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Going to the dentist can stir up great fears in your little one. Luckily, there are ways to make the dentist a more pleasant experience for your child. Here are 6 tips to ensure that this trip to the dentist in Irving is an enjoyable one. 1. Dispel Fears A lot of children’s fears about the dentist might come from other kids at school or based on what they've heard around them. Sit down with your child and discuss any fears your child might have beforehand. Children might possess outlandish ideas about painful things the dentist might do that just aren't true. Reassure your child and teach realistic expectations of what the dentist does and what will most likely happen during a routine checkup or visit. 2. Encourage Grit While a talk with your child might dispel some of their bigger fears about going to the dentist, he or she still might feel uneasy about the dentist, because a cleaning or check-up is not the most pleasant experience. Encourage grit and resilience in your child and prepare your children for life by explaining that not all experiences in life are pleasant, but are still necessary for good health and well-being. 3. Distract To help put your child at ease in the dentist's office, allow him or her to bring a favorite game or book. A favorite game or book is a good distraction from the anxiety he or she might be feeling and a reliable source of comfort in an uncomfortable environment. In this way, you are also teaching your children how to take care of themselves and deal with different situations as they go through life. Being able to successfully distract yourself is a great skill to have. 4. Be Sensitive To really be there for your child as he or she learns to overcome a fear of the dentist, you want to be sensitive and empathize. Don't try to minimize your child's feelings or act like your child does not have any reason to be afraid. Instead, acknowledge his feelings and work through them with him. Your child will feel supported and look to you as a source of comfort while at the dentist in Irving. 5. Give Age-Appropriate Insight and Support A younger child requires different help than an older child. For a younger child, giving him his favorite teddy bear and holding his hand during the dentist checkup might be enough. Older children could be motivated in other ways. For an older child, feel free to explain the importance of having good teeth and even tie it back to healthy self-confidence and social skills. A tween or teen can certainly begin to understand how having a healthy smile will lead to increased self-confidence, peer relations, and health. Once children have internalized how important going to the dentist is, it will become that much easier to get to them to go. 6. Teach Relaxation Techniques It is never too early to begin teaching your children relaxation techniques. Before you get to the dentist office and even while you are waiting together, practice taking deep breaths. Deep breathing goes a long way to helping your child stay relaxed and calm. Listening to calming music together is another great option, especially for older children. Encourage your older children to bring along their favorite music or introduce them to some nice and calming music they can listen to in the car or at the office. The techniques you teach them now will serve them well down the road whenever they are at a dentist or in other anxiety-provoking situations. With these 6 ideas, you now have many great ways to help your child relax at a dentist in Irving.
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