Help! I’m Scared of the Dentist!

Do the whirring sound of drills and painful sounding procedure names, like root-canals or tooth extractions, make you want to hide under the pillows and avoid the dentist? If so, this article is for you. For a couple of days, your tooth has been hurting. You know you need to go to the dentist and have it looked at, but fear is holding you back from making that much-needed appointment. Whether you have been to the dentist once or many times, the thought of going to the dentist is generally not a pleasant one. Sitting in the dental chair surrounded by strange instruments with a bright light shining on your face is not exactly a fun time. Having a stranger’s hands in your mouth, and you can’t see what they are doing, can be intimidating, to say the least. It all makes you want to cry out “Help! I’m scared of the dentist!” It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Here are a few tips on ways to overcome your fear of going to the dentist. To Get Over Your Fear, Get to Know Your Dental Office To get over your fears the best way to is to face them. Dr. Roach a dentist in Roanoke, VA. suggest making an extra appointment before your scheduled dental visit to get to know the office and the dental staff. This is also a great way to ease children into the dental chair. Have them visit the office without having any procedures done. Let them sit in the dental chair, look around, and talk with the dental staff. Most dental offices also have children’s books and coloring books about dentists. For both you and your children, knowledge about what’s going to happen in a dental appointment before it happens can help ease anxieties. A Good Oral Hygiene Routine to Ease Your Fears of the Dentist The best way to ease your fear of the dentist is to take care of your teeth before there’s a problem with them. If your trips to the dentist only involve a quick, painless cleaning and a high-five from the dental staff for a job well done, what is there to be scared of? Best Oral Hygiene Routine According to Dr. Kwon of Green Dental in Broomfield, CO. a good oral hygiene routine includes brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and using a mouth rinse. For best results when brushing your teeth, use a toothbrush with soft bristles along with a toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Brushing should be done twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before bed. Flossing can be done either before or after brushing. The last step is to use an ADA approved mouthwash or mouth rinse. Regular Dental Check-ups to Calm Your Dental Office Fears To complement your at-home oral hygiene routine, twice a year visits to your dentist for checkups can help keep your fears of the dentist at bay. When your dental visits are consistent and are just for an easy cleaning your fears dissipate. After a few trips to your dentist, you get to know the office and the staff and your dental visits become just part of your routine. You no longer need to say, “Help! I’m scared of the dentist!”