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Tips for soothing your children before heading to or while at a dentist

Many Detroit lake parents will attest to the difficultly they have getting their children to go to the dentist. If you’ve got kids you are probably familiar with the crying, nervousness and intense desire to go home, but for the kids visiting the dentist can be worse. Here are a few tips to help those dental visits go easier.

Before the dentist

• Way before you ever make your first appointment you should focus on teaching your child proper oral hygiene. Help them remember to brush their teeth in the correct manner and for at least two minutes at a time. This cuts down on their chances of developing cavities and thus makes their dentist visit’s a lot less anxious.

• You’ll want to introduce your child to the idea of going to the dentist some time in advance of their first appointment. There are lots of children’s books on the topic of going to the dentist. You can simply introduce one into their regular rotation of bedtime reading. Remember when you sit down to talk about visiting the dentist to be careful about your body language and what you say. Many children actually pick up a fear of visiting the dentist or doctor from observing their parents own fears surfacing.

• Don’t schedule your child’s first appointment too early in the morning. You may start running late and rushing your family, which can cause undo anxiety. If you schedule the appointment late in the day your child may end up having too much time to worry over visiting the dentist. Try to schedule the appointment around ten or eleven that gives you enough time to get ready and not too much time to think about it. Plus afterwards you can take them somewhere to eat for a treat-if the dentist hasn’t advised against eating for awhile because of a treatment given at the office.

At the dentist

• Have the child take something to play with while in the waiting room at the dentist’s office. This can be as simple as reading a book or one of those handheld video games. This will help distract your child and keep them still and calm.

• If its their first time or if they seem unduly nervous, go with your child into the dentist’s exam. If the child knows you are right there watching (ready to whisk them away at the first sign of trouble) it can help to ease their fears. Remember not to act too nervous. Your child will pick up on this and your presence will only hinder them.

• A good dentist is more than willing to take the time before the exam to explain just what will happen. This will give the child a chance to realize that a lot of the scary looking equipment doesn’t hurt at all and will help them to get to know the dentist rather than be afraid.

• If your child does act up at the dentist don’t be angry with them. Try to lighten the mood by acknowledging their fear or anger. It’s as simple as saying something like, “Sweetie, are you upset?” Often asking the dentist to stop for a few minutes for your child to calm down, perhaps to go over the procedure again, will help. You may be able to sit in the dentists chair with them during much of the exam. If your child is very upset, listen to their fears and give them as much time as possible to relax.

With these tips your next visit to the dentist in Detroit Lake or elsewhere should be easier and give your child a chance to enjoy visiting their dentist rather than be in fear of it.