Research has shown that between 5% and 8% of Americans avoid visiting the dentist out of fear and another 20% only go when they have to because of fear.
There are lots of reasons people are scared of the dentist. Maybe they had a bad experience one time or feel like they don’t have good teeth. Whatever the reason, if a person feels it then it is justified. However, not going to the dentist is not only bad for your health but it also just makes the time that you do end having to go even worse.
If you are one of those who doesn’t visit out of fear, here are a few tips to help calm your nerves and make the visit more enjoyable.
- Meet the dentist and visit the practice before you get treatment.
- Be open with your dentist about your fear so he or she can take steps to make you more comfortable.
- Bring someone with you. Having a friend or family member with you can help make it less stressful and provide distraction from the process
- Distract yourself. Try counting to a certain number in your head, silently singing a song to yourself or thinking about things that make you happy or a reward you’re going to give yourself after the treatment.
- Do it regularly. One of the best ways to get over a fear of the dentist is to do it on a regular basis. By keeping regular checkups you’ll get your body and mind accustomed to the practice and each time it should become less stressful.