Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

6 ways to ease kids’ fear of the dentist

Jennifer Passmore
By

This is a pretty common issue that many dentists have tackled over the years. Sometimes, kids are afraid of the dentist simply out of irrational fear. But there are other reasons that they can be afraid of going for a dental checkup, too. Pop culture, especially some cartoons, have portrayed dentists to be treacherous monsters, which could not be further from the truth. The bottom line is that proper dental care is essential for their health. If you have a child afraid of going to the dentist, we’re sharing six ways to help ease their fears.

Watch educational videos (or read books)

With the vast, wide world of YouTube, there are plenty of educational videos that can help your child feel better about going to the dentist. Alternatively, there are a variety of books on the market that can help your child learn all about the dentist. The books will tell them what dentists do and how they will make your child’s teeth big and strong. Below are some videos and books that might help you.

Related Videos

Books

Videos

Pretending To Play Dentist

Role-play a pretend visit

A few days before their dental appointment, have a “pretend” dentist visit with your child. Gather up some things like a mirror and other items to pretend that they are dental tools. Start chatting with your little one about going to the dentist and how beneficial it is for them to keep their teeth clean. Talk to them about how visiting the dentist can help them do that. While talking to them, encourage them to look in the mirror and smile, count their teeth, and you could even get a toothbrush and pretend to clean their teeth as a hygenist would. Don’t forget to ask them if they have any questions about going to the dentist, and see if you can help to ease those fears that they have.

Related

Implement positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement does not mean bribing your child with something like candy, dessert, or a new toy. However, what it does do is build up their morale when you talk about just how well your child did at the dentist. They will be happy that you are proud of them, and it will truly be invaluable to them. Make sure that you build them up on the way to the dentist, and finally, when they get to the dentist’s office, be their coach and cheer them on. When they are done, give them a huge hug and let them know how proud you are of them for being so cooperative at their visit.

Find a pediatric dentist

If you have one in your area, finding a pediatric dentist could be key to helping to ease your child’s fear of the dentist. Many pediatric dentists and their staff are equipped on how to speak to children who are afraid. Not only that, the offices are typically are decorated with fun decor to help ease kid’s fears. Plus, many dentist offices have different kinds of distractions for the kids. These include some really cool tablets, movies for the kids to watch, and some even have game systems. What kid can resist that?

Always Smile Lightbox

See if you can stop by

If children are a bit more familiar with their surroundings, it won’t be sprung on them the day of their appointment. One way to do this is to call up their dentist and ask them if your child can come in for a walk-through and a tour of the facility, and maybe even meet the staff. This could do a lot to help your little one feel better about going along to the dentist if they have met the people that will be working on their teeth. If your dentist allows this, it is definitely a great thing to do with your child.

Deep breaths

You might need deep breaths all around depending on how your child deals with their dentist appointment. The most important thing is to calm them down and get them to a state where you can talk to them about what is going on and how they are feeling. You also have to make sure that you take some deep breaths as well, as it is hard to see your little one scared, but they are in good hands with their dentist.

Going to the dentist can be a pleasant experience for both kids and parents. If you try some of these tactics to help keep them at ease during their dental cleaning, the chances of it being a smooth visit are much higher. By using some of these methods to cope with fear, your child will be one step closer to a comfortable dental appointment.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
What is implantation cramping like? Find out if what you’re feeling is early pregnancy symptoms
What to expect if you're experiencing implantation cramps
A woman having cramps

In very early pregnancy — the first moment, in fact — the new embryo implants itself into the uterine lining. This can cause what is called implantation cramping — cramps caused by the implantation of the embryo into the uterus. Learn more about what implantation cramps feel like, how long they last, and how to tell them apart from period cramps.

What does implantation cramping feel like?
Implantation cramps are milder than period cramps but the sensation can be similar to period cramps. They could be a dull ache or small twinges. Often they can feel more like prickling, pulling, discomfort, or twinges; more than full-on mild period cramping. You may feel them in the abdominal area, pelvic area, or lower back. And the feeling could be in the middle of the body or just on one side of the body.
Any cramping can be painful, including implantation cramping, though implantation cramps are rarely painful. If you do experience pain, you can use a heating pad or acetaminophen. Implantation cramps should not be extremely painful, and if you are experiencing a great deal of pain, you should seek medical attention. It could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or another medical emergency.

Read more
What are the signs of implantation?
Wondering if you may be pregnant? Find out what implantation symptoms could occur if your are
Woman sitting on couch and looking at a pregnancy test

Implantation is when an embryo implants into the uterine lining to start growing into a fetus. For some, this moment could cause implantation symptoms like some bleeding or cramping, similar to a very light period. For others, nothing may happen. Following implantation, pregnancy symptom will begin and increase as the days progress. Read on to find out exactly what to expect in signs of implantation.

What is implantation?
Implantation usually happens five to nine days after fertilization (conception), when the embryo has already started to grow. It needs to bury itself into the thick lining of the uterus to keep growing. Without implantation, a pregnancy cannot progress. Medically, the pregnancy only begins once implantation takes place.

Read more
Need advice on parenting teens? Get support from these Facebook groups just for you
The best Facebook groups for parenting teens advice
A parent and teen talking.

Parenting teens can be a challenge, but doing it with the support of other parents can make it easier. These Facebook groups are places to find advice and support from other parents of teens as sounding boards to help you figure out the dilemmas that come up, like discipline, body image issues, dating and sex, and building trust.

Moms of Teens Support Group
This group is exclusively for moms, while others are open to all parents, caregivers, educators, and others. Get support, trade advice, or just vent about how parenting a teenager is going.
Parenting in a Tech World
Teens finding information, strangers, bullies, or all manner of things online is a concern for any parent in the modern age. This group of over 288,000 parents discusses issues of social media, screen time, online safety, and more about parenting in a tech world.
Parents of Teens with Depression, Anxiety and OCD
From 2016 to 2019, 5.8 million teens had anxiety and 2.7 million had depression, and those numbers have been increasing since. Supporting your teen's mental health is a special skill that can take an emotional toll and takes work to find a delicate balance of how to approach. This group of over 25,000 parents can help you find support in a safe space.
Raising Teenage Boys Is HARD!!
No matter their gender, raising teenagers is hard, but there are special challenges that come along with raising teen boys. This group, run by Teen Thrive, is for those raising teenage boys and looking for advice about puberty, communication, substance use, dating, bullying, internet and gaming device use, and mental health.
Raising Teenage Girls Is HARD! Parenting Teens Support Group by Teen Thrive
The sister group to the one above and also run by Teen Thrive, this group is all about raising teen girls. Issues like menstruation, mental health, dating, academics, body image and self-confidence, and peer pressure can all be discussed with over 35,000 other parents here.
Teenager parenting (Raising teens)
With hundreds of new posts every month, this group is a teen parenting haven. You can read through what others ask to get ideas on how to handle what's to come, give advice to others if you've been in their shoes, and ask your own questions about how to handle your own struggles with your teenager.

Read more