You know that moment when you tell a patient they can’t eat for an hour after getting their braces adjusted, and they nod seriously, but five minutes later they’re eyeing the candy bowl? It’s like trying to teach a cat to fetch — just not happening! I always keep snacks for myself in the break room to avoid temptation. What are your funniest patient moments?
I totally get that! I once had a kid promise they wouldn’t touch any snacks, but I caught them sneaking gummy bears in the waiting room two minutes later. It might help to give them a fun reminder like a little timer they can keep with them for that hour — makes it a game.
I’ve had my share of candy bowl standoffs too — sometimes I’ll remind patients they just got their braces tightened and that biting into hard candy can really hurt. But a lot of times a small distraction, like a funny video on my phone, can help keep their mind off the treats.