Our dentist sends us a useless newsletter every so often (quarterly?) with gems like this, a set of code words to deceive your children, so in addition to being traumatized by a painful dental procedure they will also not trust you because you lied to them and they will always wonder who the hell Mr. Bumpy was.
It would be funnier if it wasn’t so creepy.
| Don’t say… |
Say instead… |
| needle or shot | sleepy juice |
| drill | Mr. Whistle (or Mr. Bumpy) |
| drill on tooth | clean the sugar bugs |
| pull tooth | wiggle the tooth |
| cavity | sugar bugs |
| suction | Mr. Slurpee (or Mr. Thirsty) |
| exam | count the teeth |
| teeth cleaning | tickle the teeth |
| explorer | teeth counter |
If parents have fears of the dentist, it is important that they do not convey this to their children, otherwise they will grow up with dental phobia as well.