How to prepare children for their first trip to the dentist
Going to the dentist for the first time can be daunting. New people, new spaces and scary looking tools can worry young children and make them nervous, making the experience difficult for everyone.
The best way to ensure your child’s first trip to the dentist is a good one is to prepare them for the appointment. Giving them a little time to understand the concept and what’s going to happen should help them to better cope with their appointment. If your child is about to visit the dentist for the first time, here are our top tips for helping them cope with the experience.Make it a positive
The best way to make your child’s first trip to the dentist a positive experience is to be excited and positive about it yourself. Your child will pick up on any fear or anxiety on your part, so make sure you come across as happy and relaxed whenever you talk about the appointment.
Make it a positive
The best way to make your child’s first trip to the dentist a positive experience is to be excited and positive about it yourself. Your child will pick up on any fear or anxiety on your part, so make sure you come across as happy and relaxed whenever you talk about the appointment.
Book an appointment at a time to suit them
Most kids visit the dentist for the first time around the age of two. This means that they’ll still be having one or two naps a day and so there will be times when they’re tired, grumpy and not in the mood for an outing. Try to book an appointment at a time that you think will suit them well.
Ideally, you don’t want your child to be tired or hungry, so just after lunch or just after breakfast are two good options. Avoid the end of the day, and just before mealtimes, as this is when kids’ attention spans and moods are often at their worst.
Peppa Pig
If your child loves Peppa Pig, sit down to watch the episode where Peppa goes to the dentist. Seeing a character that they like and are familiar with going to the dentist will be reassuring for your child. Some kids may also find the idea of copying Peppa to be pretty exciting. This is a fantastic introduction to the world of dentistry and is a great way to get kids used to the idea of the dentist. Watch the episode a few times to help the concept really sink in.
Trust the dentist
Dentists have a lot of experience working with kids, and they’ll be able to gently and slowly examine your child’s teeth without worrying them. They’ll explain what they’re doing to your child and help them to understand just how important looking after your teeth is. Trust your dentist and let them take the lead once your child is at their appointment. Young children are often better behaved with people they don’t know, so this might be a good way to ensure the appointment goes without a hitch.
If you’d like to find out more about children’s dental appointments, or if you’d like to make an appointment for your own child, we can help. Explore our site or get in touch with a member of our team today.
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