts in…you guessed it, pediatric dentistry. And they even know how to make a child feel comfortable during their visit.  If you live in the Columbia, South Carolina area and have a child that needs a dental appointment, you should look no further than Kids First Dental.

3.Talk About Dentists In A Positive Way : Framing the dentist as the good guy or girl in the mind of your child begins with positive talk. It’s no secret that children learn a lot from their parents. Even at such a young age. The more you teach them about how it’s good to go to the dentist, they will reinforce that as such when the time comes for a visit.

4.Make Your Child Comfortable Before Visits : Another reason why kids have a fear of visiting the dentist is because they have no idea what a dentist does. That’s why it’s important to make them ask questions about what a dentist does. You don’t have to know all the answers. But you should know just enough of the basics of what a dentist can do for their child. Oh…and leave no question unanswered. An unanswered or ignored question can retain some of that anxiety.

5.Accompany Your Child During Check-Ups :Your child may be a little nervous at the sight of the dental tools that lay across the tray. However, if your child knows that you’re in the room with him/her, they’ll feel less nervous. This is the better option as opposed to leaving them alone, where the anxiety heightens. When your child knows that your there, they feel like that don’t fear anything.

Schedule Your Child’s “Fear-Free” Appointment

If you have a child and would like to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist in the 29210 area, contact Kids First Dental or a pediatric dentist near you. We will make your child’s visit a more comfortable and fear-free experience.