1. “I REALLY NEED TO START FLOSSING.”
Are you terrible about flossing? You’re not alone. According to a 2013 American Dental Association report, only about 50 percent of Americans floss daily. And 18 percent of Americans don’t floss at all. Not only do we struggle with flossing, we lie to our dentist about it. A recent study by the American Academy of Periodontology confirms that as many as 27 percent of Americans lie to their dentist about flossing.
Here is the funny part, your dental and dental hygienist can tell if you floss or not just by looking at your teeth. And if you try to “cram” for the exam by flossing so hard your gums bleed, it’s a dead giveaway that you don’t regularly floss.
2. “WHY DO I FEEL SO AWKWARD IN THIS CHAIR?”
There is no way around it, sitting in the dentist’s chair for an exam feels weird. Your hands are oddly on display and you are not quite sitting upright but not quite laying down and relaxing. There is no cure for this. It’s just awkward.
3. “WOW, THAT OVERHEAD LIGHT IS BLINDING!”
Those lights can be bright, but they are oh-so-necessary to get to the nitty gritty plaque that has made a home on your teeth.
4. “HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE SMALL TALK WITH MY MOUTH WIDE OPEN?”
Your dentist and his assistants are always striving to put you at ease and get to know you. Which is great! The only problem is that you are trying to do this while your lips are stretched to capacity. Don’t worry, chat away. You are not the only one who sounds silly.
5.” FLUORIDE TASTES GROSS.”
Some insurance companies cover fluoride treatments at a standard cleaning while others do not. Make sure to check beforehand. If they do cover it, go for it! Sure, it tastes a little . . . um . . . strong. But guess what also doesn’t taste good? Not having a healthy smile! Fluoride prevents tooth decay, slows the breakdown of enamel and increases the rate of remineralization according to Oral B. Think about it like this, you don’t want to give up sugar forever right? Well, you can have your cake and eat it too, just make sure you opt for the fluoride treatment.
6. “DO I GET LAUGHING GAS? PLEASE SAY I GET LAUGHING GAS.”
The fancy name for this is sedation dentistry and it is used to help patients relax during dental procedures. According to WebMD, the level of sedation can range from minimal (awake and relaxed) to general anesthesia when you are completely unconscious. Most of the time it is only used for slightly painful or uncomfortable procedures, but if you are one of those people who hates the dentist, it can be used to help you relax.
7.”DENTIST OFFICE MUSIC IS BLAH.”
Unless you dentist is particularly daring, they probably just have a generic, easy listening station on in the background. Did you know Pandora has a specific channel called “Dentist Office Radio.” Why is that so funny?
8. “EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE HAS SUCH WHITE TEETH!”
It’s because they do whitening treatments. You should probably ask about that while you are already at the office.
9. “GLAD I CAN CHECK THIS OFF THE LIST.”
You know that nagging feeling when you really need to get into the office for a cleaning, but you just keep putting it off. Most Americans are well acquainted with this thought! In fact, a 2014 Gallup poll revealed that one-third of American adults avoid their annual dentist visit. Interestingly, women are more likely to go to the dentist.
10. “I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY FREE SWAG!”
Most dentists give you a toothbrush and some floss, but some step it up and hand over t-shirts or treats (the treats seem a little counterintuitive, but oh well, we’re not complaining).
If you have dental questions or are in need of dental services, please contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment! 406-652-9204
