Many children get anxious when they visit their dentist—especially when they’re too young to fully grasp what happens during a dental exam and why it’s important to their health.
So be proactive and show kids that your office is far from a scary place. Stock up on books and activities that allow curious young minds to learn the ins and outs of what they’ll experience in your care.
To get you started, here are six great books with colorful illustrations or fun activities that will help build a positive relationship with you and their dental health.
- My Dentist, My Friend by P.K. Halliman
This rhyming step-by-step dental visit guide will reassure even your youngest patients that going to the dentist is nothing to worry about. - How Many Teeth? by Paul Showers
This book is a dental classic. It walks kids through the changes their teeth will go through as they grow up and makes the idea of baby teeth falling out to make way for adult teeth seem positive instead of scary. - The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums by Edward Miller
This book makes dental hygiene fun! It features wonderful illustrations that walk kids through taking care of their teeth. It’s especially good for children that are a little older and more independent. - Elmo Visits the Dentist by P. J. Shaw
Perfect for the little ones who start squirming at the first mention of the dentist. Elmo takes the “big bad wolf” to the dentist and sits with him while the assistant explains what will happen at his appointment. - Doctor DeSoto Goes to Africa by William Steig
Dr. DeSoto and his wife are a pair of mice who run a dental clinic for various animals. So this book is not only a great walk-through of a dental appointment but also teaches children about the different animals treated in their clinic. - Open Wide: Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller
32 students (8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars) go to a class to learn about caring for their teeth as they work their way through trivia questions with their teacher, Dr. Flossman. This book has beautiful illustrations and comes with two quizzes to see what readers have learned.
