Many people, not just kids, but adults as well, fear dentists and they feel anxiety when they have to visit one. This in many cases is linked to bad treatment and bad examples from the past. What we learn and habits we develop during young age, sticks with us through our whole life and determines our behavior patterns. 

Some watched their parents or siblings and their behavior when they had to visit a dentist and saw their anxiety…this for no reason has led to the fear they have today. Some had a bad experience, they visited a dentist for the first time in their life when they had tooth pain and had no other choice. 

Luckily, there is a way to avoid that when it comes to your children, but there is a catch. 

We explain it below… 

When kids are young, especially at the age of 2-3 years, they observe the world and the people around them and absorb every piece of information like a sponge. Something they absorb among other things are behavior patterns. That is why it is very important how parents behave and talk when their children are around. If they see their parents' fear to visit a dentist it is more likely they will develop the same fear.

Things you can do to prepare your child for a dentist visit:

1. Visit a dentist for the first time when the teeth are healthy.

In case a child has some problem with the teeth, like tooth decay for example, do not use the first dentist visit to do anything on the tooth which could harm the child and cause pain. 

Plan your first dentist visit when the child turns a year and a half or two.

2. Prepare your child for the visit.   

Talk to your child about the mouth hygiene, why it is important, how to wash their teeth, when to wash them, and tell where and when you are going. 

Do not go too much in detail, use a book or coloring books in which some of the child's favorite characters go to a dentist. Tell the story several times, pointing out the things which will be at the dentist’s, like dentist mirror, the chair, mouthwash liquid, the reflector, etc. Encourage the child to point out the things and to talk about them.  

During this play or never, as a matter of fact, do not mention words like pain, “nothing to fear” or “ don’t be afraid”, as these simple words can cause the child to be afraid. 

Do not wait for your child to have a bad tooth or worse, tooth pain, to take him or her to a dentist!

Play with your child and let the child be a dentist and to check your teeth first, you can also check the teeth of plush toys or dolls, then you can check the child's teeth as well.  

One more good example, one older person, dad for example, can pretend that he took the child to a dentist and mom can play the dentist, wear gloves, a mask, some uniform if you have or a coat…

Play like you have really gone to the dentist and try to be as much as realistic as possible. Use some instruments you have for the play and name them as well, use a toothbrush to tickle teeth, flash on your mobile phone instead of the reflector, a straw to suck out the mouthwash liquid. 

One room, if possible, can be the waiting room and the second room can be the office. Communicate like you have really gone to the dentist. Make or print a diploma and give a prize to your child after the successful visit. Express your gratitude and praise the child's bravery!

Kids need to relax and to feel safe, this we achieve by introducing the dentist equipment, office, tools, the dentist itself. Trust and friendly relationships with the dentist are crucial for the future positive thinking and attitude about mouth hygiene.  

It is very important to take the kids to the dentist before some problems occur, like tooth decay. So we highly recommend turning the dentist visit into a play, using books, cartoons, toys and getting your child familiar with the dentist visit.

At Kole and Sophie’s you can get your Kids Dentist Toy Set which can help prepare your child for a dentist visit. The set contains dentist tools and gadgets, clay or plasticine and this very set was very helpful when we were preparing our two kids for the visit. We are happy to say our kids do not fear the dentist, unluckily we cannot say that for the dad…

3. Let the child bring favorite toy

Bringing the favorite toy will bring comfort and safety to the child, and later the child can play the dentist and apply what it saw and have learned. 

4. Don’t force it

When you find yourself at the dentist, offer your child to sit in the dentist chair and to show the teeth. In case the child refuses to sit or sits, but doesn’t allow the dentist to look at the teeth, do not insist and force the child, as it leads only to resistance for the other future visits.

Regardless if the first visit was successful or not, it is very important to take the kids regularly to the dentist so they can get used to the environment and get confident with the dentist, who will then easily take some action when it’s necessary. 

First visit should have as a goal to relax the child in an unfamiliar environment and it is best if the dentist explains in an interesting way his or her job and instruments which are used. 

