Many children experience fear of dentists. TOAt first they are afraid at the first visit because they do not know what it is to go to the dentist, and then they are afraid because they know that they will hurt them or at least that they will feel uncomfortable while an adult with gloves and strange tools pokes inside their mouth ...
It is necessary that children who are afraid of the dentist, use positive language, because it is the only way that fear will be reduced. Never tell children a lie about the dentist and avoid using words that are out of their vocabulary. A word like 'extraction' or 'filling' sounds strange and difficult to understand. Never lie to him because when trust is broken it cannot be repaired. If you want your children to stop being afraid of the dentist, you can try saying some phrases like the following.
Phrases you can say to your children
The dentist will count your teeth. When your child arrives for the first visit to the dentist, he will count his teeth. The first visit is usually short and dentists already know that with young children, there is nothing active or invasive to do.
- The dentist will take a photo of your teeth. Get your little one excited about the x-ray image the dentist will take. Children who like photos very much will be happy about it, although getting it to stay still long enough will be more difficult.
- The dentist will check your teeth for germs. This is the best way to prepare your young child when the dentist needs to clean his teeth. Dentists will have to play with children and tickle their mouth while cleaning or removing tooth decay. Trust between the child, the parent, and the dentist grows when everyone is happy.
- The dentist will draw your favorite character on your teeth. If your child needs a filling, the best way to prepare him is to tell the dentist the character he wants to have drawn on his teeth. This will keep the child distracted as he tells you what the details of his favorite characters are like.
If all else fails, you can use the rewards to motivate your child to overcome the fear of the dentist. Human beings act on us with rewards and our own benefits in mind. It is a good idea to tell him something good that you will do after going to the dentist like spending time in the park or if he is in pain, watching his favorite movie at home as soon as you arrive. It is necessary not to reward him with food or sweets, but you can buy him a small detail such as a game, a small toy or books.
The relationship that your young child has with the dentist is very important in his development, because it will mark the relationship that he will have with this professional throughout his life ... and it needs to be good for him to have good dental health!