As a parent, one of the most difficult things you can endure is watching your child go through a painful experience. If your child will soon be among the 5 million people who have their wisdom teeth extracted each year, then helping your child prepare for this procedure should be a top priority.

Here are three things you can do to ensure your child is ready for wisdom teeth removal surgery in the future. 

1. Take your child to the grocery store to pick out some foods that will aid the healing process.

After your child's wisdom teeth have been removed, his or her diet might be limited. As the gums begin to heal after wisdom teeth are removed, a blood clot will form in the socket. Keeping this blood clot in place is essential when it comes to preventing painful conditions like dry socket.

Helping your child understand that the foods they eat can affect the healing process is important. Hot or spicy foods can dissolve the blood clot, prolonging the healing process. Before your child's appointment, take him or her to the grocery store to pick out some tasty, but healing-friendly foods. Items like pancakes, smoothies, yogurt, and mashed potatoes will be filling, but won't cause any delays in the healing process.

2. Make sure you take the time to explain the procedure to your child.

While your child's surgeon will surely go over what will happen during the wisdom teeth removal surgery, the surgeon might use terminology that is foreign to your child. This foreign terminology can make it difficult for your child to fully grasp what he or she will endure during wisdom teeth removal, and the lack of understanding can create a lot of fear.

Xenophobia, which is defined as a fear of the unknown, can affect children who are about to have their wisdom teeth removed. Take the time to explain the procedure to your child in terms that he or she can understand. Answer any questions your child may have, and continue having open discussions until your child no longer fears the unknown elements of his or her wisdom teeth removal surgery.

3. Use positive reinforcement to help your child look forward to his or her surgery.

You can borrow from the findings of behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner when it comes to helping your child look forward to surgery. Using positive reinforcement can be a great way to alleviate your child's anxiety regarding an upcoming wisdom teeth removal procedure.

Allow your child to select a reward, like a new video game or the latest season of their favorite television show, which you will provide once the surgery is complete. Rather than fearing the surgical procedure, your child will anticipate the reward associated with the wisdom teeth removal instead.   

Helping your child prepare for wisdom teeth removal by having them pick special healing-friendly foods, explaining the procedure in detail, and providing a positive reward will make the surgical process easier for both you and your child to endure. For further assistance or tips, contact a local dentist, such as one from Family Medical Dental Center.