Many young ones associate an unknown person in a white coat to a doctor, in some cases on the other side, it’s a reminder to intimidation their parents used when they’ve misbehaved. 

5. What to do if the child already fears the dentist?

Parents play a big role when it comes to overcoming the fear of dentists.

Their prejudices about the dentists or dentist's interventions influence the kids in everyday conversations and remain in young minds.

The dentist then has a big task, because he/she has a relatively short period of time to help the child and overcome the fear which developed in years.

In case the visit requires an intervention which cannot be delayed, together with the child it is important to follow the procedure tell - point - do. This means approaching the child in an appropriate way, creating mutual understanding and trust relationship and explaining what will be done, in which way, using which tools, showing the tools and only when the child understands the intervention can be done. 

8 advice's for a peaceful dentist visit

1. Start early

The sooner you visit the dentist the better! For the child to create “a version of a safe dentist house”, where all of the needs for any treatment will be satisfied, the best would be to go for the first visit before a year and half.  

2. Don’t make it hard (for yourself or the child)

During the preparations for the visit, especially if it’s the first visit, spare the child from the details. Do not describe the procedure in every detail, as it can confuse the child and create anxiety feelings.

3. Mind the words

While communicating with the child do not use the words like “injection”, “sting”, “pain”. Allow the experts to explain the concepts in the right way. Tell the child that the doctor will look for “sugar worms” and will clean the teeth. Use positive phrases like: “white, strong and healthy teeth”, to link the visit to positive thinking and optimism, instead of fear and anxiety. 

4. Practice at home

Play dentist and a patient at home. For this play you need at least a toothbrush. Count the teeth of your little patient. Allow the child to be the dentist and to check your teeth or to practice on dolls, allow the child to play with the play doh as well. 

Kole and Sophie’s Kids Dentist Toy Set is the perfect solution in these cases. 

5. Do not bring the kids when you visit the dentist

Some parents take their children when they visit a dentist and some experts claim that is wrong. Parents can subconsciously behave inappropriately and thus cause the child to be afraid. All those stories about tooth canal and root canal are not for the child's ears, and besides, the children's dentists are a far better choice. 

6. After all, be prepared for crying

It is normal that kids cry and rebellious want to leave the dentist's office, because a stranger wants to do something with their teeth. To avoid that, have a small mirror in your pocket or purse and give it to the child so it can see what the dentist is doing with the instruments. If you do not have a mirror use a front phone camera. Stay calm and have in mind that dentists got used to children crying and they know what to do in those cases. Have trust in your dentist, as he/she could ask you to stay away from the child for some time or to hold the child’s hand.

Emphasize the importance of month hygiene 

7. Do not bribe the child

Many experts do not recommend offering to a child some sort of a prize for its behavior at the dentists. This could only increase the anxiety. Besides, if you offer some sweets or candies, this collides with the dentist's recommendation to stay away from sweets and it leads to tooth decay. After the visit the best is to praise the child for its bravery and good behavior, and give a diploma or a medal, or treat a child with a toy. 

8. Emphasize the importance of month hygiene 

Explain to the child why the visit to a dentist is necessary, that it’s not a choice, and that the dentist takes care of our teeth, so they are bright, strong and healthy. You might say that the dentist will help us preserve the beauty of our smile. The right attitude defined early in childhood will help the children to take good care of their teeth in the years to come. 

In conclusion, the fear of dentists is a common issue affecting both children and adults, often stemming from negative past experiences or learned behaviors during early childhood. However, parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's perceptions and attitudes towards dental visits. By introducing dental care in a positive and playful manner, parents can help alleviate fear and anxiety associated with dentists. Starting early, avoiding frightening details, and using positive language are key strategies in this process. Moreover, creating a safe and friendly dentist environment and building a trusting relationship with dental professionals are vital steps toward fostering a positive attitude about oral hygiene. It's essential to prioritize early dental visits and ensure that children have a comfortable and reassuring experience. Ultimately, the goal is to empower children to take care of their oral health, emphasizing the importance of maintaining bright, strong, and healthy teeth throughout their lives. By following these guidelines, we can pave the way for future generations to approach dental care with confidence and optimism.