Many people get anxious when they come in to the dentist, and children are no exception. Indeed, most severe cases of dental anxiety are the result of the individual’s earliest experience at the dental office. With this in mind, you’ll want to take care to make your child comfortable with our Federal Way dentistry clinic as early as you can. Here are a few tips to make this possible:
- Bring your child in at an early age. It is generally recommended that a child’s first dental visit should occur when he or she turns one. This is not only a good way to avoid decay, but also a good way to acclimate the child to the concept.
- Be mindful of your own reaction to the dentist office. Even if you’re not aware of it, you may be showing signs of nervousness. Your child picks up on these cues.
- Watch your language. This means not telling horror stories about what may happen, but it also means not saying “everything will be okay”. You don’t want to lose your child’s trust if he or she experiences discomfort in the dentist’s chair.
- Don’t bribe your child. Children are smart enough to realize that, when you promise to reward them, there must be some reason you would feel the need to do so.
