take, or how hard you cry or convince yourself that it will go away if you don’t think about it so much, it’s still there? Welcome to the club.
Try picking a fight with somebody who is suffering from toothache and you will get more than what you are looking for. If you’ve been there, you can relate to the level of toothache I’m talking about.
Dentists have a very bad reputation so that only a very few are willing to pay them a visit. Dental patients rarely smile as they wait for their turn. More often, the patients who consult the dentist are those who could no longer endure the pestering and gnawing pain. A visit to the dentist is one that is prolonged for as long as possible.
Each individual has various reasons for their fear of visiting a dentist. It could stem from bad childhood experiences, from a fear of needles and other dentists’ tools, fear of anaesthetic, feeling of vulnerability, and an endless list of reasons
It’s the fear of the needles for me but I have had my fair share of forced dental visits through all these years. I was due to visit the dentist five years ago, but I’m still prolonging it.
Dental visits are inevitable and something we have to deal with at one time or another so let us just find ways to overcome our fear.
Here are some tips on how to conquer the fear of visiting your dentist.
1. Identify and analyze your fears.
2. Find a dentist you like and trust.
Ask friends and relatives to recommend dentists they have tried.
3. Don’t put the visit off because the longer you prolong it, the more agony you will suffer.
4. Plug your Ipod and listen to music to divert your attention from the whole procedure.
5. Ask your dentist about the tools and what they are for before he uses them on your mouth.
6. Convince yourself that the dentist is somebody who will help you, not someone who will inflict pain on you.
7. Remember you are free to leave if you don’t like the dentist.
8. Relax by slowly inhaling then exhaling every time you tense up.
9. Brush your teeth and floss before you visit a dentist.
