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Top Reasons People Aren’t Seeing the Dentist
If you’ve been avoiding us, we won’t take it personally. In fact, a large percentage of Americans avoid seeing the dentist. There are many reasons people skip out on visits to my dental office in Douglasville. We’d like to cover some of the main reasons and let you know that we’re not only here to get you healthy, we’re here to comfort and relieve any inhibitions you may have too.
Fear and Anxiety
At the top of our list are fear and anxiety. Just as there are individuals who are afraid of heights or spiders, there are also those who have a cold-blooded fear of the dentist. In actuality, fear of the dentist, also known as dentophobia, is pretty common. Whether it’s mild or severe, a fear of the dentist can result not only in anxiety, but also in refusal to visit a dentist in Douglasville. This is especially concerning since those with an extreme fear who don’t get regular cleanings and checkups are at increased risk for scary dental problems like heart disease, strokes, and much more.
Dread of a Repeat Experience
There are many people whose fear of the dentist has stemmed from a prior bad experience. If you’ve had a dental treatment that hurt once, you’ll probably think it will always hurt. However, most of these bad experiences occurred when a patient was younger and dental technologies weren’t what they are today. It’s important to tell us if you fall into this category we’ll work with you to relieve your fear and reassure you that our comforting techniques will not only get you healthy, but do so in a pain-free way.
Avoiding the Lecture
People who have neglected their dental care for a while are often concerned that once they get back into the dental chair, they’ll get lectured on their brushing and flossing habits. Lecturing you on your dental hygiene routine isn’t a productive way to get you excited about your dental health and to keep you coming back for regular checkups. Instead of lectures, the team at my Douglasville dental office will talk with you about your mouth and teeth, educate you on the importance of regular checkups, and help get you back into a healthy routine. No lectures needed, just encouragement, understanding, and compassion.
If you’ve been avoiding the dentist because of any of the reasons above, or even for a different reason, give my dental office in Douglasville a call. We’ll work with you and talk to you about your fears and make sure that your treatment is comfortable, easy, and relaxing.
Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.
Top 3 Things Your Douglasville Dentist Wants You to Know
We talk a lot during your visits to my Douglasville dental office – about your kids, your job, your spouse, and your teeth – but sometimes we have even more to say and not enough time to say it! So I’ve decided to put the most important things we want our patients to know right here.
Your Mouth is the Window to Your Body
While your eyes may be the window to your soul, your mouth is the window to your whole body. There is a very strong connection between your oral health and your systemic health, or whole body health. In fact, disease in your mouth puts you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and disease of your brain, liver, pancreas and so much more. On the other hand, a healthy mouth is linked to a longer, healthier life. This is why keeping up with your appointments at my dental office in Douglasville is so important.
Stop Blaming Your Bad Breath on the Garlic
Bad breath can result from an especially garlicky bowl of pasta or pizza, but bad breath that’s consistent could be the result of a dental problem like gum disease, dry mouth, or a poor hygiene routine. If any of those are the reason for your bad breath, mouthwash, mints, gum, and other breath freshening techniques only temporarily mask the problem while the true issue is still lingering in your mouth, potentially causing damage and serious concerns. Proper brushing and flossing can help beat bad breath but if it doesn’t go away, it’s important to call us as soon as you can.
Ignoring a Dental Problem Will Not Cause it to Go Away
Issues in your mouth will not go away if they’re not taken care of. Cavities will get bigger, your bite will not correct itself, and your gum disease surely won’t go away on its own. All of these problems, plus plenty of others, will only get worse if not treated. That cavity could get so big that it needs a root canal; your bite could result in problems with your temporomandibular (jaw) joint; and gum disease can lead to some really scary problems like tooth loss, heart attacks, and even dementia. It’s also important to remember that just because nothing hurts, doesn’t mean that nothing is wrong. That’s where we come in and check your mouth for any potential problems at each and every visit.
We’ve only covered three really important facts in this blog, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t more to know. If you have any questions, or need to schedule your regular checkup or more in depth treatment, give my Douglasville dental office today.
Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Ricca, and surrounding areas.