Trips to the dentist can be stressful for your child. Dental phobias are common, and when they go unaddressed, they can lead to lifelong oral health neglect. Whether your child is preparing for their first visit, or they’ve been before, use the following tips to ease their anxiety.

How to Help Your Child With Their Dental Phobia

1. Don’t Over-Complicate Discussions

Dental care can be confusing for young children. When explaining why trips to the dentist are necessary and what to expect, deliver the basic facts. Tell them the dentist is going to check their smile and clean their teeth. Let them know it’s safe and that you’ll be at their side at all times.

Avoid talking about pain, shots, drills, or other keywords that will spark fear. Instead, let your child know they’ll have a healthier smile when they leave.

2. Schedule a Pretend Visit

Many children have dental anxiety because they aren’t comfortable with a stranger touching their face or mouth. Schedule a mock visit at home. Play the role of the dentist and brush and floss your child’s teeth while they’re lying down. Next, let them play dentist on you or their stuffed animals. During the pretend visit, encourage your child to ask questions. 

3. Collect Comfort Items

Comfort items and distractions can ease fears. Help your child pick out items to bring to the exam. It can be a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or music player. Load their favorite videos on your phone so they can watch during the exam. Just call the office to get approval. Finally, let their staff know that your child has a dental phobia so they can take extra steps to keep him or her comfortable.

Are you ready to schedule an exam? Dental Clinic of Onalaska proudly serves Trempealeau County, WI, and welcomes patients of every age. Dentist Mike Olsen and his team of dental hygienists focus on maintaining a comfortable atmosphere and building lasting relationships with patients. Explore their general and cosmetic dentistry services on their website, and call (608) 783-3341 to schedule a teeth cleaning. Connect on Facebook for more dental care tips.