According to experts, it’s a good idea for you to pay your dentist a visit at least once a year to ensure that your gums and teeth are in a great shape. But if you’re at risk of certain dental problems or you are already diagnosed with one, then you may have to step foot in the dental clinic every 3 to 4 months, or in some situations more often.
Does the thought of going to the dentist make your heart pound, chest feel tight, skin end up sweaty, and legs seem like jelly? Then it’s quite obvious that you have dental anxiety. Don’t frown because you’re not alone. According to the dental medicine department of Columbia University College, about 40 million people in the US are afraid of the dentist.
Evading a trip to the dental clinic can put your smile and your overall oral health in peril. This is especially true if it’s apparent that something is wrong with your mouth, such as like when your gums are red and swollen. There are so many problems concerning your mouth that only a dentist and no one else can identify and treat.
Continue reading if you have dental anxiety. Below you will find some simple tips on how to deal with the problem so that every trip to the dentist need not make it seem as though you are having a heart attack.
Let Your Dentist Know
Your dentist may be an expert at diagnosing and treating issues concerning the gums and teeth, but he or she is definitely no mind reader. Make sure that you let your dentist know that you have dental anxiety. It’s for certain that you are not his or her first patient to have that, and so he or she surely knows some tricks on lessening your fear.
Say When You Need a Break
There are certain medical procedures that take a lot of time to complete, and having a lengthy one can make a person like you who has dental anxiety feel really uncomfortable. Let your dentist know when you need a break so that you may perform slow deep breath and clear your mind to get ready for the rest of the treatment.
Bring a Friend
Knowing that someone you know and trust is at the waiting room can help boost your confidence while you’re in the dental chair. If it’s perfectly fine for your trusted dentist, your friend may stand right next to you while you’re being checked — even holding your hands or cheering you up if possible.
Listen to Your Fave Tunes
One of the most effective ways to deal with stress and anxiety is listening to music, and that’s why it is something that you may choose to do if you want your time at the dental clinic a more bearable one. Prior to heading out, make a playlist consisting of some of the cheeriest or soothing tunes on the face of the planet.
Get a Less Stressful Appointment
The blistering sun, heavy traffic, a jam-packed parking lot, crowded waiting room — do these things leave you feeling stressed and uneasy? Then do your best to steer clear of them to lessen your dental anxiety. The secret is to pick an appointment time that you feel isn’t as stressful as any other time.
Seek Professional Counseling
If your anxiety with paying a dentist a visit is so intense that it is obviously putting your oral health in some form of danger, it’s a good idea for you to get counseling. Talking to a therapist can help you determine certain steps that you may take to lessen your dental anxiety, or make it easier to bear or even go away completely.
