It is an exciting day when you bring your child in for the first trip to the dentist. However, it can also be a bit of a scary day. For some kids, it may be really frightening to make that first trip to the dentist.
Image credit: Stuart Miles | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
If you want to make your child’s first trip to the dentist a success, here are five tips you can use to help things go as smoothly as possible.
Good word-of-mouth goes a long way
If you want your child’s first dental visit to be a success, one of the most important things you can do is to always speak positively about dentists and dental appointments.
When you always speak highly of the dentist, your child will naturally feel positive about going to the dentist.
Do a pretend examination
A great way to prepare your child for the first visit to the dentist is to do a practice dental examination at home. Have your child lay back with an open mouth. Count the teeth, use a toothbrush to clean them and use a mirror to look at them.
This step works wonders for making your child feel relaxed when the real appointment rolls around.
Talk about how fun it is
Even if you personally don’t enjoy visiting the dentist that much, it is important that you tell your child that you always have fun when you go there. Talk about how enjoyable it is to get your teeth cleaned by the dentist, and your child will look forward to it.
Make mention of the prize
A good way to get your child to look forward to visiting the dentist is to mention that you always enjoyed the prizes you got when you went to the dentist as a child. Every kid will look forward to going somewhere where a prize is waiting.
Empower your child
One reason that the first trip to the dentist can be scary is because it is an unknown place. Many children are naturally scared of anything unknown. A great way to help alleviate this fear is to make your child feel empowered.
You can do this by allowing your child to make a few decisions on the day of the appointment. These decisions can include things like deciding on what to eat or what to wear.
If you follow these five tips, your child will be ready to visit the dentist. When you take the time to prepare your child, it will help to make the trip a success. Boosting confidence and making it a positive experience will go a long way towards a positive outcome.
Information provided by Eastgate Dental Centre.
Karleia Steiner
Latest posts by Karleia Steiner (see all)
- 5 Ways to Ensure Your Child’s First Dental Visit Is a Success - February 18, 2015
- 4 Clever Tricks to Removing Dog Odors from Your Carpet - January 12, 2015
- 5 Shocking Things That Make You Look Older - November 5, 2014
[…] of continuing to repeat yourself, schedule an appointment with the dentist. Not only can the dentist help to quell their fears about this situation, but they can also provide […]