Going to the dentist isn’t what most people call ‘fun.’ But we grin and bear our annual dental visits because we know oral health is essential to our overall health.

But if the thought of going to the dentist has your teeth chattering, you aren’t alone! Many people put off dental visits due to intense fear and anxiety about the experience. According to a Dental Fears Research Clinic study, nearly 60% of people fear going to the dentist. About 20% of Americans only go to the dentist when absolutely necessary – and almost 8% avoid going altogether.

Does this sound like you? If so, we can help!

5 Tips to Help Ease Your Fears and Overcome Dental Anxiety

1. Communicate your fears to your dentist and dental team.

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to tell your dentist and dental team your fears. The best dentists want you to share your concerns and fears before your first visit so they can be prepared to support you. When you call to schedule your appointment, tell us about anything that makes you anxious or uncomfortable. We’ll note it in your file to ensure your dental team is aware. Knowing about fears beforehand allows us to schedule extra time and take things slowly. Then, remind our team that you’re nervous about your visit. We’re here to listen and understand what makes you anxious so we can offer solutions to make you feel more comfortable.

2. Schedule appointments first thing in the morning.

There are a couple of reasons to make appointments early in the day. First, you’ll avoid worrying about your visit all day. And your nerves won’t already be frazzled from a stressful day, making it easier to breathe and relax. Second, you won’t risk other appointments going longer than expected. Less time in the waiting room means less time to worry and feel anxious.

3. Ask for what you need.

Some patients feel anxious because they can’t move or talk once the dental procedure starts. Most dentists are skilled at reading facial expressions and head nods. But caring dentists want to ensure the best communication possible. Before any treatment begins, establish a signal with your dental team, like raising your left hand or making a thumbs-down sign. If you feel uncomfortable or anxious at any point, just make the signal – and we’ll pause so you can take a break.

4. Bring distractions.

Wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones and listen to your favorite music, audiobook, or podcast. You can also bring a blanket to keep you warm and make you feel more comfortable – anything that will distract your mind and help you relax.

5. Try techniques for relaxation.

Before your dental appointment, sit in a comfortable space for a few minutes. Breathe in slowly for four counts, then slowly breathe out for four counts. Repeating this five times will slow your heart rate and help you relax. If you feel your stress level rising during your procedure, try doing this breathing exercise again (make sure to breathe through your nose and not your mouth). If you need more help, use your signal, and let our team know you need a break.

Oral health is too important to let your fear and anxiety get in the way!

When you trust your dentist, your dental fears will decrease. So, establishing a dental home is one of the best ways to overcome dental anxiety. The more you get to know and trust your dental team (including the front office members), the more comfortable you’ll be.

At Atkins & Anderson Dentistry, we promise a judgment-free zone. So, whether it’s been 10 months or 10 years since your last dental visit, don’t let dental anxiety keep you from reaching out. Your comfort is the highest priority of our dental care team, and we want to help you reclaim your oral health! Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Did you know your oral health greatly impacts your body’s overall health? Plaque accumulation can lead to serious health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. That’s why you need to develop an oral hygiene routine beyond just brushing your teeth – a simple routine you can easily follow for the rest of your life.

Dental routines may vary depending on age, diet, occupation, and other factors. But certain aspects of oral hygiene are universal – daily care, a healthy diet, drinking water with fluoride, and routine professional checkups and cleanings.

Here’s a basic daily dental routine to help keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright!

Brush

The first obvious step is brushing your teeth at least twice a day – every morning and before bedtime. Brushing your teeth helps remove the bacterial plaque that can cause tooth decay and other diseases. But for brushing to be effective, you must use the right techniques and tools.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using a soft-bristled toothbrush and changing it every 3 months. Also, choose a toothpaste approved by the ADA.

To brush your teeth properly, hold your toothbrush at a 45° angle and aim for your gums. Use gentle circular motions to brush the front, back, and chewing surfaces on top. Brush for at least two minutes, staying in each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds. Some electric toothbrushes have two-minute timers and beep every 30 seconds so you know when to move on.

Gently brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Plaque can also build up on your tongue, causing bad breath and other oral health problems. Spit the toothpaste out but try not to rinse away the fluoride that helps protect your teeth.

Read More: Are You Using the Right Toothpaste?

Floss

Floss all your teeth at least once a day – preferably at night before bed. Flossing drags out particles of food that hide between teeth and helps loosen plaque, so flossing first and then brushing is more effective.

