How to Talk To Children About Visiting the Dentist

It can be daunting to bring your little one to the dentist for the first time. Here, our Selkirk dentists share how you can talk to your child about their visit to the dentist and help them relax.

It is perfectly normal for a child to feel anxious or nervous when visiting the dentist the first time. After all, they’re going into a new environment with new people, and unfamiliar technology and tools are everywhere they look.

And for children who aren’t accustomed to dental care, having their mouths examined may feel intimidating and invasive.

Having said this, it’s important that your child’s first dental experiences are positive. Those initial visits can set the tone for your child’s future attitude to dental care, so you'll want to get them off to a good start!

One of the best things you can do to make your children’s first dental appointments non-threatening and positive is to prepare them ahead of time. Sit down with your children when they’re feeling calm and relaxed, and have a chat with them about what to expect.

Here’s some advice about the things that you should and should not say to your child.

Watch the words that you use when describing the dentist.

Try to avoid words that might seem scary to your child. For example, "needle" or  "drill" might be alarming. Instead, you could replace "needle" with "spray" or "spritz", or try "whistle brush" instead of drill.

Ultimately, your best bet is to keep it simple. You could just say:

"The dentist is going to count your teeth and make them nice and clean."

If your child asks follow-up questions, be honest, but continue to keep it as simple as you can, and use mild language.

Don't share how scared you have been at the dentist.

Many adults feel nervous about visiting the dentist as well. It’s quite normal, but you probably don’t want to pass those feelings on to your children!

When you talk about your dental experiences and feelings with your child, try to keep your language mild and positive.

Have a pretend dental visit with your child.

Before the first dentist appointment, play pretend with your child. You can be the dentist and they can be the patient. All you'll need is a toothbrush.

Count your little one's teeth by starting with the number one or the letter A. Avoid making drilling noises or lining up other "instruments." You can even hold up a mirror and show her how the dentist might look at and check her teeth.

Let your child role-play by using a toothbrush to clean the teeth of a stuffed animal or doll. This can help your child adjust to the routine of going to the dentist and help them know what to expect at their visit.

For more advice on talking to your children about visiting the dentist, feel free to get in touch with our Selkirk dentists.

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