When it comes to taking care of your health, people are sometimes good at getting their yearly physicals done, but when it comes to oral health, it is not as much of a priority because no one likes going to the dentist. Your oral health is just as important as your physical health and mental health because it’s more than just having sparkling white teeth. Preventative dental cleanings are important because not all mouth problems are going to cause pain, and the plaque on your teeth can sometimes cause heart issues and one of the best ways to prevent that from happening is to get it removed. Your dentist can check for things such as cancer, gum disease, and cavities and treat them before they become a serious medical issue that requires major dental work, which no one ever wants to have. Dental anxiety can be a common struggle for a lot of people which sometimes can delay or prevent people entirely from scheduling a cleaning. My entire life I have always struggled with very bad dental anxiety, and it wasn’t until I faced my anxiety that I was able to overcome it. What can you do if you get dental anxiety? In this post, I am going to share a few things that have helped me overcome my dental anxiety.
Take care of your oral health- When you go to the doctor, people often have more anxiety when they know they haven’t been doing everything that they are supposed to and that there may be a problem. Are you getting anxious because you know that you haven’t been flossing? Don’t wait until a week before your appointment to start flossing because you need to take care of your oral health every single day leading up to your appointment to have the healthiest mouth you can have. You don’t need to rigorously brush your teeth weeks before your appointment because if you aren’t consistently taking care of your teeth by the time your appointment comes around, the damage is done. Dental appointments often take less time, and the hygienist doesn’t have to be as hard on your teeth when you take care of your oral health. You may have dental anxiety because you haven’t been taking care of yourself, and you know that your dentist could find something. Your dentist will know if you have been brushing or flossing whether you lie to them or not and you are only hurting yourself by not practicing good oral hygiene.
Find a dentist you trust- If you were to ask me what doctor I hate going to the most, I would tell you that dentist, without hesitation. I don’t hate my dentist as an individual because she is a nice person, and I just hate her career choice. I have had trust issues in the past with previous dentists because I have had previous providers tell me that I needed major dental work that was unnecessary. Do you trust your dentist? It is so important to trust your provider because you will have more anxiety if you can’t trust the person treating you. I don’t get as much dental anxiety as I have in the past because my dentist has not given me a reason not to trust her. A trustworthy dentist is so important, and if you feel like you are questioning every diagnosis, it might be a sign to find a new dentist. Many people struggle with anxiety because they have had a lot of bad experiences that have caused them medical trauma, and there is no shame in finding a new doctor if your current one doesn’t align with you. Your doctor works for you, and you don’t have to stay with them if you don’t like them.
Tell your hygienist you have dental anxiety- People often are ashamed of their dental anxiety and will keep it a secret, but it’s nothing to be embarrassed about because a lot of people struggle with dental anxiety. Tell your hygienist that you struggle with dental anxiety because when they know ahead of time, sometimes you will be given more breaks, and the hygienist might talk to you during your cleaning to help you feel more relaxed. A good hygienist is just as important as a trustworthy dentist because you spend most of the time with your hygienist, and you will have less anxiety if you get your cleaning done by the right person. If you have a hygienist that you like, make sure to request them every time you need a cleaning because it will make those appointments run smoother. Dental anxiety is very common, and you don’t have to hide your anxiety because it’s not a sign of weakness.
Try sedation dentistry– Sometimes I struggle with dental anxiety, but I am able to have a dental cleaning without complete panic and don’t need to be put to sleep to have a dental cleaning. Sedation dentistry can be more expensive because the medication required to put you to sleep is not free, and not all insurance companies will cover it, but it can be an option for some people. If you find yourself getting overly anxious and can’t have dental work when you are awake without having a panic attack, it might be a good idea to look into sedation dentistry because skipping your dental cleaning is not a solution.
Try to think about something else- When I am having a dental cleaning, I try not to think about all the problems my hygienist might be finding because it creates more anxiety, and I try to think about literally anything else. I was at the dentist this morning and during my cleaning, I was thinking about the blog post I was planning on writing today and everything I wanted to do after my appointment. It sometimes can be hard to think about other things when someone is scraping against your teeth, but you should try because when you are thinking about anything other than the fact you hate the dentist, it can distract you. Dental appointments still seem long when I am thinking about other things, mostly because I am bored but it does go a little faster than it would if I was in a complete panic.
Try and find an accessible dentist– My dentist is somewhat accessible for me personally because I am able to walk, but unfortunately, I could not recommend them to a full-time wheelchair user that couldn’t walk. Disabled people sometimes do not get their teeth cleaned because dentist offices are some of the most inaccessible places I have ever experienced, and we need to work on improving that. Doctors offices often are not accessible, but sometimes you can find a doctor that is somewhat accessible. I get more anxiety when going to a medical appointment that is not accessible because I always worry I am going to fall and embarrass myself. It is hard to find an accessible dentist, but I am sure they have to exist, and if you want to have less anxiety as a disabled person, it’s important that you look for an accessible dentist that meets your needs.
Dental cleanings are something that most people dread, and I think that the only people who might enjoy them are dental providers who do it for a living, but that is no reason to skip them. Preventive care is important because if you wait until a problem is serious, a lot of the time, it’s too late and untreatable. Most people struggle with some kind of dental anxiety, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but avoiding your dental cleaning because you get a little anxious is not a good solution. Preventative dental cleanings often are not as much of a priority, but they are just as important as your yearly physicals, so don’t skip them! Dental anxiety does not have to control you because it is possible to get through your preventative cleanings without having uncontrolled anxiety. How do you manage dental anxiety? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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