Coping With Dental Anxiety: How To Stop Fearing The Dentist
You’re not alone if you ever experience anxiety even at the mere thought of visiting the dentist. You might be worried about how painful the visit would be or uncertain about what the dentist will find since you haven’t visited in a while.
How can dental anxiety impact oral health?
If visiting the dentist makes you nervous, you could skip visits or put off going as often as you should. This can affect your oral health.
A dentist is able to identify cavities and other oral health issues early on during routine dental visits. Gum disease and other problems like bleeding gums, loose teeth, and foul breath are made more likely by not getting regular professional cleanings.
Whatever the reason behind your anxieties may be, a qualified dental team will ensure that both your physical and mental health are taken care of. Your chance of acquiring dental issues that will make preparing for subsequent dental visits more challenging increases the longer you put off or avoid visiting the dentist. In fact, scheduling an appointment and getting through it all can be made lot simpler on many levels by seeing the dentist often.
When you have your next check-up, use these techniques to reduce your nervousness and improve your smile.
Use your voice
Anyone who struggles with anxiety understands how much expressing your emotions can help. Do yourself a favour and vent your worries if you’re feeling tense or uncomfortable. Knowing your needs will help your dentist and dental staff treat you more effectively.
- Inform your dentist about your anxiety beforehand: Inform the receptionist that you are anxious about going to the dentist when you make your appointment. When you go, let the dentist and the dental team know that you are anxious. Share any negative past experiences you may have experienced, and seek advice on effective coping mechanisms.
- Never hesitate to ask questions: Sometimes the anxiety associated with the unknown is reduced by knowing what will happen.
- If you require a pause during an examination, signal your dentist by raising your hand.
- Inform your dentist if you still feel pain despite using a general anaesthetic. Some people feel self-conscious about their level of pain tolerance or don’t want to interfere with a dentist as they work.
Try mindfulness strategies to ease yourself
To relieve muscle tension, try deep breathing techniques:
- Do a breathing count: breathe in gently, count your breaths as you exhale, and repeat. While you are waiting for your appointment or while you are in the dental chair, repeat this motion five times.
- Scan your body. Focus on letting each individual muscle in your body relax one at a time. Work your way down to your toes starting with your head. For instance, you may concentrate on relaxing the muscles in your forehead, cheekbones, neck, and the rest of your body in that order.
Bring a friend to your appointment
Your anxiety might decrease with the help of a family member or friend. Find out if you can bring a friend or family member with you to the dentist. Even if you are unable to converse with this person during your session, just having them there can make you feel more secure, at ease, and at ease.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Learn more about some possible treatment options with your local Ealing Dental practice. We recommend you book an appointment with our dentist in West Ealing to further discuss, so we can provide expert advice on getting your mouth on track.
