That First Visit To The Dentist

first visit to the dentist

Are you Nervous about Your First Visit to the Dentist?

Many people get nervous when they are going to visit a dentist for the first time. Children may have a phobia of going to the dentist and this phobia needs to be eliminated so that it does not stick with them for their whole life. The first visit to the dentist is crucial. If it is your first visit to the dentist or your child’s first visit, there are plenty of tips to make it easier for you.

Prepare Yourself

The basic tip to remain calm is by talking to others who visit the dentist often. This will give you a general idea about what to expect on your first visit to the dentist. Everyone has a different story and perspective so only use it to get an idea and do not believe every single thing they say because if someone is afraid of the dentist they are going to invoke that fear into you. It varies from dentist to dentist, some are more accommodating than the others for the people who are nervous and fearful, some are specialized in dealing with kids etc.

Prepare your Child

If it’s the child’s first visit to dentist than the parent should make sure they do their best to eliminate any fear of the dentist as this will help the child throughout their life. Parents can do so by sharing their own first experience in a positive light and making it feel less intimidating to the child.
Use positive phrases like “You have been so good this week that we can have a special treat by going to see Martin to have your teeth counted”. Don’t use negative phrases that instil doubt like, “It won’t hurt” or “There is no need to get scared” or “You don’t need to worry”. Children are very sensitive to these phrases and they know that if you are saying these things there is reason to worry. If you personally are fearful there is no need to pass this fear on to another generation, is there?

The Best Choice for You

We are very happy to see your child. But if you don’t live near us we would advise you to call around dentist offices to check to see which one would be the best one for you. Or ask your friends who they see. Some dentists specialise in treating patients who have a phobia of dental visits and get too anxious. If you suffer from anxiety you might want to find someone who is well suited so that your fear will lessen instead of heightening. Remember that we do use laughing gas for nervous children or adults.
You may prefer to take your child to a pediatric dentist for their first visit. Phone us and we can let you know who we recommend.

General Steps

In a regular dental check-up, a dentist will usually check your gums and teeth for decay or other infections, clean them, occasionally take x-rays to check the overall health of your gums and teeth. Although sometimes the check-up would be more thorough than usual, this might involve the examination of the area of head and neck too, including the x rays and medical history (most probably on your first visit to that dentist, even if you have been seeing another dentist previously.)

Important Note

If someone has a serious medical situation or health problem it is very important that they mention it to their dentist before the check-up or treatment. It is advised to mention it at the time when they are making an appointment itself. The usual check-up will usually last up to 30 minutes or more. Apart from the regular visits one also has to regularly maintain their dental health for healthy teeth.

Click here to find out more about Dr Martin Jest Dental Surgery

 

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How To Floss Properly

floss

We are taught about the importance of oral health at an early age. However, while many people do brush on a regular basis, many people do not floss nearly as often as they should. And even if you do floss semi-regularly, you may not be doing it properly! The following are a few tips on how to floss in order to maintain your oral health:

Choosing Your Floss

Don’t be mistaken in thinking that any floss will do. There are a number of different types of floss on the market – the cheaper the floss is, the less effective it will be for your oral health. Some of the floss options available to you include waxed floss, un-waxed floss, tape floss, nylon floss or PTFE floss. Floss that is waxed tends to slide between the teeth more easily, while tape floss is more effective if you have wider gaps between your teeth. PTFE floss, also known as mono-filament floss, will slide between your teeth easier than nylon floss and is less likely to shred as well. You can also choose between flavored and non-flavored floss, but that’s entirely up to your personal taste.

How to Floss Properly

We recommend flossing before you brush. This allows you to remove the plaque from between your teeth to allow the fluoride in the toothpaste to get between your teeth. The following are a few tips to keep in mind for proper flossing form:

  • Holding the floss – You only need around 45 cm of floss every time you floss. Take it and wrap it around your two ring fingers over the last joint so that it fits nice and tightly, you will find that when you bend your fingers it will hold the floss in place. There should be roughly eight to ten cm of floss exposed to floss your teeth with.
  • Using the floss – It doesn’t matter which tooth you start with. Many people choose to begin with their front teeth, whether it’s at the bottom or top. Just make sure that you floss between every tooth – including those hard to reach molars. When sliding the floss between your teeth, make sure that you don’t tear into your gums. You don’t need to be aggressive, just gently rub the floss up and down between the gums and teeth without yanking it around or sawing side to side which can be damaging. Floss in a C-motion down the tooth and below the gum line to remove plaque. This process should be repeated for every tooth. Make sure that when you are flossing that you don’t wrap the floss around the gum of one tooth and then another tooth – this makes flossing less effective.

 

If you notice any blood appearing from your gums, don’t be alarmed. Many people will stop flossing because their gums hurt when they do so – and the appearance of blood can be alarming. However, bleeding gums usually signifies that your teeth need to be flossed more often. The pain and bleeding should diminish the more regularly you floss.

After Flossing

Once you’re done flossing, throw the used floss away and be sure to rinse your mouth with water in order to remove any loose food particles – not to mention it helps give your mouth a fresh feeling.
Flossing is a very important step in maintaining your oral health. You should floss at least once a day for two to three minutes at a time if possible – although even flossing for a minute a day will have a big impact, so be sure to use these tips on how to floss.

Click here to find out more about having a checkup with Dr Martin Jest

 

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