For many of us, a trip to the dentist is up there with gouging our eyes out with a spoon – it’s just NOT something we look forward to, is it?
But when we’re there actually there, we find it’s not too bad at all. (Well, aside from the hefty bill of course!)
So all kids hate the dentist too then, right?
Well, not necessarily. It’s all about perception, and there are lots of clever ways we can actually make kids excited about a trip to the dentist’s chair. Like these:
1. Stay positive from the start
If you tell your children you dread your dentist appointments, it stands to reason they will start to dread theirs too. So keep all language surrounding the dentist positive and breezy, as if it’s ‘no big deal’. Because it isn’t really!
2. Keep it simple
A good trick many parents use is to tell their kids the dentist simply wants to count their teeth and check their smile. Kids may start to feel anxious if you delve into too much detail, so keep it as simple as possible.
3. Read them a ‘trip to the dentist’ story
There are so many great children’s books that detail a trip to the dentist, so in the lead-up why not read them one? Ones like Maisy, Charlie and the Wobbly Tooth and Sammy the Centipede Goes to the Dentist will not only tell them what to expect, they’ll make them excited for their own visit!
4. Don’t promise rewards
Promising a reward might seem like a no-brainer for a trip to the dentist, but it could actually make them feel even more anxious. After all, you get a reward when you do something difficult or brave, which could lead them to think, “If I’m getting a reward after this, it must be bad”. However, if you really want to give them a treat, do so after the session and tell them it’s a reward for their good behaviour.
5. Make them proud of their healthy teeth
Consistently fostering pride in their teeth health will make a trip to the dentist much less intimidating. Praising them regularly on how responsible they are for brushing their teeth and eating healthy foods, or creating a ‘teeth chart’ where they’re rewarded with stickers or gold stars are just some ideas to make looking after their gnashers an important part of their day.
