Ways To Ensure Your Child's Visits To The Dentist Are Fun
Posted on: 27 July 2017
Children who are afraid of the dentist may continue to experience dental fear and anxiety as they grow older. Unfortunately, this fear can make it difficult for them to adhere to a lifetime routine of regular dental care. As a result, it is important to make a child's dental visits as much fun and stress-free as possible. Here are a few things parents can do to help ensure that their child's visit to the dentist is fun:
Schedule the appointment at the same time as that of an older brother or sister.
Younger kids observe the reactions of older siblings, especially in situations that a younger child deems stressful. If a younger child is able to see that his or her older sibling is fine as the big brother or sister receives dental care, the younger child will likely realize that there is no need to be afraid of the dentist.
Play dentist with your child at home.
Small children enjoy games that involve role play. As you assume the role of a make-believe dentist, your child will likely be entertained. However, the child will also start to develop some positive associations with dentistry that can make their visits less stressful.
Make routine dental hygiene fun.
If your child's brushing and flossing sessions at home are fun but effective, their dental visits are more likely to be fun too. Any discomfort associated with the installation of a filling or the extraction of a deeply decayed tooth can cause a child to fear a subsequent dental visit. By keeping your child's teeth as healthy as possible, he or she is likely to require only preventive care, such as cleanings and sealants.
To make teeth-cleaning sessions at home fun but thorough, here are a few things you can do:
- Make brushing and flossing a joint effort. Allow you and your child to brush and floss together each day. You can observe how well your child is cleaning his or her teeth and gums, and your child can enjoy your company.
- Reward regular brushing and flossing. Keep a small chart, tracking your child's brushing and flossing sessions. Each time the little one completes a designated number of cleaning sessions, offer the child a small inexpensive prize.
- Buy your child an electric toothbrush. Kids love gadgets. An electric toothbrush can make brushing more enjoyable and promote cleaner teeth. Electric toothbrushes tend to produce more strokes in a given period than your child could produce on his or her own.
To learn more ways to make a visit to the dentist more fun for your child, schedule a consultation with a family dentist in your area.
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