As an adult, you may be anxious about going to your dentist. Your kids may feel the same way and get nervous about their dental checkups. However, it’s important you help make these visits comfortable, so they build great oral health habits. It may seem hard trying to calm their nerves but reading them certain books and stories can help! Here are the types to look out for to help them have an easier time.
Books with Your Child’s Favorite or Familiar Characters
Your child may have a certain character they love or feel a bond with. Eyes may light up when they show up on a toy or show as they get ready to see the day’s adventures. Fortunately, many of these characters made for kids have books about them going to the dentist. Reading them to your loved one can help them feel courageous about their own visit coming up.
Some examples that you can keep in mind are Curious George, Berenstain Bears, Dora, and Peppa Pig. They generally help describe the overall process, so your child can understand what to expect.
Books by Authors They Like
You may notice your child gets drawn to certain authors while you read to them. By using this to your advantage, you can find stories by these writers that your loved one will want to read! Dr. Seuss is a classic option that has The Tooth Book, Mercer Mayer (who made the Little Critter series) has Just Going to the Dentist, and the First Time Series has some gems that you can pull from.
Alphabet Books About Dentistry
The world of dentistry is full of new terms and lingo that you may not even be too familiar with during your own appointments. This fear of the unknown can happen to you and your child, so letting them learn certain phrases that their pediatric dentist might say can help bring comfort.
Regardless, the dental office they go to should explain everything to your loved one in a way they understand. By also giving them a headstart, it can help the entire process feel a bit less intimidating in the long run.
While your child may be nervous about going to their checkup, reading is a powerful tool that can help them feel more prepared or even let them enjoy the visit. Hopefully, after story time, they feel better about going. However, if not, then you can talk to their pediatric dentist to see what they can offer to help them feel more relaxed.
About the Practice
At Linda A. Steele, DDS, your child benefits from the compassionate leadership of Dr. Steele and Dr. Raquel Hazbun. We are dedicated to helping the growing smiles in the Coppell community build healthy habits about their oral health with preventive care. By making our office a fun and welcoming space, we can help your loved one feel better about coming in for their treatments. If you want to know how we can make your child’s visit more comfortable, schedule an appointment or call our office at (972) 315-3355.