Going to the dentist once or twice a year is an essential way of looking after your oral health. With regular checkups, you can catch any potential problems in their earlier stages and undergo the necessary treatments. 

Dental care encompasses the cleaning and whitening of your teeth, extractions, fillings, root canals, and more. Without annual or biannual trips to the dentist, cavities and other oral pains can fester and possibly lead to debilitating health complications. 

Despite the established benefits of dental care, many people struggle with anxiety when it’s time to schedule their appointments. Thankfully, the following tips from a dental clinic in Kitsilano can help reduce feelings of anxiety at the dentist's office. 

Try Some Relaxing Techniques Ahead of Your Appointment

Relaxation is one of the greatest anecdotes to anxiety. Meditation, deep breathing, yoga or even meeting with a psychologist can work wonders ahead of your appointment at a dental clinic. Implementing palliative techniques not only helps put you in a better headspace, but it also lowers the stress hormones in your body. By the time you meet with your dentist, you should feel peaceful and at ease. 

Build Good Rapport With Your Dentist

Having an open line of communication with your dentist is another great way to put concerns to bed. Feel free to ask your dentist about the work they’ll be doing on your teeth, what utilities they’ll need to use, and how dental care boosts your overall oral health. 

A clear understanding of these details is critical and can reduce feelings of anxiety. 

Don’t be afraid to let your dentist know if you need to take a break during the appointment. You can agree ahead of time to a hand signal that lets your dentist know they need to pause. Establishing this rapport will also make future appointments easier and less stressful. 

Distract Yourself With Audiobooks and Music

A lot of anxiety is connected to the sounds of different instruments used by dentists. If this applies to you, listening to your favorite audiobooks or music while getting your teeth taken care of is a great workaround.

Audiobooks can take your mind off the tray of tools in the office, while still allowing your dentist to operate. Likewise, music is well-documented for lowering anxiety and stress. Having a playlist ready for your dental appointment ahead of time makes getting into a relaxing headspace even easier. 

Invest in Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are wonderful comforts that help lower anxiety and promote equilibrium. Putting one over your body during your dental appointment will provide deep touch pressure, soothe the nervous system, and stimulate serotonin. 

Finding the right weighted blanket for your next trip to the dentist is as easy as going on Amazon or visiting retail stores like Macy’s, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond. 

Practice Guided Imagery

Reducing anxiety via guided imagery requires you to envision you’re in a happy and restful place during your time with the dentist. As you imagine this ideal location - it could be a beach, massage chair, or someplace overseas you’ve always wanted to visit - don’t forget to also breathe deeply. 

Slowly breathing in and out while practicing guided imagery is well-known to increase relaxation and lower stress. With time and consistency, using guided imagery to lower anxiety becomes easier. You can even rehearse this ahead of your dental appointment. 

Try Sitting Down With a Therapist 

Therapy has a well-proven track record of helping people overcome anxiety and get to the root cause of triggers that make them nervous. Sometimes, anxiety over going to the dentist can be an underlying symptom of unaddressed traumas from the past.

Meeting with a therapist before getting your teeth professionally examined is a great way to unpack what’s fueling your anxiety. During this time, you’ll also be able to discover healthy ways of comfortably attending your dental appointments. 

Bring a Relative or Friend With You

More often than not, having a solid support system is one of the most effective ways to fight anxiety. Bringing a loved one with you to the dental clinic can reduce feelings of isolation, promote moral support, and help calm your nerves. If you have to undergo any anesthesia during your appointment, a trusted person who can drive you home afterward is an added bonus. 

Consider Anti-anxiety Medication

Consulting your doctor for medication to reduce anxiety is another way you can make going to the dentist more manageable. Once you’re given a prescription, you’ll want to consume the medicine roughly 60 minutes before you head to the clinic. Because anti-anxiety drugs are typically sedative, you should arrange a ride back home - rather than driving yourself - once your appointment is over. 

Talk to Loved Ones Who’ve Been to the Dentist

Sitting down with someone you trust to discuss their experience at the dentist’s office is a wonderful way to ease nervousness and increase your own awareness. Sometimes, the unknown itself is a trigger for anxiety. 

Understanding what to anticipate when you have an upcoming appointment at the clinic makes you more prepared and soothes your nerves. Conversations with loved ones about their experiences are likewise a great way to come up with questions to ask during your time with the dentist. 

Making the Most of Your Next Appointment with the Dentist

While the nine recommendations above can each lower anxiety on their own, putting multiple steps into action ahead of going to the dentist is highly recommended. 

Speaking with your dentist ahead of your session, while also bringing a weighted blanket, can’t hurt. By the same token, combining therapy and guided imagery is also a constructive way to calm anxiety connected to dental appointments. At the end of the day, it all boils down to what you’re most comfortable with.

Regular dental appointments are conducive to preventing cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and even oral cancer. Getting your teeth professionally cared for will likewise brighten your smile and improve your overall health. With more exposure to a trusted dentist, you may even find that your anxiety gradually dissipates.