No one likes going to the dentist, but your visits shouldn’t be overly painful. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain at the dentist, chances are there are some gaps in your oral hygiene routine. Sensitive teeth and gums make routine scrapings and inspections much more painful than they need to be. Follow these five tips to help make your visits to the dentist less painful!
1. Set Aside Extra Time For Flossing
No one likes flossing, but it’s one of the most essential elements of proper oral hygiene. If you want to avoid pain at the dentist, then flossing is the best way to keep your teeth healthy. Flossing makes it easier for you to remove plaque with your toothbrush, which eliminates the need for your dentist to do long, painful scrapings.
Flossing is also important for helping you avoid Gingivitis. If left ignored, Gingivitis develops into Periodontal Disease, which has negative effects on your respiratory system and your heart.
Another reason why flossing is important is it keeps your gums healthy. When plaque and food particles get left near your gums, harmful microorganisms begin to grow in your mouth. These harmful organisms cause inflammation and damage your gums. Flossing is an easy way to keep your gums healthy and remove food build up.
2. Keep Your Gums Healthy
Inflamed gums make for painful visits to the dentist. The best way to keep your gums healthy is with consistent cleanings. Inflammation comes from a build up of plaque, tartar and harmful bacteria. When your gums are inflamed scraping and even brushing your teeth are painful tasks, and you may notice your gums are bleeding.
Stay consistent with your oral care routine to keep your gums healthy. Reducing the amount of leftover food particles and bacteria in your mouth is the best way to keep your gums healthy. It may be a chore to stick to your routine, but keeping your gums healthy is the easiest way to avoid pain at the dentist.
3. Don’t Over Brush A Few Days Before The Dentist
Many people make the error of brushing like crazy a few days before they see the dentist to make up for lost time. Not only does over brushing do nothing, but it also contributes to damaging your teeth. When you brush your teeth too much, it makes your teeth more porous and sensitive. Instead of over brushing, focus on consistently cleaning your teeth with proper technique. Use a circular motion around where your teeth and gum connect and don’t forget to brush your tongue.
4. Consider Switching To An Electric Toothbrush
Investing in an electric tooth brush is an excellent way to enhance your oral care routine. Electric tooth brushes make it easier to get a deep cleaning every time your brush your teeth.
A lot of us are guilty of not brushing our teeth for the full minute and a half to two minutes that’s recommended. Using an electric toothbrush makes brushing for longer much easier. You’ll exert less effort with an electric brush, which makes it easier for you to focus on cleaning all the quadrants of your mouth. Electric tooth brushes also make it easier to clean hard to reach areas in your mouth which is great for simplifying your oral hygiene routine.
5. Search For A Dentist Willing To Work With You
You should feel comfortable letting your dentist know your visits end up being quite painful. You can discuss a plan of action with your dentist, and they can help make your visits more comfortable. Communication is key to a healthy relationship with your dentist.
If the pain is really bad, your dentist can use anesthesia when working on you. Your dentist will make suggestions to help you deal with the pain, but it’s up to you to follow them. Chances are your dentist will tell you to follow the advice we laid out in this blog post. Staying consistent with your oral health is the best way to make your visits to the dentist less painful. Don’t panic and over brush just because you have an appointment coming up. Instead, take a few extra minutes each day to keep your teeth clean.