Mom Approved Dentists

Nothing Nothing to fear to Fear

HOW TO EASE YOUR KIDS’ DENTAL ANXIETIES

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

WHILE PORING OVER THE NOMINATING COMMENTS from our recent Mom Approved survey, we noticed a common theme among the parents who gushed over their dentists and orthodontists: their kids no longer fear the dentist or dental treatment.

Consistent dental care at an early age is imperative in setting up your kids for a lifetime of healthy habits, so we wanted to examine where the scaries come from, what parents can do calm their kids’ anxieties, and what both you and your dentist can do to ensure the best possible appointment.

For an expert’s advice, we reached out to Dr. Rita Cammarata, DDS, past president of the Texas Dental Association and owner of Cammarata Pediatric Dentistry Group in Houston.

DFWCHILD: WHY IS IT THAT SOME KIDS FEAR GOING TO THE DENTIST IN THE FIRST PLACE?

DR. RITA CAMMARATA,

DDS: Previous unfavorable experiences at another medical or dental office can trigger this fear, as can dental “stories” from their older siblings or friends. As pediatric dentists, [we] are trained to set children up for success at their dental visits. Colorful, child-friendly offices with videos to watch, video games to play, and lots of toys and stuffed animals tend to make for a fun, exciting visit to the dentist. Our patients are comfortable in our office’s atmosphere because it is designed with them in mind from the start. We strive to make their visit fun, with the actual exam or treatment being as uneventful as possible.

C: HOW CAN PARENTS HELP CALM THEIR CHILD’S ANXIETY BEFORE EVEN GOING TO THE APPOINTMENT?

DRC: First thing for parents to know is their demeanor while in the office will affect their child, so be positive before the appointment while at home and during the appointment. Prepping the child beforehand on what to expect while in the office can be done by going on the website and seeing pictures of the office. There is a variety of children’s books for them to read or have read to them. Planning a treat to look forward to after the visit can always be helpful. That can be a toy or a visit to the park.

C: HOW CAN PARENTS BE MINDFUL NOT TO TRANSFER THEIR OWN FEARS AND ANXIETIES ONTO THEIR CHILD?

DRC: I think this is the most important part: The parent must be positive about the visit. Don’t let your fear or anxiety show through. Be mindful of your demeanor, and don’t speak of your fears with others while the child is within earshot. They pick up and understand more than we think they do.

C: WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KEEP IN MIND WHEN SCHEDULING THEIR CHILD’S APPOINTMENT?

DRC: Make the appointment for a day and time when the child will be at their best. If there was a big event at school and you pulled the child out, they may be upset and not in the best of moods for the appointment. For younger children, avoid snack time or naptime. Younger kids do better in the early morning.

C: ANY ADVICE FOR FOSTERING HEALTHY HABITS AT HOME?

DRC: There are three steps to keeping your child’s mouth clean and avoiding cavities: 1) The parent should brush the child’s teeth [until children are old enough to do so on their own, typically around age 7] at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and do it effectively. 2) Floss once a day and clean each side of the tooth effectively. 3) Avoid sugars and simple carbs (they are cavity makers) and brush afterwards.

C: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR KEEPING KIDS’ TEETH HEALTHY DURING HALLOWEEN?

DRC: We can’t avoid Halloween so let’s enjoy the night, but don’t let it linger. Remember, when it comes to sweets, the number of exposures to sugars is more important than the amount at each sitting, so you are better off having several pieces of candy at once than several small amounts during the day.

WHAT DOES MOM APPROVED MEAN? READ ON TO FIND OUT. ➜