How to Talk To Children About Visiting the Dentist

Many children find coming to the dentist to be a bit intimidating or scary at first. Today, our Quesnel dentists explain how you can prepare your kids for initial dental appointments - and put them at ease. 

If you consider it, it's understandable that a child may feel nervous or scared about visiting the dentist for the first time - they are entering a new environment with new people, and unfamiliar tools and technology will be everywhere. 

And for children who aren't used to dental care, having their mouths examined might feel intimidating and invasive. 

That said, it's important that your child has positive first experiences at the dentist, since these initial visits make a lasting impression and set the tone for your child's future attitude toward dental care. Of course you want to get them off to a good start!

One of the best things you can do to help your child have positive, non-threatening first dental appointments is to prepare them ahead of time. When your children are feeling calm and relaxed, sit them down and have a chat about what they can expect. 

Here is some advice about what you should - and shouldn't say. 

Choose your words wisely and don’t be too specific.

Try to avoid words that might seem scary to your child. For example, "needle" or  "drill" might be alarming. Instead, you could replace "needle" with "spray" or "spritz", or try "whistle brush" instead of drill.

Ultimately, your best bet is to keep it simple. You could just say:

"The dentist is going to count your teeth and make them nice and clean."

If your child asks follow-up questions, be honest, but continue to keep it as simple as you can, and use mild language.

Play down your own negative feelings and experiences.

Many adults feel nervous about visiting the dentist as well. It’s quite normal, but you probably don’t want to pass those feelings on to your children!

When you talk about your dental experiences and feelings with your child, try to keep your language mild and positive.

Consider a pretend visit.

Before the first dentist appointment, play pretend with your child. You can be the dentist and they can be the patient. All you'll need is a toothbrush.

Count your little one's teeth by starting with the number one or the letter A. Avoid making drilling noises or lining up other "instruments." You can even hold up a mirror and show her how the dentist might look at and check her teeth.

Let your child role-play by using a toothbrush to clean the teeth of a stuffed animal or doll. The key is getting your child familiar with the routine so that they're more comfortable for the real visit.

For more advice on talking to your children about visiting the dentist, feel free to get in touch with our Quesnel dentists.