Last Updated on 9 months by Isreal Olabanji DST RN
Anxiety is everywhere these days and dentists know it better than anyone. Convincing patients that they should leave fear behind and just come pay them a visit is their constant struggle. Although there are modern sedation methods, people still treat the matter of oral hygiene and dentistry with hesitation. Let’s see what we can do to diminish this anxiety, take new habits and feel at ease with going to the dentist. After all, it’s nothing more than a mindset shift!
Take care of your oral hygiene
There is an old saying that states that everything starts at home. And that is true. The time you will spend at a dentist’s clinic is directly related to how much you take care of your teeth at home. Better said, the longer you spend brushing, the least will you get to see your dentist! Which sounds pretty good to me. Now, let’s see what you can do to improve your oral hygiene routine.
You should first understand that oral hygiene is a great part of your overall health and that it is important for you to build a routine and keep it for as long as you live. Here are some thoughts on why taking care of our teeth as you age is of utmost importance.
Brush your teeth twice a day
I know that some people say that you should brush after each and every meal, but that is not necessarily the case. Because most people lead a busy life, they tend to forget all about brushing in the evening. Don’t do it! As you can set an alarm for any other task you have to do during the day, set one to remind you that you should brush your teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening.
Nobody wants to leave their house looking sloppy and with smelly breath, so brushing your teeth as a first thing in the morning should become part of your daily routine. It helps get rid of the bacteria that has gathered in the mouth during the night and gives you a fresh way to start your day.
If brushing in the morning seems easier to do because it also gives you a mental boost and the idea of a fresh start, brushing in the evening shouldn’t be ignored either. Actually, it is way more important than brushing in the morning because it helps dispose of all the food residue gathered in the mouth throughout the day. If not removed, it can cause dental problems that will only be treatable by dentists.
Do not forget about dental floss and mouthwash
Creating the habit of brushing twice a day will keep you away from your dentist. Anyway, you should also remember to use mouthwash whenever you brush your teeth and dental floss once a day, in the evening. You can also try tongue scraping, a self-care habit you can find out more about in the following article: https://healthsoothe.com/need-to-get-rid-of-bad-breath-try-a-tongue-scraper/.
Go to routine checkups
Having thorough oral hygiene is the first step towards leaving fear and anxiety behind. Of course, you will still have to go to the dentist – but it will be for routine checkups. Once you know that you’ve taken good care of your teeth, there is nothing really bad that can surprise you. The fear of going to the dentist is usually associated with bad oral hygiene because those who do not take care of their teeth are obviously more likely to have greater problems such as root canals or even extractions.
But if you have good oral hygiene, going to the dentist can turn into a visit to a friend’s house. Going for the biannual professional brushing is no big deal and rids you of all the uncertainties regarding the state of your teeth. Going and finding out that your teeth are in good shape is amazing!
Visit your dentist earlier rather than later
Having good oral hygiene does not stop you from having to go to the dentist, it just helps get better results and fewer interventions. Because genetics also has a say in it, you might have to go to the dentist more than twice a year (to those routine checkups) because you also need to get a tooth fixed.
Also, as we get older, our teeth get weaker, so we might need an extraction or two. But you do not have to worry! The Digital Dentistry available nowadays makes every step of the process easy. There is sedation, which will help you not feel a thing, and implants, which will make you look younger than your age. But the quicker you go once you feel there is something wrong – like a toothache or bad breath, the better.
As long as you have good oral hygiene and go to routine checkups, your teeth will look great. This is why you should forget all about the fear associated with dentistry and embrace this routine as a part of a healthy life.
