I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
While you may be fully aware that your local dentist should be evaluating your gums and teeth twice a year, you might still feel uncomfortable and deeply anxious about every visit. This is not something that is unique to you; many people have some level of fear regarding dental procedures and visits. It may not have occurred to you that there was anything else you could do other than deal with your discomfort, but if you make an attempt at the following suggestions, you could discover you feel better.
Watch Television or a Film
Whether you bring a personal DVD along or have a favorite show queued up on your smartphone or tablet, being able to focus in on anything other than a dental office can be a good idea. In fact, you may find it helps to wear earbuds or full-ear headphones so that you can block out any drills, suction sounds, or other disturbing sounds that make up your particular dental room experience. You may want to call ahead to ensure that this activity is approved by your dentist, but many dental offices have audiovisual stations that are used for such situations.
Bring a Friend
While you might think it's unusual to bring another adult with you whenever you need the dentist, you could find that you're much happier there with someone you care about. A friend, family member, or spouse may be just what you need to remain in good spirits during any dental procedure without focusing in on what's happening to your teeth. They can joke with you, gossip with you or chit chat as long as it takes. That kind of distraction could make an appointment go by much more quickly.
Ask for Meds
A solution that many people don't ever think of is that the dentist could help decrease your stress by prescribing one or more types of anxiety-related medication. You may not realize that's something that a dentist can do, but that's part of the reason it's so essential that you be as open and direct as you can about how upset dental visits make you. They may write out a prescription that you should use before your next procedure or visit so that you can calm down well in advance.
With these ideas, a day at the dental office may not be as bad as it once was. Ask your dentist for even more tricks and tips that could be effective. Click here to discover more about getting through your dental visit.
Share18 July 2017
