Many kids experience a lot of anxiety when it comes to dental visits. However, there are steps parents can take to make a trip to the children’s dentist more fun and exciting and much less stressful. Dedicated to providing families in Pearl City, HI, with top-quality pediatric dental care, the team at Dentistry For Kids offers the following advice to get your child excited about oral health.

Buy Toys & Books That Focus on Dental Care

Normalizing the experience at the dentist will go a long way towards decreasing a child’s stress about exams. In this case, consider purchasing toys and books that explain what will happen during a visit, as well as why caring for your teeth is so important. If your kid enjoys these items, he or she will be more likely to get excited about future visits with the pediatric dentist.

Have a Pretend Visit

Children love using their imaginations. Pretend visits are fantastic in this case, as they allow your child to get acclimated to teeth cleanings in a fun and playful way. You can also have your child perform a pretend exam on a stuffed animal to further increase their interest. Shy away from some of the more intimidating aspects of dental exams, such as drilling, so you don’t inadvertently increase anxiety.

Offer Rewards for Good Behavior

Positive reinforcement after a good exam serves two purposes. First, it will instill in children that good dental care offers benefits. Additionally, rewarding your child for behaving at the children’s dentist will help future visits go smoothly. When it comes to rewards, consider a trip to the park or taking your child to the movies.

Dr. Paul K. Seo, D.D.S., M.S. and the rest of the team at Dentistry For Kids strive to provide kind and compassionate service for kids in Pearl City. This entails using the latest procedures and ensuring their office remains a bright and kid-friendly place. Call (808) 486-8881 to make an appointment with this skilled and compassionate children’s dentist. You can also prepare for your visit by checking out the website.