When you think about going to the dentist, do you get nervous? Do you break into a sweat, feel your heartbeat speeding up, or get a little queasy? You’re likely dealing with dental anxiety, which is common for kids and adults. Anxiety can make dental appointments very stressful, and even cause you to put off getting the dental care you need.
Here are five tricks to reduce dental anxiety:
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- Schedule Your Appointment on a Slow Day
Your dental anxiety will likely get worse if you schedule your appointment on a busy day. To avoid feeling rushed or anxious about time, avoid scheduling a bunch of things on the same day as your appointment. You can also avoid stress by scheduling your appointment first thing in the morning so you can get it out of the way.
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- Listen to Something Enjoyable
Listening to something relaxing, like music or an audiobook, can make a big difference during your appointment. Just let us know that you want to use your headphones!
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- Focus on Your Breathing
Anxiety can make you feel breathless and lightheaded, which makes your anxiety worse. Focus on your breathing by inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth.
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- Keep Your Hands Busy
Exercise is a well-known anxiety reliever, but you can’t just jump up and start doing jumping jacks when you’re at the dentist. However, you can keep your hands busy with a stress ball or fidget toy. Even small movements like opening and closing your hands can help relieve tension and anxiety.
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- Consider Dental Sedation
Consider dental sedation. This is a safe and effective method for staying calm during any procedure. At Rockingham ProDental, we offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation.
Stress-Free Dental Care in Harrisonburg, VA
If you struggle with dental anxiety, we can help! Our friendly team strives to make every patient as comfortable as possible with our relaxing amenities. We also offer a variety of affordable payment options. Please contact us today with any questions or to schedule an appointment at our office.
