Overcoming Dental Anxiety

Do you have problems with your teeth but are too afraid to go to the dentist? Here are a few things to expect and ways that could help overcome your anxiety.

Oral health is just as important as your general health. In fact, a toothache could be one of the most painful experiences due to the concentrated nerve endings in the pulp of each tooth.

Are you the type of person who waits until a tooth flares up and puts off seeking dental treatment until the very last minute?

A regular check-up with a dental practitioner is the key to maintaining good oral health, which could save you a whole lot of pain and money as treatment generally tends to be more expensive and complex the greater the issue with the tooth.

So what prevents you from going to the dentist? Let us discuss some strategies that may help you.

What is Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety is the fear or stress experienced when an individual visits the dentist for treatment. In fact, it happens to one in every six adults and one in every ten children, so don’t worry, you are not alone.

Why is this anxiety harmful to you?

Dental anxiety prevents many patients from attending their routine check-ups appointments or frequently miss their scheduled dental appointments, which have been planned after their initial visit for a check-up. Delaying dental treatment can have long-term detrimental effects on teeth, and minor problems can often escalate.

What may have been just a straightforward filling may turn into a root canal or an extraction where you end up losing the tooth altogether.

What are the causes of Dental Anxiety?

The first and most common cause is patients who have had a bad or traumatic dental experience in the past or childhood.

Next, the general fear of seeking dental treatment can be triggered by the sound of the equipment such as the drill, the complication of the treatment that the patient feels lost, or even financial problems.

A lot of people are also terrified by the thought of painful injections and needles. Another cause is the fear of overwhelming loss of control over their own body, where they feel their privacy is being invaded as the mouth tends to be a very personal space.

Some patients even feel powerless as they have little to no say over their own feelings or treatment while lying down on the chair.

Some new patients who haven’t been to the dentist before also stated that they feel embarrassed to let the dentist look into their mouth because they have poor teeth and bad breath. They don’t want to be judged or be criticized for not looking after their teeth.

How to overcome your Dental Phobia?

Dental phobia is a never-ending loop; the more you avoid seeing the dentist, the worse the problems get. One of our patients turned up at the dentist for the first time in her life, and she said she successfully used traditional medication to manage her pain.

But sadly, all of her teeth are in such bad condition that most of them can fall out anytime because there is no bone left to hold the roots.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to see the dentist. Instead, reach out for help; there are support forums for dental phobia where you can share your story and hear stories of people having the same situation. Their advice might be helpful as they experience the same problems as you.

It is always good to talk to your dentist, open up about your fears, let them know what your fears are. You will be surprised that your dentist Sydney has seen so many patients like you, and they know exactly how to manage your anxiety.

A common approach to build trust is called “tell-show-do,” in which your dentist Sydney CBD will explain to you about your treatment plan, and then during the treatment, every step will be informed to you.

He/she will show you the instrument that is being used during the treatment, letting you know what you might expect, so you don’t have to worry, and there are no surprises. You can also take little breaks during treatment and put your left hand up if you need a pause.

It is also good to take deep breaths, distracting techniques like listening to music or watching TV also go a long way. Being accompanied by a close friend or family member will also help.

If you have severe anxiety and all those tricks still do not help, ask your dentist for medication or sedation methods such as happy gas or intravenous sedation, which will help you to relax during the treatment.

 

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What Your Dentist Wants You to Know About Teeth Cleaning

You may be wondering why dentists often ask patients during dental checkup and clean Sydney sessions this question: “do you floss your teeth?” You probably answered “yes” immediately, thinking that your dentist Sydney wouldn’t find out that it’s a lie. 

Aside from the fact that they’re a hundred percent aware of your teeth cleaning habits even without you telling them, here are some other things that your dentist would want you to know about teeth cleaning Sydney. 

• Flossing is really a must.

Brushing your teeth alone is never enough to clean your teeth. That’s because your toothbrush bristles, even if it’s the softest one, can’t reach some of your teeth’s surfaces. Examples of which are the spaces between your teeth called “interproximal spaces.”

With that being said, simply brushing your teeth will not eliminate all of the dirt that’s present around your teeth. Also, reinforcing toothbrushing with mouthwashes can’t also fully clean your teeth—flossing is really a must.

