Does your child have a fear of the dentist? This is common, although it can be a big problem when it comes to keeping their teeth healthy and their oral hygiene on track.
To help your child overcome these fears, here are a few tips offered by experts in children’s dentistry in Charleston:
Start Early and Go Often
The best way to ensure that your child is not afraid of the dentist is to expose them to the experience. This includes starting dental care early and looking into children’s dentistry in Charleston. Most experts recommend seeing the dentist for the first time around six months of age, or when the first tooth erupts. After that, your child’s dentist will likely recommend a visit every six months unless more frequent checkups are needed.
Play Pretend
Children love to play make-believe games, and there is no reason why you can’t use this to help your child overcome a fear of the dentist. Using your best imaginative play skills, set up a pretend dental visit with your child. Allow them to talk to the “dentist” and ask as many questions as they like. Answer them honestly and reassuringly, so that they know they can pose those same questions for the real dentist when they see them. Let them play the role of the dentist by counting your teeth.
Stay Positive
Your children pick up on your attitude and emotions. Frustration or fear on your part can easily translate to their experience with the dentist. Prevent these problems by keeping your tone positive and upbeat whenever the dentist is mentioned. Discuss worries or concerns with other adults privately, and make sure that you always describe the dentist as a helper for your child’s overall health. Making them feel like part of the team instead of an enemy to overcome can help your child feel more at ease in the dentist’s chair.
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