{"id":79,"date":"2025-05-10T12:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T11:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/?p=79"},"modified":"2025-07-05T12:16:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T11:16:40","slug":"addressing-dental-anxiety-in-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/addressing-dental-anxiety-in-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Dental Anxiety in Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 data-start=\"730\" data-end=\"768\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83e\uddd2 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Start <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Early <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Keep <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">It <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Routine<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"770\" data-end=\"943\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Children <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">who <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">visit <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">dentist <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">early <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">regularly <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">are <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">less <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">likely <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">to <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">develop <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">dental <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">anxiety. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Aim <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">for <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">first <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">visit <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">by <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">their <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">first <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">birthday <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">maintain <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">6-<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">month <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">check-<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">ups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"985\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"985\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Use <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Child-<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Friendly <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Language<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"987\" data-end=\"1053\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Skip <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">scary <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">words. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Instead <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">of &#8220;<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">needle&#8221; <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">or &#8220;<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">drill,&#8221; <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">say <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">things <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1153\">\n<li data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1091\">\n<p data-start=\"1056\" data-end=\"1091\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">&#8220;<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">The <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">dentist <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">will <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">count <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">teeth&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1092\" data-end=\"1153\">\n<p data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1153\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">&#8220;<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">You\u2019ll <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">get <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">teeth <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">cleaned <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">with <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">special <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">tickly <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">brush&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"1160\" data-end=\"1193\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"1160\" data-end=\"1193\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83d\udcda <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Read <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Books <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">or <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Watch <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Videos<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1304\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Storybooks <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">cartoons <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">are <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">great <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">ways <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">to <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">explain <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">what <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">happens <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">at <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">dentist <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">in <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">friendly, <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">visual <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">way. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Try:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1375\">\n<li data-start=\"1305\" data-end=\"1332\">\n<p data-start=\"1307\" data-end=\"1332\"><em data-start=\"1307\" data-end=\"1332\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Peppa <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Pig: <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Dentist <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Trip<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1333\" data-end=\"1375\">\n<p data-start=\"1335\" data-end=\"1375\"><em data-start=\"1335\" data-end=\"1375\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">The <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Berenstain <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Bears <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Visit <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Dentist<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1692\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1692\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Practice <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Relaxation <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Techniques<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1694\" data-end=\"1744\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Simple <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">breathing <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">exercises <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">can <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">help <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">reduce <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">stress:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1745\" data-end=\"1849\">\n<li data-start=\"1745\" data-end=\"1789\">\n<p data-start=\"1747\" data-end=\"1789\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Breathe <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">in <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">slowly <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">through <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">nose (<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">3 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">sec)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1807\">\n<p data-start=\"1792\" data-end=\"1807\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Hold <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">it (<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">2 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">sec)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"1849\">\n<p data-start=\"1810\" data-end=\"1849\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Exhale <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">gently <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">through <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">mouth (<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">4 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">sec)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1851\" data-end=\"1912\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Bring <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">comfort <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">toy <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">or <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">play <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">quiet <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">music <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">for <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">added <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">relaxation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1919\" data-end=\"1950\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"1919\" data-end=\"1950\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83d\udc4f <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Stay <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Calm <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Supportive<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1952\" data-end=\"2108\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">attitude <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">sets <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">tone. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Speak <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">positively, <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">stay <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">calm, <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">praise <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">child <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">after <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">the <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">visit. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">A <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">reward (<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">like <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">sticker) <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">helps <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">create <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">happy <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">association.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2115\" data-end=\"2159\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"2115\" data-end=\"2159\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83c\udfc6 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Choose <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Paediatric <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Dental <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Specialist<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2161\" data-end=\"2369\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Our <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">team <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">at <\/span><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2243\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Children&#8217;s <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Dentist <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">London<\/span><\/a> <span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">is <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">trained <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">to <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">make <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">children <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">feel <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">safe <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">relaxed. <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Our <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">office <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">is <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">designed <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">just <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">for <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">kids\u2014<\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">bright, <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">fun, <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">and <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">full <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">of <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">gentle <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">care.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2418\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2418\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">\ud83e\uddb7 <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Book <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Child\u2019s <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Appointment <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Today!<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2420\" data-end=\"2559\"><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">Don\u2019t <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">let <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">fear <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">keep <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">your <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">child <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">from <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">a <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">healthy <\/span><span class=\"_fadeIn_m1hgl_8\">smile.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83e\uddd2 Start Early and Keep It Routine Children who visit the dentist early and regularly are less likely to develop dental anxiety. Aim for the first visit by their first birthday and maintain 6-month check-ups. \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Use Child-Friendly Language Skip scary words. Instead of &#8220;needle&#8221; or &#8220;drill,&#8221; say things like: &#8220;The dentist will count your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How to Ease Dental Anxiety in Children","_seopress_titles_desc":"Help your child feel confident at the dentist. Discover calming strategies to reduce fear and make dental visits a positive experience.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79\/revisions\/113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensdentistlondon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}