How To Get Over The Fear Of The Dentist.

While it might be highly unlikely that anyone goes hopping, skipping and jumping into the dentist’s chair, most people will be able to sit down comfortably and have their teeth checked over.

However, for some people, the thought of even attending a dentist appointment is terrifying. It’s no surprise, especially when someone has their fingers in your mouth, prodding, drilling and generally being overly invasive.

With that being said, here are a few tips to get over the fear of your dentist so that you can get your teeth looked after.

Find a dentist you feel comfortable wit

Firstly, when it comes to any form of medical professional, it’s important to have someone that you feel comfortable with. Dentists are different from one to another, so who you might find pleasant and warm, others might not feel the same.

It’s often down to a personal preference and there are plenty of dentist practices in your local area and beyond, especially if you live in the city.

With that being said, make sure to find a dentist that you feel comfortable with and that you’re not going to be anxiety-ridden with. If you currently are and the dentist isn’t making you feel at ease, then go elsewhere.

Distract yourself in the lead-up to your appointment

In order to help the dentist appointment go ahead as planned, try to distract yourself in the lead-up to your appointment. Only have an appointment reminder for the start of the week ahead of your appointment or the day before. You don’t want constant reminders which will be triggering your fight or flight mode when it comes to the dentist.

Try to keep yourself occupied with other things instead of thinking about the appointment too often.

Take someone with you who can keep you calm

If you’re someone who finds it helpful to have others at places like the dentist for support, then invite them along. Ideally, you want them to be someone who doesn’t hate going to the dentist or has the same fears toward them as you do. That will only make your fear worse and you’ll end up backing out of the appointment as a result.

Try taking someone who is going to keep you calm and is going to bring that calm feeling that you need in order to feel confident to go into the appointment itself.

Talk to your dentist about sedation

If you struggle with the dentist in general, then it’s worthwhile speaking to your dentist about sedation. Sometimes, it’s necessary to get sedated for some in order to do the required work on the teeth.

This is normal and is something that is often offered to those who are struggling with staying calm in the chair.

Practice some breathing techniques

Finally, practice some breathing techniques. This can help you keep a level head and to ensure you’re not hyperventilating within the dentist’s office. They’re simple to do and are often effective!

With that being said if you’ve got a fear of the dentist, hopefully, these tips will help.