Dentists Sydney recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Then, floss your teeth once a day. You can either floss before bedtime, or after your midday meal should you need to do so. 

However, note that too much flossing can also damage your teeth’s surfaces. So, it’s best that you know how to properly floss your teeth to keep your smile healthy. 

• Brushing your teeth vigorously is a no-no.

If you think that brushing your teeth vigorously can help you keep your teeth healthy, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

Vigorous brushing wears down your teeth surfaces, which can ultimately expose your teeth’s dentin, the organic material found within the enamel. This, in turn, causes hypersensitivity, which is why some people feel pain even without any tooth decay. 

Aside from vigorous strokes, brushing your teeth in horizontal strokes should also be avoided, as this can also cause tooth wear and gum damage.

Plus, don’t forget to brush all of the surfaces that your toothbrush can reach, including your gum line. Failure to do so will increase your chances of having gingivitis, a common gum disease that causes gum bleeding.

• Hard bristles won’t clean your teeth—they damage them. 

The words “harder is better” does not apply to teeth cleaning. Again, vigorous brushing will do you no good, as well as hard toothbrush bristles.

People often think that using a toothbrush with the hardest bristles makes their teeth squeaky clean. This is a myth that your dentist Sydney CBD would probably want to bust for you.

First, hard bristles cause trauma to your gums, and this can only damage them and your enamel in the long run. Second, harder bristles are less flexible, so they’re less likely to reach the nooks and crannies found between your teeth.

With that being said, it’s best to go for a toothbrush with soft bristles, as they’re gentler and more flexible. Plus, soft bristles aid in massaging your gums, which brings your gums benefits; thus, maintaining their healthy state. 

• Eat fruits and vegetables, such as apples and celery.

Skip eating refined sugars and replace them with a healthy snack instead! Eating tough fruits, such as apples and celery, can greatly benefit your teeth. That’s because the tough texture that these food have can help in scraping dirt off your teeth.

Aside from that, eating such fruits and vegetables can help in stimulating saliva production, which is good for keeping your mouth hydrated, odor-free, and non-acidic. Plus, they’re not only good for the teeth, but they’re also beneficial for your overall health. 

• Visiting a dentist regularly must.

Regularly visiting your Sydney CBD dentist according to their recommended timeframe is definitely a must, and there’s a good reason behind it. 

Calcular deposits, commonly known as tartar, are usually formed inside your mouth within 6 months. These are actually hardened dirt and food substances that have been stuck between your teeth’s surfaces for a long time.

Brushing and flossing are not enough to remove tartar from your teeth, and that explains why you need a professional’s help.

During a regular dental visit, you can expect your dentist or dental hygienist to perform mouth examination and dental cleaning. These are done to check whether or not tooth decay is present among your teeth. Plus, they’ll remove the tartar formed in your mouth through a procedure called “scaling.” 

Failure to having your teeth professionally cleaned does not only increase your chances of having tooth decay. It also increases your risk of having periodontal diseases, which does not only involve your teeth but also the bone and gums surrounding it.

• Don’t brush your teeth as soon as you’re done eating!

You read that right. Don’t brush your teeth as soon as you’re done eating. This is because food, especially sugary ones, causes your saliva pH to drop to acidic levels. And, acid causes tooth decay by slowly breaking down your teeth’s surfaces.

With that being said, brushing your teeth immediately after eating will only introduce more acid onto your tooth. Plus, this encourages acid to go through the grooves found on your teeth and retaining them inside those spaces increases your risk of having tooth decay.

So, dentists recommend that you wait for about 30 to 60 minutes after meals before you can brush your teeth. This gives your mouth an ample amount of time to neutralise the acids that came from your food; thus, reducing your chances of having cavities.

What happens if you fail to have your teeth cleaned regularly?

Failure to visit your dentist teeth cleaning or hygienist for a scale and clean session does not mean the end of the world for you. Worry not as dentists are trained when it comes to restoring teeth back to their original state once tooth decay has occurred.  

Visit Sydney CBD Dentistry Today

Let our highly-qualified professionals bring your oral health back to its optimized state. Visit our dental clinic for teeth cleaning near me.

 

Sydney CBD Dentistry