Being worried or scared about going to the dentist is not an uncommon condition. In fact, research suggests that 1 in 7 adults have dental anxiety!
The main reason for dental anxiety is the fear of pain. A toothache can be incredibly painful but many people have the idea that the treatment is even more so. But, as Dent8 explains; it doesn’t need to be.
Of course, knowing that it isn’t going to be painful isn’t enough to get rid of your anxiety. That’s why you need to take the relevant steps to reduce your dental anxiety:
Talk About It
The first step is to talk about the issue. Ideally talk with your partner, parents and even your dentist. Sharing the fear can make it seem less rational and help you to deal with it.
Sharing with your dentist can also help them to be sensitive in their approach to your visit and treatment.
Breathe Slow
A great technician to remove your attention from the dentist and what they are doing is to simply focus on your breathing. Breathe in through your mouth for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4 and then slowly breathe out through your nose for a count of 7.
You’ll be surprised how effective this can take your mind on anything!
Add Music
You may be able to ask your dentist to play music while you’re in the chair. You can certainly listen to music right up to your appointment time. This will help you to relax and avoid your anxiety building up as you wait.
Choose Your Time
You don’t want to feel rushed either getting to your appointment or having to leave. That’s why you should choose an appointment time that suits you. You’ll feel less anxious or stressed if you have plenty of time.
This includes getting to the appointment early.
Brush & Floss Every Day
You probably already do this but it will help to reduce your anxiety. Simply remind yourself that you do look after your teeth and the dentist is there to help you do this; nothing more.
In short, the dentist is your friend; they don’t want to do work they don’t have to or damage your teeth. They are simply complementing your own efforts.
Check Up First
It is also important to remember that a dentist will only do what is appropriate and they can’t do any procedure without your consent. Your visit for a checkup will be just that. You don’t need to commit to anything else at that moment in time.
The fact that you remain in control should help to reduce your anxiety.
Check Out the Dentist
It is a good idea to look at an array of reviews regarding a specific dentist. You can find reviews on social media sites. These will be honest opinions regarding other people’s experiences. It can help you to confirm that you’ve chosen a good dentist; which will give you less reason to be anxious.
This post was last modified on November 17, 2022 2:35 am