Saw this wild bit of trivia the other day: apparently, just letting kids watch their favorite cartoons during dental appointments can seriously lower their anxiety. Like, not just a little bit—some studies say it makes a big difference in how stressed out they feel. I mean, I guess it makes sense? Distraction works for adults too (I’d take Netflix over staring at the ceiling any day), but I never thought about it being a legit “treatment” for nervous kiddos.
When my niece had her first filling, the dental assistant put on Peppa Pig and she was way more interested in what Peppa was up to than what was happening in her mouth. It was kind of hilarious, honestly. She barely flinched.
Makes me wonder what other random tricks people have tried to help their kids get through dental visits without meltdowns. Anyone’s kid respond better to music or maybe those VR goggles some offices have now? Or do you just bribe them with ice cream after (which is maybe not great for their teeth, but hey…)? Curious if anyone’s found something that works even better than a screen.
Cartoons at the dentist are honestly such a game-changer, and I’m glad to see it’s not just hype. My nephew used to dread every appointment, like full-on tears in the waiting room, but once his dentist started letting him pick something to watch, he barely noticed the cleaning. I get that some people think screens are just a crutch, but if it means less trauma for kids (and less stress for parents), why not use what works?
I’ve seen some offices try music or let kids wear headphones, but honestly, nothing distracted my nephew like Spongebob did. VR goggles sound cool in theory, but I wonder if they’re too much for little kids—my guess is most would rather stick with cartoons they know. And yeah, bribing with treats after seems counterproductive…though I won’t lie, my sister still does it sometimes.
Honestly, anything that helps build positive associations with the dentist is worth trying. The less scary those early visits are, the better their attitude about dental care in the long run.
Yeah, I’m totally with you on this. Cartoons at the dentist are a lifesaver for a lot of kids. My niece used to be a ball of nerves—like, she’d start crying as soon as we got in the car if she knew it was dentist day. Her dentist started letting her pick between Paw Patrol and Bluey, and now it’s honestly not an issue. She even looks forward to seeing what’s “on” that day. It’s wild how much of a difference it makes when you just give them something familiar to focus on.
I know there’s always pushback about screens being a “bad habit” or whatever, but honestly? I’d rather have a kid who isn’t traumatized by basic health care than worry too much about 20 minutes of cartoons every few months. Plus, it’s not like they’re zoning out at home all day—it’s literally just to get through something stressful.
The VR goggles thing… I’m on the fence. I got to try them once (not as a kid, lol) and they’re intense, even for adults. I can’t imagine strapping that on a six-year-old who already feels weird about being in the chair. Maybe for older kids or teens, but I don’t see it working for most little ones. The regular TV or tablet setup seems way more approachable.
And yeah, the treat thing is tricky. My brother still bribes his son with ice cream after appointments, which kind of defeats the point, but I get it. Sometimes you just want to avoid a meltdown. If cartoons can do the trick instead of sugar, that’s a win in my book.
Honestly, anything that helps kids build good vibes about going to the dentist is worth trying. The earlier they can get used to it without fear, the less likely they’ll avoid checkups later on—which is when problems really start piling up. I wish stuff like this had been around when I was a kid… pretty sure I’d have fewer dental horror stories!
I get the appeal of cartoons for anxious kids, but I wonder if we might be missing something by always reaching for screens first. Back when I was raising my own, we tried talking them through what to expect, or letting them bring a favorite stuffed animal. It took more patience, but it seemed to help them build up their own coping skills over time. I’m not anti-cartoons—just think there’s value in mixing in other comfort strategies too. Sometimes a familiar hand to hold goes further than any show.
Screens definitely help, but I’ve noticed music works too. My grandkids like picking songs on my phone—calms them down a bit before the cleaning starts. Still, I agree with the point about familiar comfort. Sometimes just having a hand to squeeze makes a difference.
