Does going to the dentist make you feel anxious? This is a common occurrence, particularly if you are a child. Indeed, most of the more impactful cases of dental anxiety can be traced back to a bad childhood experience, making it all the more important to make your little ones comfortable when they come to visit our Bellingham dentist. To do so, keep the following tips in mind:
Start taking a child to the dentist as early as you can. Exposure to the dentist at a young age helps to accustom him or her to the experience.
Don’t resort to bribery. If you feel the need to offer your child a reward for going to the dentist, he or she will pick up on the idea that this is an unpleasant experience.
Be encouraging, but don’t use phrases like “everything will be okay”. You can’t guarantee that your child won’t feel any pain or discomfort, and you don’t want to lose his or her trust in such an event.
Manage your own dental anxiety! You may not even be aware of the emotional cues that you give your child when you discuss going to the dentist’s office.