My family's dental health is important to me. Unfortunately for me, it is not as important to my little ones. Getting my kids to brush and floss on a daily basis is almost like taking on an obstacle course. I talked to my family's dentist about different methods I could try to encourage them to brush and floss on a regular basis. Some of the tricks worked, some did not. After some experimentation and talking to other parents, I was able to come up with a lot of great tips for helping kids care for their teeth. I started this blog to help other parents get creative when it comes to their kids and dental care.
Bella Snyder
Do you have teeth that need to be worked on? Is having dental work done low on the list of things that you want to do with your time? Few people actually like going to the dentist. If you're like most people, you dislike it or even hate it. This is completely understandable. But if you want to get rid of the pain or fix an unattractive smile, you know that you have to go. Fortunately, there are things that you and your dentist can do that will make the process easier for you. Some of the most important things include:
Discuss course of treatment: Some people would rather have as much work done as possible at one time in order for it to be over with quickly. Other people would prefer to have each bit of work carried out one at a time, such as one extraction followed a few weeks later by a filling, in order to minimize the amount of potential pain felt at any one time. Whether either of these apply to you or you would prefer a timeline that falls somewhere in the middle is something that you need to discuss with your dentist. Without discussion beforehand, your dentist will simply do what he or she would prefer, which may not be what you actually want.
Bring music: Although your dentist will apply anesthetic to the area that is to be worked on, it's possible that you may still feel or think that you feel pain while the work is occurring. One thing that you can do is to listen to music while the dentist is working on your teeth. Not only will it hide the annoying sound of the drill, music can also be effective at alleviating or blocking pain. Noise-cancelling headphones may give you the best results, but a good pair of earbuds can do nearly as well.
Prepare your home: Depending on what sort of work your teeth need, it's a good idea to prepare your home ahead of time. If you're having an extraction performed, you may find afterward that sleeping in a near-upright position will help with residual pain. Purchasing or otherwise having extra pillows available beforehand will make this easier. No matter what work is being done, you may find that your mouth is sensitive for a few days after your appointment. Have soft or otherwise liquid foods available so that you don't have to make an extra trip to the store. Your dentist can give you food suggestions based on what type of dental procedure or procedures you're having performed.
Contact an office, like Smile Makers Dental, to get started.