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Overcoming Your Child's Fear of the Dentist

A young girl smiling

You must take your child to the dentist to build excellent dental hygiene and develop healthy teeth. But, for kids, a trip to the dentist may be quite a fearful one. Some kids are scared of the dentist and may find ways to postpone the trip.

Visiting the dentist may be frightening due to the prospect of lying down in a chair with a stranger poking metal objects in their mouth. Here are a few things you can do to help your child become a bit more relaxed.

Build the Habit from An Early Age

The younger you build the habit of going to the dentist, the better it is for your child. As soon as your child reaches the age of one, it would be best if you got them acquainted with the dentist so they can get familiar with the process.

Skip the Details

When taking your child to the dentist, ensure you do not answer questions in too much detail. Too much information can scare them, and wrong information may make them lose trust in both you and the dentist. So, the less you say, the better it is.

Do Not Say the Wrong Words

When talking to kids about the dentist, be sure that you do not mention pain, hurt, shot, or words like it; this will make the child anxious, and they will not want to go to the dentist.

Takeaway

While it may seem impossible to relieve your child’s fear of the dentist, you can be patient, playful, and understanding with them. Teach them the importance of dental hygiene so they can learn to go to the dentist without tantrums or fear.

Posted on Aug 22, 2022
Image Credit:

File ID 42973488 | © Rohappy | Dreamstime.com

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