Going to the dentist is a nightmare for most parents because many children are already afraid of the dentist on their first visit. Therefore, make plans for this first encounter with dental instruments and examinations very carefully. The child can accept it over time as a routine that does not have to be scary.

Sometimes parents only take their child to the dentist when there is a problem, making things worse and the experience traumatic. Therefore, take the child to the dentist’s chair for the first time when there is no problem. Do a routine check-up and introduce him/her to the whole process gradually.

To make the first meeting with the dentist as calm as possible, talk to the child before you go and explain how the examination will take place. You can also tell the whole procedure to him by playing with dolls since this is the easiest way for children to understand things.

Have the first visit to the dentist be when you have the routine check-up so that the child can go with you. This way, the child can look at you, follow what the dentist is doing, get familiar with the instruments, and see from your example that the examination is nothing scary.

Inform the dentist in good time that the child is coming for an examination for the first time so that he or she can adjust to a “gentler” approach and patience. All this will likely be a bit interesting for the child – a dentist’s chair going up and down, lights, mirrors, etc.

Fear of the dentist is not innate but acquired. So be careful what you say in front of the children about dental care and visits to the dentist. If you are afraid of going to the dentist, do not pass this on to the child, because in this case, positive cooperation with the dentist is of no use.

You can’t threaten children with the dentist – “If you don’t stop eating sweets, your teeth will get worse, so you’ll have to go to the dentist, and it will hurt a lot.” That this will solve the problem with sweets. The consequences will only be visible at a later age, so it will be much harder to eradicate this fear.

Getting the child used to thorough oral hygiene from the beginning also contributes significantly to eliminating the fear of the dentist. We recommend not using the brush until after the first year of life and cleaning the teeth with sterile, moist gauze until then.

Brush your child’s teeth at the beginning and teach them how to do it properly. Healthy habits and care will reduce the risk of serious problems. Therefore neither procedures will be painful or scary, and visits will be limited to routine check-ups and dental fluoridation.

Many parents, out of fear when the child cries too much and to comfort him, say phrases like: “Don’t be afraid, there’s the mummy.” Or, “Relax. They won’t do anything bad.” Children appreciate honesty and become calmer when you explain something nice to them. For example, the dentist has special brushes that clean the teeth. They make a specific sound and give off the water that “showers” the teeth, is a “dryer” that dries afterward, and looks nice.

Be direct and tell your children what to expect at the dentist. Explain in a friendly and calm way what the visit will consist of and what the dentist will do.