3 Things We All Need to do to Make Trips to the Dentist Anxiety Free for Our Children

Anxiety Free Dentist Trips

Whether you are an adult or child, going to the dentist can be an anxious experience for anyone. The unknown, the sounds of the drill, the anxiety of having a cavity, and the general chaos of a busy office can be a bit of an overload for anyone. For our children with special needs, these anxieties of the office are often amplified. Routine professional dental visits, good dental hygiene at home, and good diet habits are the three most important preventive measures to ensure good dental health and less anxious dental visits. For our special needs children, these things can be challenging, which makes them even more prone to dental problems.

Routine professional dental care.

I often get the question of when I should first bring my child to the dentist. The American Association of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that a child should have their first visit anywhere from when their first tooth emerges to their first birthday. This will ensure that they are checked for early tooth decay, identify dental abnormalities early (which are very common in special needs children), and ultimately get them comfortable at a very early age going to the dentist. After the first visit, routine visits should be made twice a year unless instructed otherwise by your dentist. Making the dentist visit as comfortable as possible will vary depending on the needs of the child. I think it is first and foremost most important to find a dentist who is patient enough and willing to make some minor accommodations. I always suggest getting the first appointment of the day, or an early morning appointment. There is likely to not be a wait time, less people in the office, and it is less likely the child will be as tired and fatigued from the day’s activities. The calmer the atmosphere the better. If your dentist is willing, maybe schedule an after-hours visit or a tour of the office to familiarize your child with the surroundings before attempting to get in the chair. More frequent, shorter visits may work for you. In many cases. sedation dentistry might be necessary. A dentist who is licensed in sedation, or a local hospital clinic, may be the avenue to pursue for that.

Proper home care.

The AAPD recommends brushing twice a day with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste from when the first tooth erupts until around age 2. Ages 3-6, this may be increased to a pea-sized amount. From ages 6 until adulthood, you can up the amount from pea size to a normal-sized amount provided that one can spit the toothpaste out without swallowing. In addition to brushing twice a day, it is recommended to floss once daily, preferably before bedtime once there are enough teeth in the mouth. With our special needs children, home care can be a challenge. Getting them used to the feel of a toothbrush as early as possible is key. The longer they have had the feel of a toothbrush the easier it will be. There are applications on iPads that have timers, videos, and pictures which may be helpful. Find a flavored toothpaste that is more tolerable for your child.

Diet.

Because home care can be challenging with our special needs children, there may be nothing more important in controlling cavities for them than a diet. Diet is a little easier to manage because it can be easily controlled. Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria in your plaque turning the sugars in your food and drink into acid. The acid breaks down your enamel and causes cavities. Therefore, avoiding sugary foods and acidic drinks is key in preventing this process from happening. Some examples of sugary food and drinks to avoid are candy, sports drinks, pop, and fruit juices. One may wonder, can we never enjoy any of these things? We absolutely can. The biggest culprit is when the teeth are constantly being bathed with these sugars. Therefore, indulging in these things at mealtimes and avoiding “sipping” and “snacking” with sugary foods and drinks throughout the day will tremendously lower the risk of getting cavities. Low sugar snacks and water are the best things to use at snack time.

Related: Benefits of Special Diets for Special Needs Children

In closing, making routine dental visits, good home care, and a good diet will help prevent stressful dental situations for the parent and the child. No one situation is the same and every single one is unique. Finding a dentist willing to be patient and work with you and your child’s special needs, being patient at home with some trial and error, and avoiding snacking on sugary foods and drinks will go a long way in ensuring your child maintains a healthy dentition and has anxious free dental visits.

[Free Download: A Complete Guide of Dental Care for Children with Special Needs]

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This post originally appeared on our January/February 2022 Magazine