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Kids and the Dentist

Wednesday - January 2nd, 2019
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Photo by Blaise Van Lanthen on Unsplash

If you’re a parent of young children, you’re probably spending time nearly every day teaching your kids the importance of good oral health. That means regular reminders on flossing daily, brushing teeth at least twice a day and scheduling regular trips to the dentist.

For some children, a trip to the dentist can be a little scary. Here are a few ideas to make sure your child has a positive checkup, and leaves feeling good about their dentist.

 

Schedule for Success.

When booking your child’s appointment, consider times of the day when your child will be well-rested and ready to cooperate.

Talk with Your Child.

And stay positive. In the days leading up to the appointment, have a conversation about how helpful the dentist is, and how it’s their job to keep our teeth healthy.

Make Time for Make Believe.

Take turns playing “dentist” ahead of your child’s checkup. Practice sitting in a chair and opening wide. Look at one another’s teeth. Talk about what they might experience sitting in the dentist’s chair and how it might feel to get a teeth cleaning.

Read a Good Book.

There are some great children’s books that help kids understand what they might experience during a trip to the dentist. One of our favorites is “Going to the Dentist” by Anne Civardi. Kids can follow along as Jake and Jesse Judd take a trip to the dentist for a checkup and teeth cleaning. The dentist fills Jake’s cavity and then explains the importance of eating healthy foods and brushing properly.

Prepare Your Questions in Advance.

As any parent knows, even on their child’s best days, getting them to sit still and cooperate for any length of time is challenging. Make sure you’re ready ahead of time with a set of questions or any concerns about your child’s oral health habits. This is one more thing to help ensure you’re in and out of the chair quickly.

Taking time now to make sure your child has a good experience at the dentist helps ensure they’re practicing good oral health habits now and in the future.