Establishing good oral hygiene and care for your child is crucial to their overall well-being. Going to the family dentist may create anxious feelings in children. By following a few helpful tips, you can mitigate your little one’s anxiety and make dental visits easier for both of you.

A Guide to Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety About the Dentist

1. Start Early

Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. Scheduling visits to your family dentist early will establish a routine and get your child used to receiving dental care. Consider reading books or watching a video about going to the dentist, or play “dentist” at home before the visit. Make oral care a fun game rather than a chore. Explain to them why good oral hygiene is important and how the dentist is an ally that keeps them healthy.

2. Stay Positive

Don’t share your dental fears with your children or talk about scary dental visits. Speak with them about how fun the office is, remind them of their favorite toys there, and talk about the treats they may get at the end — like a new toothbrush and toothpaste.

3. Consider Sedation

As a last resort, if your child remains anxious about going to the family dentist, you may want to discuss sedation methods. There are many safe and effective options — such as laughing gas — that your dentist may use. Conscious sedation allows your child to remain relaxed, breathe on their own, and respond to questions. They likely will not remember their procedure and be fine the next day.

Going to the dentist doesn’t have to be an ordeal for your child. By starting early and encouraging good oral hygiene, family dentist visits can be fun. Robert A Klement, DDS, offers the Wisconsin Rapids, WI community general preventive care, teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, and other services. Call (715) 421-3030 to book an appointment or go to the website to discover more about their services and access new patient forms.