Scared of the dentist? Give these tips a try.

6 ways to overcome your fear of the dentist

Read time: 4 minutes

Talk to your dentist

Let the hygienist and your dentist know about your anxieties. They will be understanding and work with you to come up with a solution.

Don’t let a bad experience dictate the rest

It’s a normal reaction to be apprehensive about the dentist if you’ve had a bad experience in the past. But one bad visit doesn’t mean the rest will be. Have you had more than one bad experience? Don’t be afraid to try a new dentist.

Establish control with hand signals

Since it’s hard to talk with a mouth full of dental tools, talk with your hygienist and dentist about establishing hand signals to communicate.

Bring a distraction for yourself

Listen to music or podcasts to distract your mind during your visit. Some dentists have a TV in each room positioned for patient viewing. Don’t be afraid to ask them to change the channel to one that’ll distract you.

Practice mindfulness

Do meditation focused on relaxation exercises and breath work before your visit. If you feel your anxiety rising during your visit, you can do breath work through your nose.

Ask about medications

You can ask your dentist about options for sedation. Some options may be nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and/or sedative medications to reduce your anxiety.