Taking nearly 4yr old to dentist

[WestYorkshireGirl]

Last time I took my daughter to the dentist she wouldn't open her mouth at all whereas the previous two times she opened it very briefly for the dentist to look in. We are going again on Mon - any ideas of what I can try?!

Try playing dentists and role play what will happen. We used some bits from a doctors kit and took turns to open our mouths and count our teeth.

Don't forget bribery, when DS went recently we went and chose a magazine then I gave him the pennies and he put them in his pocket to go back and buy, once the dentist had counted his teeth.

When cleaning her teeth yourself, regularly go over-the-top with your effusive praise of how her teeth, especially the very back ones, are so shiny and beautiful they must be the most wonderful teeth in the whole of [insert town name]. Her teeth are so simply amazing that all who see them are bowled over with delight. If you can get the dentist to play along, getting a wide open mouth becomes so much easier.

Get her to open her mouth for anyone who has the patience to say well done. Postman, shopkeeper, friends and visitors. Just normalise it a bit, I'm a dentist and it's what I suggest.