Table of contents:
- 1. Take to the dentist since childhood
- 2. Tell me the bottom line
- 3. Let the dentist explain the procedure
- 4. Don't tell your bad experience to the dentist
- 5. Remain calm and positive during the procedure
- 6. Give compliments, but avoid giving gifts
- 7. Emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy teeth to children
For some children, the experience of going to the dentist is a scary experience. They already imagined the doctor's instruments would get into their mouths. Or your child has had bad experiences when he went to the dentist before. This will certainly make children afraid to go to the dentist again. In fact, checking and treating teeth to the doctor is very important and cannot be avoided.
Take it easy, if your little one is afraid of being invited to the dentist, you and your partner can use the methods below.
1. Take to the dentist since childhood
Try to get your child to the dentist as early as possible. If a child is invited to the doctor for the first time when he is old enough, for example 7 years, the child may have heard all kinds of scary stories about visits to the dentist. So, it's best if your little one has started checking with the dentist. Don't wait until you have a new complaint to the doctor because it is likely that his first visit will involve a procedure that is quite scary for the child. With regular check-ups, the child will also be more relaxed and accustomed to the visit.
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2. Tell me the bottom line
Usually, so that the child is not too noisy and afraid of going to the dentist, parents tend to promise the child that the procedure will not be painful. If it turns out that later the child really has to be sedated or had his teeth pulled out and he feels pain, it could be that the child loses trust in his parents. It's best to answer a child's anxiety, just tell the point.
Don't tell too many leaked details, because the child will be more curious and afraid. Use an analogy like when your little one visits the pediatrician during the flu. You can say, “You will be seen by the doctor, just like that time. Only this time your mouth and teeth will be examined. "
3. Let the dentist explain the procedure
There were also children who kept asking what to do with the dentist. Just say that the dentist will look into the mouth of the child and treat it if there is a certain problem. Remember that dental and oral health professionals are used to dealing with children who are afraid to go to the dentist. They will be better able to explain the procedure to the child in an easily digestible way. So, just leave the details to the dentist or assistant.
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4. Don't tell your bad experience to the dentist
You and your partner may have had a bad experience going to the dentist. This does not mean that this experience will also occur in children. So, try not to tell the story in front of the child. If your little one has an older brother who has seen a dentist before, ask your sister for help to persuade her. If your brother has been in pain at the dentist, your little one doesn't need to know.
5. Remain calm and positive during the procedure
As much as possible, you or your partner accompany your little one to the dentist. Especially on his first visit to the dentist. The presence of you and your partner can make him more relaxed and confident. During the doctor's examination or procedure, you may feel discouraged and anxious yourself.
However, remember that the risk that must be borne by the child if the action is not followed is even greater. Therefore, stay calm and stay with the child. If the child is still small, you can bring the child's favorite doll to accompany him during the dental check. To calm the child, you can also tell stories so that the child's mind is distracted from the pain.
6. Give compliments, but avoid giving gifts
Avoid giving your child gifts every time he goes to the dentist. So the child will see the routine as a burden that must be balanced with gifts. So, it is better to give praise and thanks for the courage and courage of the child during a visit to the dentist.
Every now and then you can give gifts to encourage your child to regularly check their teeth. However, don't overdo it with gifts. This can become a habit later. Children will not want to see a doctor if there is no gift they want.
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7. Emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy teeth to children
In order for the child to want to go to the dentist, explain to the child what is the importance of maintaining dental health. You should also explain to your child why anesthetic injection or tooth extraction is important in a language the child can understand. On a daily basis, familiarize the child with maintaining the health of their teeth and mouth, for example by diligently brushing their teeth.
Do not threaten your child, for example, when he or she eats too much candy, by visiting the dentist. For example, "If you eat candy then you have to pull out your teeth at the dentist, you know!". Better say, “Eating candy is delicious, huh. But if most of the time, the teeth can be perforated or porous. You don't want, do you have holes in your teeth? "
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