The Scare of the Chair

Calming Your Children’s Fears of the Dentist

Some kids are just scared of the dentist. Where they learned to be afraid of the dentist is anyone’s guess – they may have picked up on a parent or caregiver’s anxiety; they may have seen something dramatic or scary on television; or they may simply fear what the dentist represents.

If your children are afraid of visiting the dentist, try seeing the dentist office through their eyes. Is it too loud? Do they dislike the bright light shining in their faces? Are they afraid of the dentist or hygienist’s goggles or masks?

What Can You Do To Ease Your Children’s Fears of the Dentist?

Plan ahead and Have Fun!

Call the dentist’s office and request an appointment where the children will get acquainted with the office and what happens there. Let them play with the water squirter and suction; give them cool shades to wear in the chair; explain what they are seeing and hearing. At the end of the visit, see if the kids will let the dentist or hygienist take a peek inside their mouths (to see if any cavities are visible) and count their teeth. Have the hygienist blow up glove balloons for them as a reward for letting the dentist count their teeth.

Sometimes a visit like this, where the children are relaxed and feel completely safe, is all it will take to set their minds at ease the next time they need a cleaning.

Get Them Used To the Feeling

For some children, lying back in the chair and having the metal instruments rattled around in their mouths. An easy way to prepare them for this feeling is to sit on the couch with their head in your lap, while you move a metal spoon around inside their mouths. This may take a couple of tries, but getting your children used to the feeling of lying back and letting someone put a metal instrument in their mouths can help them overcome a fear of the dentist.

Don’t Let Them Hear You Talk About Avoiding the Dentist

Children are keen observers. If they are aware of your fears of the dentist, they, too, will become afraid of the dentist. Even if  you simply think it’s unpleasant to visit the dentist, be sure to put on a good front. One thing to do is to rave about how great your mouth feels right after a cleaning at the dentist’s office.

Make Sure They’re Brushing and Flossing

Remind your children that good brushing and flossing habits will help improve their experience at the dentist. Give your kids an oral probiotic to support tooth health.

Taking steps to acknowledge and honor your children’s fears of the dentist can be the first step toward a lifetime of good oral health.

Follow EvoraKids on Twitter!