Ah, the month of February! Let’s see…you’ve got Valentine’s day, the day after Valentine’s day (otherwise known as “1/2 Off Chocolate Day”) and did you know it’s also National Children’s Dental Month? Coincidence? I think NOT!
To celebrate, we thought it would be great to give some advice to help prep your kids for their next dental visit.
1) YOU set the tone
It’s important for you, Mom and Dad, to always be positive and encourage your kids not to be afraid! If you have a fear or dislike of the dentist, don’t pass that on to another generation of {enter your last name here}’s who dislike dental visits. By setting a positive tone, you’ll be setting up your kids for a lifetime of good oral health!
2) Remain calm
If your kids start to freak out during their appointment, don’t worry about it! Our expert pediatric dentists like Drs. Darren Tong and Mark Hermano at Smile More Kidz deal with this every day. Be consistent in your visits and they’ll get easier and easier.
3) Prep their mind
Read your kids books about going to the dentist to help them visualize the visit. Go online and show them photos of the office, chairs, dentists and the team members. This gives them some familiarity before they get to the office. It doesn’t hurt to mention there will be toys, cartoons and any other goodies your dentist might offer!
4) Watch your words
Don’t use negative words when you’re talking about the visit. Saying “it’s not going to hurt” plants a negative idea that your child may never have even thought of before it flew out of your mouth (pun intended!).
5) Ask for a tour
At Smile More Kidz, we provide a tour of the office and the equipment on the first visit. This helps your child “warm up” before the actual procedure– it’ll probably help you, too!
Want more great tips and vids to help with your kids’ dental visits? Click here to visit the Smile More Kidz blog.
Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now it’s your turn to tell us your story! What tips do you have for prepping your kiddos for the dentist?