We all want our children to have healthy teeth, especially when it comes to their adult set. After all, they are going to have to rely on them for 70 years, or more. So, most parents take their children to the dentist at least once a year. Sometimes there is a bit of resistance, but, usually getting them there is not too much of a struggle.
The problems start when you have a child that is afraid of the dentist. Something that happens more than you think. Surprisingly, around 16% of school-aged children have this fear. That is why the Weybridge dental practice and many others offer a service that is designed to take care of people, ensuring they have no reason to be afraid to sit in the dentist’s chair.
If you want to make sure your child does not develop a fear of going to the dentist, this article is for you. Below, I explain a few simple steps you can take to make things easier for everyone concerned.
Take them to the dentist at an early age
Generally speaking, the younger your child is when they start going to the dentist, the better things will be for them. When they are very little, they are not normally easily frightened by being taken to new places. Most of the professional dentistry bodies recommend that a child be no older than one before being taken to the dentist for the first time.
Don’t be nervous yourself
If going to the dentist makes you feel nervous, it is a good idea to get your partner to take the children for their appointments. Or, if that is not possible, a close relative that you know your child feels comfortable with. Do your best not to make a big thing of this. Ideally, you do not want your child to know that the reason you are not accompanying them is that you are afraid of the dentist.
The reason for this is that, when they are young, your children shouldn’t visit the dentist with someone who is anxious about being there. If you are scared, they will be too. Unfortunately, once your child’s nerves have kicked in they are likely to become increasingly anxious with each new appointment.
Don’t make the dentist’s office seem like a scary place
You should also be careful about how you talk about visits to the dentist’s office. Don’t go into too many details. Young children can get scared if they realize that they may have to have an injection or have one of their teeth taken out.
Teach your children why they need to visit the dentist
In theory, you do not have to tell your children why they have to do something. But, often doing so helps. Once they are old enough it is worth explaining to them how regular visits to the dentist will protect them from tooth decay. This excellent article will help you to do that.
Disclosure – this is a sponsored post.
