Making sure children have a super incredible experience with dentistry as a child (during every visit) is critical to how they take care of their smiles in the future. One bad experience could mean a child is never going to want to sit in a dental chair ever again.
That’s not the case with us! Being a pediatric dentist in Long Island means you give every child the dental experience of a lifetime, every time they’re at your office. From unique kid-friendly amenities to a few funny faces and songs, catering to kids while you care for their smile is setting the stage for a lifetime of exceptional dental health.
Cool, right? But what if your kiddo is not so cool with seeing the dentist? Relax, and check out these tips you can put into your parental toolbox to get your kid to feel comfortable seeing the dentist.
It’s a widely held belief that focusing on your breathing is one of the most effective ways to get control of our emotions and calm down. This can have a huge impact on how you approach an upcoming dental visit if you have a restless a kiddo. Show them how easy it is to focus on breathing instead of feeling bad about having to see their Long Island pediatric dentist. Make it a positive experience, and you’ll see that continued work towards breathing like a boss really pays off.
Try this breathing sequence:
1) Tell your child to inhale for a count of four
2) Hold it for a count of four
3) Exhale
4) Have them push the air out of the stomach
5) Repeat the exercise for five to 10 minutes until relaxation sets in
You know your little one better than anyone else, but for most kids, it’s always best to do a little pre-game preparation before you tackle a dental visit. Depending on your child’s age, temperament, and how they feel about the dentist, you might need to take some time to get them ready for an appointment. Consider discussing their appointment days or even months before it’s time to set foot in your Long Island pediatric dental office.
When you talk about exams, never be negative. Make sure they understand that going to the dentist is no different than going to the doctor and that it’s important to stay healthy. If they’re pressing you about what the dentist is going to do, keep it simple, especially if they’re little. Tell them the dentist is “counting teeth” or “checking your smile.” Detail-free = stress-free.
This tip is pretty straightforward: the more you keep up with regular dental visits, the less you’ll have to see the dentist. There’s no better way to reduce your child’s dental anxiety than not to have them in the office for repeated treatments. The more we stay on top of their oral health, the better the odds you can avoid more time-consuming procedures in the future. You’ll have a happy kiddo with a healthy smile. (One less thing to stress about, for you and for them.)
We hope you’ll give us a call to talk about your family. Do you have a little one that’s not OK with seeing the dentist? Please know you’re not alone, and we’re here to help. Try using these tools, and if you need more guidance or help, just let us know!
