Peace & Love: How to stop dental anxiety

A trip to the dentist isn’t something a lot of people enjoy. Whether it’s the sound of the drills or traumatic experiences from the past, dental anxiety is a real and often debilitating problem. Much like other fears, a phobia of the dentist is irrational. Sorting out your dental anxiety is incredibly important for the health of your teeth and general oral hygiene. No matter how strong your dental anxiety is, there are plenty of very effective ways to move past your fear. We’re determined to get you back into that chair with a smile on your face - so here’s some ways to get you excited for the dentist again.

Communication

As with all problems to do with your mental health, communicating with friends and family is crucial if you’re going to get over your fear of the dentist. Chatting will always soothe you before a dental appointment. Going one step further, building up a rapport with your dentist through communication is incredibly beneficial. Many dentists, such as London City Smiles, use a method called slow dentistry. These techniques put an emphasis on talking, explanation and disclosure for the patient, giving you a relaxed state of mind before any trip.

Talking to your dentist about your anxiety also allows them to make changes to their workplace to make the trip as comfortable as possible for you. It’s even a good idea to raise your hand during your appointment if you’re starting to feel uncomfortable.

Distractions

Distracting yourself and moving your mind onto other things is one of the best ways to combat dental anxiety. We know that it seems impossible when you’re in the moment, but there’s plenty of ways to focus your mind on other aspects of your treatment. Why not take some headphones into the chair and listen to your favourite podcast? You could also bring a fidget object to distract yourself - this is a method often used for general anxiety as it relieves physical pressure you’re building up.

Meditate

We’re not expecting you to turn onto the Dalai Lama, but going into a meditative state of mind before you sit in the hot seat can be really helpful. We strongly suggest that you practice meditation at home, whether that's through timed breathing exercises on YouTube or simply by yourself. Learning how to clear and focus your mind is a skill that can help in all aspects of life. Take this into the waiting room and perform some timed breathing exercises to get you in a calmer state of mind. Next up make sure you focus on the physical side of your body. Focus on your muscles and try your hardest to relax them - tensing up during anxiety is very common and can keep you in that uncomfortable mind zone.

Ultimately, everyone experiences dental anxiety differently. The important things to remember are that you’re not alone and there are plenty of ways to stop it. Make sure you communicate with your dentist, out yourself into a relaxed state of mind and give yourself ample distractions. Remember - without the dentist, you’ll be losing that sparkling white smile sooner than you think.