Books About Teeth and the Dentist's Office
Happy Book List Wednesday everyone! So this is a topic I get asked about a lot and honestly, there are a lot of books out there. Unfortunately, a lot of them aren't great. So here are some books that I found used simple language and avoided scary imagery or words. These books could be great before visit to the dentist, reinforcing the importance of tooth care, and for curious kids who want to know more.
I was specifically looking for books about the dental surgeries, nitrous, and coping with x-rays, but didn't find anything I liked. I will continue to be on the look out, or maybe I'll write one someday. Let me know if there is another book out there that we all need to know about!
More About the Books:
Daniel Goes to the Dentist by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz
In this book, Daniel gets his first dental check-up. The emphasis is talking to Daniel about what he can expect at the dentist. It reviews the waiting room, common tools, opening up your mouth big, and how the tools feel in his mouth. As I mentioned before, this book pairs with the show, which is especially helpful for parents who don’t know the tune of the songs in the book. While the show on its own could be helpful to kids, the book or a follow-up conversation is important to clarify understanding and talk to your child about their questions and feelings. Great book for young children.
https://amzn.to/4rVGHJu
The Night Before the Dentist by Natasha Wing
This book talks about a boy who is going to the dentist. He has gone before and he brushes his teeth and dreams of tooth brushes the night before. The book then takes the reader through the many steps of a dental visit. This was one of two books that I found that showed the dental x-ray. It doesn’t talk a ton about it, but it does show a picture of the x-ray camera and the boy wearing lead. So parents could elaborate on more details. The boy does try all the flavors of toothpaste in this story, which typically isn’t an option. So you may want to prep your child for that. Great for young children- early elementary.
https://amzn.to/4oZ3vW8
Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
In this book, Brother Bear goes to the dentist. Sister has never been before, and she goes along to learn more. It talks about the tools that the dentist uses (seem pretty up to date compared to some other books). Brother has a cavity. So it also includes a brief description of the cavity filling process. In the end, Sister has a loose tooth that the dentist pulls for her before she leaves. That part of the story could make kids a little nervous about going to the dentist with a loose tooth. Also, there are several mentions of the tooth fairy which is a custom that many families partake in, but if yours doesn’t, it is definitely something to keep in mind. Good for preschool through lower elementary.
https://amzn.to/4oMzd8E
SugarBug Doug by Dr. Ben Magleby
This book teaches kids about sugarbugs, plaque, and tartar in a way that makes it easy for them to understand. If you have a kiddo, who fights brushing their teeth, using this book to understand the “why” could help! The book does talk about fluoride as a way to stop sugar bugs, which is medically advised, but can be a controversial topic. So keep in mind if a family is choosing not to use fluoride toothpaste. (It’s only one page of the book that could be easily skipped). This book would be great for preschool-middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/44WohOL
Getting Ready for the Dentist by Dr. Fei Zheng-Ward
This book tells kids different things to expect at the dentist. It encourages them to write down their questions and watch for certain common things you can find in any dentist office. This book was unique in that it went a little bit further. It did bring up the dental x-ray. It doesn’t talk about the bite wings, but it does show the camera and the lead apron. It also talks about the medicine that helps make your mouth not hurt when fixing your teeth. It explains that the medicine will feel like a quick tiny poke. While honesty is important, you know your child best and whether that information is better given a day or two before or maybe just immediately before. This was the only book that I found that mentions laughing gas/nitrous, which I think is a pretty common experience in children’s dental work. This book would be good for school age kids who benefit from additional processing and knowing what to expect.
https://amzn.to/4p6NXQd
Teeth:You Only Get Two Sets by Magda Gargulakova
This book is a scientific kids book about teeth. This is going to be great for your kids who ask a lot of questions. It talks about how many you have, how they are built, scientifically what happens if you don’t take care of them, animal teeth, why they get loose, etc. The last few pages do talk more about the dentist. It brings up some things that might come up, but it is left pretty open-ended when it comes to actual dental care and what it all entails. This book is geared more toward school aged kids.
https://amzn.to/3MzGKKD
Braces for Cori by Christine Florie
Kids are getting braces earlier and earlier. So there is definitely a need for a children’s book about braces. This book tells the story of Cori, a girl who needs braces. She is feeling a little nervous about them. The book talks through how she is feeling and the process of getting her braces on. It talks about everyone’s positive responses after. This is an approachable book that could be a great way to start conversation about what it will be like and what your child is feeling. Good for school age kids.
https://amzn.to/48LIfNn
