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Don't Cave In To Cavity Fears: Help A Child Deal With Their First Cavity

22 November 2016 by Christy Long

Nobody ever wants to deal with cavities. Prevention is ideal, so it is important for children to brush their teeth regularly. Unfortunately, cavities are inevitable for most people even when they do have a good dental care routines. If your child is afraid of the cavity in their mouth and the filling, they need to fix it. Here are some things you can do to help them deal with the situation.

Ask Open-Ended Questions About How Your Child Is Feeling

When it comes to getting their first cavity filled, a child may be imagining many things that you haven't considered. A child's imagination can run wild and fill in the blanks with something far scarier than reality. Dig a little deeper into how they are feeling with open-ended questions. That way, you can then let them know when they are mistaken and provide words of comfort to help ease their worries. Ask these questions:

• Have any of your friends had a cavity and a filling?
• What do you think happens when you get a filling?
• What confuses you about cavities and fillings?
• What is the worst part of having a cavity?
• What would help you feel better right now?

These simple questions can help your child voice their fears, and their answers can let you know a lot about what you want to say or ask next to help them handle the problem.

Read Stories About Cavities and Fillings

Luckily, children's books have been written about this childhood experience. By giving your child books about cavities, you can help them see that their experience is perfectly normal. It also can make facing their fears a little less scary. Read books like Sid the Science Kid: A Cavity Is a Hole in Your Tooth (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Jodi Huelin and Sugarbug Doug: All About Cavities, Plaque and Teeth by Dr. Ben Magleby. The fun characters in these books are relatable and fun for little ones.

Finally, keep in mind that every child's perception of cavities and fillings will be a little different. Listen to your child's exact fears to optimally calm them down. Reassure them that the process of having a cavity corrected with a filling can be pain-free, and plan a little something that they will enjoy for after the pediatric dentist visit. With your care and attention, your child can handle their first cavity and filling with little stress

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