I get wanting to prep them, but honestly, sometimes too much info just makes my kid more anxious. If I tell her all about a loose tooth, she’ll start poking at every tooth in her mouth and then freak herself out even more. I’ve found it works better for us if I just kind of let things play out unless she asks. Like, if one starts wiggling, I’ll just act like it’s no big deal—“Oh, that happens, you’ll probably get a visit from the tooth fairy soon.” Takes some of the pressure off.
One time she bumped her mouth on the playground and her tooth looked a little weird. I did panic and called the dentist right away, but it turned out to be fine. Sometimes I think they pick up on our energy, so if I’m chill, she’s less likely to spiral. But yeah, every kid’s different... mine just overthinks if I give her too many details.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m kind of the opposite. When I was a kid, my parents kept everything hush-hush and it actually made me way more anxious whenever something weird happened with my teeth. Now with my own kids, I try to give them a quick heads up about what to expect—nothing too detailed, just enough so they’re not caught off guard. It’s not always perfect, but I feel like a little info helps them not panic if something does happen. Maybe it depends on the kid’s personality?
I can’t help but think a little information goes a long way, especially when it comes to dental stuff. When I was young, my folks never explained anything—just told me to “tough it out”—and honestly, it made me dread the dentist for years. Now, with grandkids running around, I’m all for giving them the basics, especially if there’s blood or a tooth gets knocked loose. I’ve found that even a quick rundown of what might happen calms them down more than silence ever did. That said, I don’t sugarcoat things—if something looks off, we’re calling the dentist. No home remedy ever fixed a cracked tooth in my experience.
I’m with you—nothing like a little straight talk to calm the nerves. I used to try and “wing it” with my kids, thinking a cold washcloth and a pep talk would fix anything. Spoiler: it didn’t. These days, if there’s blood or a tooth’s hanging by a thread, I skip the grandma remedies and call the dentist. But I do try to keep things light for the kids—sometimes just knowing what’s coming makes the whole thing less scary (for everyone involved). You’re right, cracked teeth need a pro... no amount of saltwater rinse is fixing that mess.
You nailed it—sometimes you just know when it’s time to let the professionals handle things. I used to think a little ice and distraction would do the trick, but after my grandson chipped his front tooth, I realized there’s only so much you can do at home. Keeping the mood light definitely helps, though. Kids pick up on our nerves, don’t they? I say, if in doubt, call the dentist and save yourself the worry.
