Dealing With Dental Anxiety At Your Next Appointment by Lizzie Weakley

Eleanor Segall

Oct 31

(image: free image)

Dental anxiety is extremely common. If you're one of those people, don't worry—you're not alone. There are a number of things you can do to ease your anxiety and make your dental appointment more comfortable. Here are five tips on how to not be nervous for your upcoming dental appointment.

Talk to Your Dentist

One of the best ways to ease your anxiety is to simply talk to your dentist, like those at Dentologie. They understand that dental anxiety is common, and they will be more than happy to work with you to make sure you're comfortable during your appointment. Let them know what your concerns are and what you need to feel more relaxed. They may be able to offer you a numbing agent or sedation dentistry options to help you through your appointment.

Focus on Your Breathing

Another way to ease anxiety is to focus on your breathing. During your appointment, take deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will help you stay calm and relax your body.

Visualize a Relaxing Scene

If focusing on your breathing isn't doing the trick, try visualizing a relaxing scene in your mind. It could be anything from lying on the beach to taking a walk in the park. Close your eyes and take yourself away to this peaceful place until your appointment is over.

Listen to Music or an Audiobook

Listening to music or an audiobook can also help take your mind off of what's happening during your appointment and help you relax. Make sure to bring along headphones so you can completely tune out of what's going on around you.

Give Yourself a Hand Massage

Finally, try giving yourself a hand massage during your appointment. This can help relieve some of the tension you may be feeling and make you feel more relaxed overall. Simply massage each finger with the thumb of the other hand, working from the base of the finger up toward the nailbeds.

Dental anxiety is extremely common, but there are a number of things you can do to ease your anxiety and make your dental appointment more comfortable. Simply talking to your dentist, focusing on your breathing, listening to music or an audiobook, or giving yourself a hand massage can all help reduce stress and make your next dental visit more enjoyable. Try one or all five of these techniques next time you have a dental appointment and see which ones work best for you!

This article was written by freelance writer Lizzie Weakley.

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