Dental fears can be difficult to overcome on your own. Thus, you may not schedule the dental services that you need to maintain your oral health. Nevertheless, your dentist may be able to help you remain calm and comfortable during your dental appointments. Here are a few things that they may suggest.
Breathe Deeply
Your dentist may ask you to take slow, deep breaths to help alleviate your anxiety. Many people tend to inhale and hold their breath when they are nervous. The lack of oxygen only makes the feelings of anxiety worse. By regulating your breathing, you can reduce the anxiousness that you feel while sitting in the dental chair.
Turn on Music
You may not be able to carry a radio with you into the dentist's office. However, you can use earbuds and a cell phone. Select music that you find comforting and fill your ears with it. The music can help you focus on good thoughts and drown out any alarming sounds that may come from the dental equipment during your procedures.
Keep Sugar at Bay
Before your appointment, don't fill up on simple carbohydrates. The sugars can increase your feelings of nervousness. Instead of sugars, eat protein-rich selections that contain tryptophan, a substance that helps to calm your system naturally.
Skip the Caffeinated Drinks
Like sugar, caffeine can intensify your feelings of anxiety. If you have a dental appointment scheduled, skip caffeinated coffee, tea, and sodas that morning. You can still enjoy the taste of your morning drinks by making decaffeinated choices instead.
Ask for Laughing Gas
Dentists regularly use nitrous oxide, which is known as laughing gas, to help calm their patients. The substance is inhaled just before the dentist starts your dental procedures and does not have long-lasting effects. Thus, you won't remain groggy throughout your day.
Still, the gas reduces your anxiety and produces a calming, euphoric effect on your system.
Ask for an Oral Sedative
Dentists also prescribe oral sedation medicines for patients who suffer from dental fears. The medication is taken about 30 minutes before the time of the dental appointment and helps keep you calm and relaxed without rendering you unconscious.
Some oral sedatives even temporarily affect your memory. The short-lived amnesia that the drugs produce can minimize any negative memories of your dental procedure.
If you suffer from dental anxiety and would like to learn more ways to keep your comfortable during dental appointments, schedule a consultation with a dentist that performs sedation dentistry in your local area.
Share22 January 2019
After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.
