People all over the world put off essential dental care because they are afraid of visiting the dentist. If you are one of the many people avoiding a checkup or important procedure, check out these tips for overcoming your fear of the dentist.
1. Start With Good Habits
Better oral hygiene habits mean better dentist visits. Keep up the basics:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day
- Rinse your mouth out after meals
- Floss at least once a day
- Avoid eating sugary and sticky foods
- Drink water instead of soda
- Choose foods and beverages with calcium
Practicing good habits will help you feel less guilty when visiting the dentist and it will prevent many of the bigger scary problems that some people face.
2. Do Your Own Research
Understanding more about dental procedures may reduce your fears. Instead of imagining the worst, get the facts. For example, if you’re going in for a root canal, find out exactly what you should expect instead of living in dread. Research online, talk to friends and family who’ve undergone similar procedures, and chat with the staff at your dentist’s office.
3. Be Honest With Your Dentist
Instead of trying to put on a brave face, tell your dentist your fears when you go in for an appointment. They may be able to tweak the procedure, or walk you through the process to make it less scary.
4. Consider Sedation Dentistry
If your fears really are stopping you from taking care of your oral health, talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry doesn’t usually put you to sleep—instead it helps you stay calm and free from anxiety during the procedure.
Sedation dentistry may help if:
- You are nervous about visiting the dentist
- You experience a lot of discomfort during dental visits
- You’d like to complete more procedures in fewer visits
- You have a strong gag reflex
- Local anesthetic doesn’t numb you enough
Talk to your dentist to see if sedation dentistry is a good solution for you. If you’d like to learn more about the process, visit Galleria Dental Aestheics.