As a Melbourne Family Dentist with 40 years of experience, we understand that being anxious about coming in to see us can be an issue for children. One of the things that you might not know is that your children’s fears about seeing the dentist often stem from your own.
There’s a few things that you can do to stop any fear from interfering with your child’s dental health. If you start them off on the right foot, they will be able to develop a good relationship with the dentist that will last well into their adulthood.
There’s a few things that you can do:
Set Up a Mock Visit
Over the years we found that many children are afraid of our offices because they don’t know what to expect. If you set up a mock dental visit in your home before the real appointment date, your son or daughter will feel more comfortable when they come in.
You can have your child sit in a chair in the kitchen and count their teeth while you explain to them what the dentist will be doing. As a Melbourne family dentist who is compassionate and understanding, we also think having your children brush their doll’s teeth is a good exercise to lessen anxiety.
Give Them A Simple Explanation
One of the other simple things that a parent can do is supply a straightforward explanation about what will happen at the dentist’s office. It’s understandable that our Melbourne family dentist team will be strangers and a little intimidating at first.
It’s best to stay away from detailed information and just give your kids a brief overview of what it is we do. Tell them we’re working together to make sure their smile stays beautiful and they can eat all the foods they like that are good for them.
This is a perfect jumping off point to be able to explain good oral hygiene to your children. It’s a wonderful idea to tell them coming in to see a dentist is a great way to stay healthy. It’s not important to go into detail. However, showing them how we might use a mirror to look inside their mouth while you are still at home can help them to feel more comfortable.
Take a few minutes to look through the Melbourne Family Dentist supplies options we offer. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.