Dental – Smart Senior

Suffer From Dentophobia? How To Overcome Your Irrational Fear Of The Dentist

When we think of people having phobias, the more common ones such as arachnophobia and claustrophobia come to mind. Whilst many people are terrified of spiders and enclosed spaces, there is also a significant number who have a debilitating fear of dentists, and for the record that is known as dentophobia.

At this point, we must make a distinction between phobias and fears. Most people have some level of fear regarding specific things they dislike and that can include spiders and the dentist. However, when those fears are irrational, cause you to behave in certain ways, and make you mentally traumatised, they become phobias. The problem is that a phobia of the dentist can negatively impact your oral health, and that is adding one problem on top of another.

To try and help anyone who has either a fear or a phobia about visiting their dentist, we are going to suggest some ways you can try to overcome them. What we are not going to say is “pull yourself together” because we are sure you have heard that a thousand times, and unless someone knows exactly how you are feeling, advice like that is far from helpful.

Exposure Therapy

This is known to help resolve lots of different phobias and works on the basis that you chip away at your phobia a little bit at a time. In the case of dentophobia, you take small steps towards being able to have your dentist treat you. You could start by driving to the dental surgery’s car park. Next time, go into the reception area. You might speak to the receptionist or the dentist on your next visit.

Moving on you might sit in the dentist’s chair, and just relax there for a while. Next time have an examination but not treatment. Next, a session where the dentist takes an x-ray and so on until you can have full appointments such as a cleaning or teeth whitening.

Why Some DIY Tooth Whitening Methods May Do More Harm Than Good

Everyone wants to look their best, and one of the features that contribute to us looking good is our teeth. The cleaner, brighter, and whiter they are, the more our smile beams, but unfortunately, not everyone’s teeth are whiter than white. Many people suffer from tooth discolouration, and their proper course of action is to visit their dentist to ask that they whiten their teeth professionally.

In most cases this would be the recommended way to whiten teeth, however, it cannot have escaped your notice that there are also numerous DIY teeth whitening solutions available. These come in several forms such as whitening toothpaste, whitening powder, whitening strips as well as a whole raft of homemade recipes which it is claimed can whiten teeth ‘naturally’.

Let us state here that many people use these teeth whitening options and have had good results with no side effects or secondary issues. However, that is not the case for everyone. Teeth whitening done on a DIY basis does not always produce the desired result, and worse, it can lead to other issues. Below are some examples of how DIY tooth whitening can go wrong.

5 Reasons Why You Don’t Need to Fear the Dentist

For many decades, dental care was something most people feared. In fact, older generations were subjected to sometimes painful procedures that made them fearful of visits throughout their adult life.

However, technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, which means that some of the most common reasons why people used to fear going to the dentist are no longer relevant.

If you have been putting off a visit for much-needed dental implants, dentures, or just a check-up, the following information may help you see that there is nothing to fear.

5 Reasons Why Older People Fear the Dentist

The highest rate of dental fear is in the 40-64-year age range, with many people in this group avoiding trips to the dentist as much as possible.

However, dentists themselves are not scary people. They are like any other adult, just doing their job and providing a service. So, why do people fear them? Dentists shouldn’t take it personally because these common reasons for dental fear below have nothing to do with the dentist themselves.

Past Bad Experiences

Dental technology has come a long way in the last few decades, but it can be hard to see that if you’ve had previous bad experiences with archaic technology.

Why Dentures Might Be the Best Option for You

Whether you’ve lost your natural teeth to decay, disease, or even an accident, you might be wondering what your options are. Your dentist might recommend dentures, which are especially common among older adults.

However, not everyone is convinced that dentures are the right option for them. While it’s true that dental implants might also be of value, there are several reasons why dentures could be even better for your unique situation.

They Are Comfortable to Wear

Technology is evolving all the time, which means that uncomfortable dentures your own grandparents wore several decades ago may not be the same dentures you can expect to wear. It’s true that it can take a few visits to your dentist to achieve the correct fit, but these visits are worth it for your overall comfort.

5 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Dental Implants

Even though dental implants are a common procedure that dentists perform at least most weeks, that doesn’t mean the average person in need of them understands what they’re all about.

You might be toying with the idea of dentures or dental implants, or you might be concerned about how much care is involved in dental implants. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of this treatment option, it can be worth asking your dentist some of the following questions:

How to Care for Your Dentures to Make them Last the Distance

Getting dentures for the first time can be overwhelming. It can also be exciting and emotional. You all of a sudden have the means to chew and talk properly and smile with confidence.

As a result, care instructions given to you by your dentist may not sink in, and you might be left feeling like you’re forgetting some of the most important information about your new teeth. To help your dentures last the distance, consider the following information.

Avoid Any Abrasive Cleaning and Care Products

You might think you’re doing right by your dentures by using strong cleansers, hard-bristled brushes, whitening toothpastes, and harsh oral care products, but you may actually be causing damage. There are specific denture products on the market to use to ensure you’re caring for your new teeth appropriately.

Some other products designed for your natural teeth can lead to damage. There’s also no point in using whitening toothpastes since peroxide rarely changes the colour of denture teeth.

While cleaning, it’s also worth keeping in mind that hot or boiling water should be avoided. These can warp your dentures, leading to expensive repairs.