As a parent, you know very well how important your children’s dental health is. But if your youngsters have dental anxiety, how can you help them cope with it and convince them to visit a dentist? To assist you, here are some tips you may want to consider:

Tip 1: Identify What Your Child Is Really Afraid Of

Before trying anything to help your kids, you should first identify what is causing their dental fear. Is it their first time seeing a dentist? If not, did they have a negative or even traumatic experience during their last visit to the dental clinic?

Sometimes, your children may feel anxious to see their dentist if you have dental fear yourself. Their anxiety might worsen if they see you get nervous whenever you bring them to a dental clinic.

Tip 2: Find Solutions to Your Child’s Dental Fear

Once you’ve identified the cause of your child’s dental fear, try to find ways to help ease your kid’s anxiety. If it’s your young one’s first time seeing a dentist, talk to them in a way they can easily understand and explain the importance of your visit to the dental clinic.

Before your appointment with the dentist, you can read dental storybooks to your kids and play “dentist” at home. Doing these might help reassure your children that visiting a dentist isn’t something to be afraid of. However, if your child’s anxiety is caused by a traumatic experience, seeking the help of mental health professionals might be best for them.

Tip 3: Look for the Right Dentist and Dental Clinic

Finding the right dentist for your children can help ease their dental anxiety. Choose a dentist with years of experience handling kids with such conditions. Find a dental clinic with a child-friendly environment and with a staff that won’t only treat your children as patients but as friends or family, too.

Choose Pillar Dental for your children’s dental needs!

If you’re looking for a dental clinic that knows how to handle children with dental anxiety, Pillar Dental might be the right one for you. Expect that our dentists and staff will do everything they can to make sure that your kids are as comfortable as possible when they’re in our care. Contact us now to set up an appointment with our friendly dentist.

The post How To Ease Your Child’s Dental Anxiety appeared first on Pillar Dental.

• Take Your Children to the Dentist While They’re Young

Many general and pediatric dentists suggest that you bring your youngsters for a dental check-up as soon as their first tooth appears. You can even take them with you during your own dental appointment. By doing so, you’ll be able to help your kids familiarize themselves not only with the clinic but also with the dental procedures.

You can also take pictures every time you bring your children to their tooth fairy and show the images to them when they’re older. Seeing such photos might help them be more confident about revisiting their dentist.

• Avoid Negative Words When Talking to Your Child

Inform your kids about your plan for a dental visit ahead of time. Telling them about it at the last minute might only add more stress. When explaining what might happen at the clinic, try to avoid negative words like hurt, pain, and shot, as these might only scare them even more. Focus instead on the benefits of the dental appointment.

You should also avoid explaining every detail of the dental appointment with your kid, as it might only cause more confusion to them and add to their anxiety. Try to keep it as simple as you can.

• Don’t Bribe Your Kids With Rewards

Sometimes, parents tend to make promises of rewards to their children just to get them to agree to a dental visit. While this might work for some kids, other children might only feel more anxious about going to the dentist. You can plan to treat your child after the appointment, but don’t use it as a bribe. It might be best to leave the reward as a surprise instead.

Set Up a Dental Appointment With Pillar Dental Today!

If you need more tips on how you can help your child cope with dental anxiety, reach out to Pillar Dental today! We have an experienced and reliable general dentist who is more than willing to assist you.

The post Tips on How To Help Your Child Manage Dental Phobia appeared first on Pillar Dental.