Getting Over Fear of the Dentist

People off all ages have expressed their fears and anxieties over going to the dentist’s office. For some people it is the fear of a painful experience, for others it is drills. You might just feel extremely vulnerable, lying in a chair with someone asking you to “open wide” so they can poke and prod the inside of your mouth. In some cases, people go years without an appointment- even if they are covered by a health plan!

Although a trip to the dentist may scare you, taking care of your teeth, mouth, and gums is an important part of taking care of your overall health. The best way to start facing your fears is to make an appointment, preparing for your first visit by starting healthy habits for your dental health.

Dentists check that you’ve been taking care of your mouth daily and can tell if you haven’t been brushing and flossing. The first step to a successful visit is to start brushing your teeth twice daily – the recommended way to clean your teeth regularly to avoid tartar build up and cavities. Another is to start flossing. For the first few days, it may be a little painful to floss and your gums may bleed occasionally. With regular flossing, your gums will build up strength. Flossing also helps prevent gum disease. Lastly, mouthwash is suggested to make sure your mouth is thoroughly clean, beyond that of brushing and flossing alone. You can even take further precautions such as avoiding excessively sweet and highly acidic foods, refraining from smoking cigarettes, or drinking enamel-staining beverages like wine and coffee.

In most visits, you are first seen by a dental hygienist, a person trained specifically to clean and assess the health of your mouth before the dentist comes in. Even though you have been taking care of your teeth, mouth, and gums daily – even if you use an electric toothbrush! – the hygienist will use professional grade equipment to further clean any more difficult buildup that happens naturally over time, that’s why we go! However, if they have to do less work the experience will be less painful. If there are no cavities – there are no drills necessary!

When the hygienist has completed their work and reviewed any x-rays taken prior to cleaning, only then does the dentist come in to see you, and only for a brief period of time. He comes to inspect the cleaning, decide if any dental work needs to be done, and talk to you about your dental health habits. They’re often pleased with patients that have been taking initiative for their own dental health.

Chances are if you’re afraid of the dentist, your fears involve painful dental work that is associated with an unhealthy mouth. There are ways avoid procedures such as fillings, crowns, drilling, and extraction. Start overcoming your fears. Daily maintenance habits will make your next visit easier, and less painful. You will be relaxed and confident and get the professional bi-annual cleanings you need to have a healthy mouth.