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Dentist Tips

4 Things You Definitely Need to Do Before going to the Dentist

Most people hate going to the dentists. Something about getting a foreign object stuck in your teeth and scraped around fairly often would do that to you.

Unfortunately, it is a necessary evil for ensuring long-term good dental and oral hygiene. Plus, if you have any particular medical conditions, such as painful mouth ulcers or sensitive teeth, your dentist can help you to alleviate any discomfort.

So, what should be done when preparing for that trip to the dentist? Read on our four top tips on things to consider and things you should definitely look into preceding your dental appointment.

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1. Brush and Floss

Young woman shows How To Brush Your Teeth

It is always important to brush and floss a couple of hours before you go to the dentists, but don’t overdo it.

If you haven’t been flossing at all in between your appointments, flossing a couple of days before your appointment will do no good and can in fact even harm your teeth if you go overboard.

It is of course much better to floss every day, to prevent bad breath and plaque build-up.

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Just go about as normal, unless your appointment is in the afternoon or early evening, in which case make sure to brush after lunch so that there is no residue left over. It just helps to clear everything up and to keep your breath fresh for the dentist.

2. Try Not to Eat Beforehand

This is more for courtesy than anything else, but if you have eaten anything beforehand, particularly if it is rather pungent, the flavour and residue may still be in your mouth even after brushing.

While the scent of an open mouth isn’t always that great to begin with, tuna sandwiches or a fresh garlic pasta could add an extra layer of smell to an already unpleasant experience for the dentist so it is better not to do it.

If you feel like it, you can always treat yourself to a nice lunch after having visited the dentist, just try not to eat for at least an hour beforehand.

3. For Those With Kids – Make Preparations in Advance

Healthy Foods For Your Child's Teeth

Whether your children have already had a few trips to the dentist or this is their first time, it can be a nightmare to get them all in the car and properly prepared if they know what is in store.

Unfortunately, the dentist isn’t always exactly one of the top ten places to visit when you’re a kid, so you will need to properly prepare them for what is in store. Even the quietest of children can sometimes freak out when in a frightening and unfamiliar place. Creating a dentist routine in preparation for those visits can really help smooth things along.

Something as small as just taking them for a drink beforehand or having a ‘dentist preparation checklist’ will help to familiarize the children with the trip and make it less scary.

This will also help to reduce the chances of upset when you and your kids are actually at the dentist. Believe it, nobody wants a crying or screaming child in the chair, so your dentist will thank you for it!

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More tips on preparing your child for a dentist appointment?

Read our guide “Your Child’s first visit to the dentist”, by Elizabeth Mahadeo, Registered Dental Hygienist.

 

4. Smile!

healthy-teeth-and-gums

It can be a nerve-wracking experience, particularly if you feel as if you have not been taking proper care of your teeth, which is something we all think about before we go to the dentist. Just calm down, adopt a pleasant disposition and your personality will rub off on the dentist.

Dentists, in general, are not scary or unpleasant people, but their job can make things difficult on occasion. Try to stay positive, even if you don’t particularly like the dentist and that will ultimately help to make your trip a more pleasant one.

It can be very easy for us to start panicking from the moment we see that inevitable appointment request slip through the door, but a dentists check-up appointment is just as important as any other regular health check-up.

If you want to continue to have strong, healthy teeth then you need to be able to quickly see an expert who can recommend the best course of action. A dentist can easily do that for you, so why not make the visit as stress-free as possible?

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