How to make doing to the dentist easier for kids

Many adults have trouble getting themselves to go to the dentist. For kids, it’s even worse, as the sterile appearance of your average dental office is unsettling at best, and if they have a bad experience? Good luck getting to them go back without a lot of grief.

Of all the dentists in Southern California, it can be argued Dr. Kami Hoss has done the best job of making his practice appealing to kids.

Known locally for the branding, comics, and innovative clinic design the Super Dentists practice has employed, he has made this once dreaded chore easier for parents to carry out with their children.

Still having trouble making dentist visits appealing to your kids? Try out the suggestions mentioned below, and these appointments will become easier in the months ahead.

1) Start them while they’re young

The sooner you can get them into this environment and comfortable with what goes on during an average visit, the better.

This way, they are more likely to associate these trips as being normal, as they will have less capacity to cook up unwarranted fears in their head like older children can.

Schedule your first appointment not long after they turn one year old, or as soon as their first tooth appears, which ever comes first.

2) Mind your language

At such an impressionable age, the words you use to describe what will happen will have a huge effect on how they will perceive future visits.

Remain positive in the run up to their dentist appointment, and mention that the hygienists and dentist will help hunt down the sugar bugs in their mouth.

Under no circumstances should you say anything about pain, shots, or about anything hurting. From their toddler years onward, they will have already developed a concrete understanding of what these words mean, so using this language will have them fearing the appointment before it has even begun.

3) Do a mock visit before the real one

Before you head in with your kid for their first real dentist visit, take them to the office to meet them beforehand.

This will humanize the professional who will later work on their teeth, and it will allow them to explain to your child what they can expect in comforting language.

4) Expect some hiccups

Despite your best efforts, it is likely your child will experience some unease during their first real dentist appointment.

After all, a stranger will be examining them and putting metallic implements into their mouth, so its natural for some fussing to occur.

Let the dentist take the lead as they have encountered this situation countless times before, so they know the steps needed to calm down an uneasy child in their chair.

5) Make the case for good oral hygiene

Try as you may, your kid might develop misgivings about going to the dentist after their first experience. And if we are honest with ourselves, this is often a chore for us.

In light of this, it is important to stress the importance of keeping a squeaky clean mouth. If they want to have a beautiful smile rather than one marred by cavities and gum infections, it should be taught that going to the dentist is a necessary chore we all must do to stay healthy and physically attractive.

Kids are smarter than we realize: make a strong case in favor of going to the dentist and they’ll go along with it.