Use enough floss to have a clean section for each tooth – about 18 inches. Wrap the floss around your index fingers and gently move it up and down between each tooth. Wind off a clean section for the next tooth, and don’t forget your back molars.

If a long piece of floss is too awkward, try a ready-to-use dental flosser. These plastic holders with an inch of floss can make flossing quick and easy.

Read More: Is Flossing Really Necessary?

Use mouthwash

After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with mouthwash to destroy more bacteria and prevent plaque from forming. Swoosh a capful of it around in your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. This simple step clears out any remaining tidbits of toothpaste and food – and leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean!

Rinsing with mouthwash is also helpful for children and older adults who may not follow a thorough oral hygiene routine.

Read More: 5 Benefits of Using Mouthwash

Visit your dentist

Even if you follow a daily dental routine, you still need to see your dentist regularly. Plan a checkup and cleaning every 6 months so your dentist can perform a routine exam, look for cavities and other issues, and clean the plaque and tartar from your teeth.

Looking for a dentist you can trust?

If you’re looking for a caring family dentist in the Bryan/College Station area, call Atkins & Anderson DDS today. Your comfort is our highest priority, and our team excels at giving people of all ages healthy teeth and beautiful smiles!

Although your mouth will never feel as clean as it does after a cleaning appointment with your dentist, there are some things you can do to maintain that fresh feeling as long as possible.

When it comes to dental care, it’s easier to maintain a healthy mouth than for a dentist to correct poor dental hygiene. Here are 6 tips to help keep your teeth clean between your twice-a-year dental cleanings.

Brush often – and use the proper technique

Brushing your teeth at least twice daily – every morning and night before sleep is recommended. Want to do more? You can eliminate most bacteria-causing food particles and keep your teeth clean if you brush after every meal or drink something besides water. Even a good rinse with mouthwash after eating or drinking is helpful.

To maintain healthy teeth, it’s also important that you use the proper technique when you brush. Keep your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use short circular motions, making sure that you’re brushing your teeth and not your gums. Be careful not to brush aggressively or use too much pressure because this can lead to gum recession or make your teeth porous and sensitive. Proper brushing may take some practice, but it will quickly become a natural habit.

Read More: Are You Using the Right Toothpaste?

Floss daily

Brushing alone isn’t enough to get the tight, hard-to-reach places between your teeth. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends flossing every day. And just like brushing, flossing will be more effective if you use the proper technique. To floss correctly, keep the following steps in mind:

• Wrap about two inches of floss between your fingers and unroll a new section for each tooth.
• Keep the floss tight against each tooth to break up plaque without harming your gums.
• For a thorough cleaning, floss front and back teeth – even behind the last molars in your mouth.

Read More: How to Floss Your Teeth

Cut down on sugar

Reducing sugar and soda is good for your teeth and your overall health.

Eating a lot of sugar isn’t good for your teeth because it makes your mouth more acidic and grows bacteria. This causes plaque to build up, which harms your gums and tooth enamel and leads to premature tooth decay. Limiting sugar intake, especially from sugary drinks and sweet treats, will significantly benefit your oral health. When you do eat or drink sugary treats, it’s recommended to rinse, brush, and floss as soon as possible.

Did you know that drinking soda regularly wreaks havoc on your teeth? The ingredients that make soda fizzy (citric acid and phosphoric acid) eat away at your enamel and cause cavities. An occasional soda won’t hurt you, but sticking to water is best. Try adding some fruit or mint leaves to your water for extra flavor.

Avoid smoking

Your gums and teeth are more sensitive after a dental cleaning, and the chemicals in cigarette smoke and vapes can delay healing. That’s why it’s best to avoid smoking for 24 hours to allow the gums to heal.

Nicotine stains teeth – and the damage caused by nicotine can increase right after a deep cleaning. This is because deep cleaning and whitening agents temporarily make teeth more porous, allowing chemicals to enter the tooth. Nicotine on clean, porous teeth can cause excess staining and reverse the benefits of a good deep cleaning. Nicotine and tar also coat your mouth and teeth, harming your gums. This coating increases bacteria and plaque production, leading to the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Read More: How to Recognize Gum Disease

Chew gum

If you can’t brush or rinse after a meal, chewing sugar-free gum helps remove food residue and freshen your breath. Chewing gum also increases saliva production, which has natural antibacterial properties that flush your mouth and prevent damage from bacteria.

