Let’s face it. Dental anxiety in children does happen, and it often begins with a single scary experience at the dentist that can turn into a lifetime of fear. We like to pump the brakes on this by making a trip to the dentist fun, comfortable and even an adventure to establish great oral health habits from the start.

Here are five tips to stopping dental anxiety in its tracks.

1. Make brush time the best time: We’re going to let you in on a little secret; going to the dentist can be a ton of fun. We have a few tricks up our sleeve, including dentists who are trained to make your little guys and gals comfortable in the chair. When it comes to home care, you can mimic this element of fun by choosing special brush songs or a stuffed animal that is brought out only during brush time.
2. Bring them in early: According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentists, children should visit the dentist for the first time by their first birthday or within six months of their tooth erupting. Keep in mind that the earlier they see us, the more time we have to create positive experiences that will set a foundation of trust and comfort.
3. Make the dentist an adventure: Children pick up on things, and that includes negative talk about the dentist. Pay attention to the way you speak about your own experiences with the dentist in front of little ears in case there is an opportunity to reframe these into a more positive dialogue.
4. Communicate with your dentist: If there are any specific fears or issues your child is facing, let’s talk about it. When it comes to your child’s oral health, we are a team. We will get through all of it together, from preventive care to dental issues that have already formed.
5. Relax and enjoy the ride: As with most things on the parenting journey, going to the dentist can seem a lot more intimidating or stress-inducing than it is. Facing dental issues and emergencies can be scary even for the most calm, cool and collected parent. The fact that you’re thinking about keeping your little ones’ teeth and gums healthy means you’re doing great.

Bring your child in and let us earn their trust by showing them just how cool having a healthy mouth can be. Book your appointment today.