Most children are certainly not eager to hear that the dentist needs to pull one of their teeth. Whether this need arises from tooth decay that was ignored too long or some other dental issue, sometimes tooth extraction is the best choice for optimal dental health for a child. Try these options for helping children stay calm when faced with this perfectly safe, routine dental procedure.

Try This: Present the Facts in a Positive Way

How you break the news to your child is just as important as what you say to them. Children are looking to the grown-ups in their life for how they are supposed to act and feel about things. Point out all the positive benefits of having the tooth extracted, such as the fact that it allows their "grown-up" tooth to grow in.

Try This: Address All Your Child's Fears

Sometimes fears will naturally creep up when children are facing a new experience. They may be things that you would never have imagined, so it's important to be proactive in asking children about how they feel to discover their underlying fears. Some open-ended questions that can foster great discussions include:

• What do you think happens during a dental extraction?
• Can you tell me the scariest part about going in for treatment?
• What do you wish that your dentist knew before you go to see them?
• Do you have any friends who have had a tooth extraction? What did they say about it?

When you child starts to open up about their feelings, ask gentle follow-up questions to get to the heart of what is worrying them. You can then talk about how the reality of the situation is far less scary than their fears and talk about how worry-free the procedure will actually be.

Try This: Talk Up the Tooth Fairy's Visit

The tooth fairy doesn't just appear when kids lose their teeth on accident. The tooth fairy is also sure to visit children who have a tooth extracted. Talk to your child about the fun that can come from a visit from the tooth fairy and discuss the possibilities of what the tooth fairy may bring. If they start to feel nervous, remind them that they can envision the visit from the tooth fairy or another activity that you can plan to do together.

Finally, keep in mind that there is no magical potion to help kids feel great about tooth extractions, but these tips can help them find their zen and stay calm during the dental procedure. Be sure to be generous with praise with their good behavior after the procedure and talk about how brave they were to handle it so well. A little positive reinforcement can help kids remember the events in an overall positive way and feel more better about their future dental health care.