Going to the dentist is a necessary evil. With their drills, bright lights, and masked faces, it’s easy to understand why children would be scared; after all, a visit can be down right uncomfortable. However, there are several books you can pick up to help prepare your child for their first visit to the dentist. I’ve listed five below, along with a bit of explanation about why the book is a good choice.
1. Show Me Your Smile! A Visit to the Dentist
Even boisterous adventurers have to see the dentist. Many children idolize Dora the Explorer because of her fun and cheerful adventures and they try to reenact them during playtime. With this book, your children might feel they are following in Dora’s footsteps when they visit the dentist and see it as more of an adventure than a chore. The story takes the children through Dora’s checkup and provides a brief education on what a dentist does and what the visit will be like, including the prizes given at the end for being good patients.
2. The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist
The rambunctious bear siblings are always getting into trouble, and this time it’s the dentist. The story takes the reader through a standard visit to the dentist, who has to fill a cavity in one of the siblings and remove a baby tooth from the other. A great book for preschoolers, this book informs the reader without being scary or triggering anxiety. The experts at Arrowhead Dental recommend this for children who need more complex procedures performed than just a clean up.
3. Sesame Street Ready, Set, Brush
The familiar faces and character of Sesame Street take the reader through good dental hygiene practices in a fun, pop up adventure. The story teaches children how to apply toothpaste and go through the process of brushing and rinsing their teeth, and also tells about the importance of regular dental checkups. Encouraging and fun, the book will engage children because of its mechanical elements and prepare them for the dentist.
4. A Day in the Life of a Dentist
More informative than fun, this book will help children relate to the dentist and remove some of the distance between patient and doctor. If children understand that a dentist is a real person and not some scary monster, they’ll be more at ease and more likely to relax during their checkup. The story takes the child through what a dentist’s day to day activities are and demonstrates how they aren’t really scary at all.
5. ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z
Aiding in learning their abc’s as well as learning about the dentist, this story gives children an idea of what a dentist visit is like in alphabetical order, with each page and entry in the story relating to a specific aspect of a dentist visit.
By preparing your child for a visit to the dentist, they’ll be less scared and much more at ease when the time inevitably comes. This doesn’t have to be something for your child to fear. Let them know this is a normal activity and they are there to help.
Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want their kids to be comfortable at the dentist.