Eat foods that naturally clean your teeth

Sugary foods and sodas can harm your teeth, but did you know some foods are good for your teeth? Firm and crisp foods like carrots, apples, celery, and popcorn are called “detergent” foods because they reduce plaque. They’re not a substitute for brushing, flossing, or rinsing, but eating these foods gives your teeth a clean boost.

Don’t take your oral health for granted.

Remember the above tips to keep your teeth extra clean between dental visits. But professional twice-a-year teeth cleaning is the best way to maintain your oral health and catch any potential issues before they become serious. If you need a professional cleaning or any other dental treatment, contact Atkins & Anderson DDS today and schedule an appointment.

You may take great care of your teeth. You brush twice daily, floss every evening, and avoid sodas and candy. But are you missing a key element to your dental health? Mouthwash may seem like an unnecessary step, but there are multiple benefits to using mouthwash regularly. While mouthwash will certainly leave your breath smelling and feeling fresh, reducing bad breath is not one of the five reasons we recommend including it in your oral hygiene routine. I mean, we are certainly glad that your breath smells minty fresh! But we want to show you five ways mouthwash positively impacts dental health.

Five Benefits of Mouthwash:

1. Wash Away Food Particles

Rinsing with mouthwash after you eat may have more impact than waiting until after you finish brushing your teeth in the morning. Consider bringing a travel-size bottle of mouthwash with you to work so that you can rinse your mouth after lunch. This will not only freshen your breath but wash away any lingering food particles while simultaneously killing bacteria.

2. Reduce Plaque Buildup

Look for specific mouthwashes that reduce plaque buildup on your teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky substance that adheres to your teeth and if left untreated, can lead to cavities. Mouthwash cannot eliminate plaque that has already formed which is why you need to continue brushing, flossing, and scheduling routine cleanings at your dentist’s office. However, the regular use of mouthwash can help reduce plaque growth.

3. Fight Gum Disease

Plaque buildup can lead to red, swollen, tender gums due to food and bacteria left on the teeth. There are varying intensities of gum disease, but even the slightest symptoms can be painful. Be proactive in preventing gum disease by including an antibacterial mouthwash in your oral hygiene routine.

4. Minimize Tooth Decay

Mouthwash also helps prevent cavities. We recommend checking the label on your mouthwash to ensure it includes fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen your tooth enamel, offering you more protection against tooth decay.

5. Heal Canker Sores

Canker sores are a type of ulcer found in the mouth. If you develop a canker sore, using an antibacterial mouthwash will help the sore heal faster.

There are many benefits to using mouthwash that will protect you from many dental issues. As you add mouthwash to your daily oral hygiene routine, remember that many dental problems can be prevented with regular exams and cleanings. To schedule a routine exam for the whole family, contact Atkins & Anderson, DDS today.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating with friends, or going out to dinner with your special someone, you want to feel confident about your smile. In fact, you want to feel good about your teeth every day for the rest of your life, right? The good news is you can show your mouth a little TLC and protect your smile for years to come.

Daily Habits

By implementing the following habits on a daily basis, you’ll maintain your oral health and keep your teeth strong.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Drink water that contains fluoride. Fluoride promotes strong teeth.
• Floss at least once a day to remove plaque in between teeth.
• If you’re a caregiver, help the little ones in your home practice these habits.

Lifestyle Adjustments

If you want to keep your teeth for a lifetime, and make sure your mouth stays healthy, you may need to make some lifestyle changes. These adjustments will not only increase your oral health but your overall health.

• Do not use tobacco products.
• If you smoke, quit smoking.
• Limit your alcohol consumption.
• If you have diabetes, work hard to keep control of the disease. Diabetes puts you at risk for gum disease if left unaddressed.

Tips to Consider

When it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth, you need to be proactive. In most cases, catching a problem early gives you the best chance for less invasive and less expensive treatment. When you are proactive in your oral care, you can often prevent issues from forming in the first place.

• See your dentist at least once a year for routine cleaning and examination.
• Talk to your doctor about switching medication if your medicine causes dry mouth.
• If you are prone to experiencing dry mouth, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco products and alcoholic drinks.
• Contact your dentist immediately if you notice the following:
  • Sores in your mouth
  • Discoloration on your teeth
  • Pain in your teeth, gums, or jaw
  • Sudden changes in taste

If you’re looking for a dentist’s office that can treat your entire family, contact us at Atkins and Anderson Dentistry. Our team is dedicated to serving the families of Bryan/College Station, Texas so you can feel good about your mouth and confident about your smile. Call us today if it’s time to schedule a routine cleaning and examination. If you have questions or concerns about your oral health, don’t wait to contact us.