What happens when we’re too connected to our phones?
Going to the dentist can be expensive, and many people do have health insurance that covers oral health. However, sometimes we fail to check which treatments are actually covered and have an unpleasant surprise when it’s time to pay the bill.
This goes for any foods that can cause bad breath, but garlic in particular is a nasty one. So, avoid garlic breath. Your dentist will appreciate it!
It’s well known that smoking is not good for your oral health in general, leading to tooth staining, bad breath, gum inflammation, and even plaque and tartar buildup. Doing so before a dental appointment is also a no-no.
Consuming citrus fruits just before your appointment is also not a good idea. This is because this can temporarily weaken your tooth enamel.
It’s normal to feel a little bit nervous, but if you do experience a high level of anxiety, it's best to talk to your dentist beforehand. Dentists deal with these situations regularly, and will be able to advise you.
Sources: (Health Digest) (Verywell Health)
See also: Why we're all brushing our teeth wrong
"Smoking is something patients shouldn't do, period, but definitely not before the dentist," stresses Cooper.
This is especially true if you get a bit nervous about going to the dentist. Too much caffeine can worsen symptoms of anxiety.
Perhaps the thought of going to the dentist made you start flossing three times a day, but dental hygiene works in the long term. Stepping it up for a couple of weeks won’t really have any long-lasting positive effects.
Your gums might get slightly irritated or dried out if you suddenly start flossing more than usual or excessively using alcohol-based mouth rinses.
"This is what we do for a living so we understand there are some things that can't be avoided, bad breath being one of them. Sometimes it's best not to try to camouflage things going on in your mouth before visiting the dentist," explains dentist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association Ada Cooper.
It’s recommended that you not eat or drink anything other than water for a few hours prior to having your teeth cleaned.
“This will prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth, which can irritate you during a cleaning and give your dentist a little extra work to do," says doctor of dental surgery Gregory Skeens.
This is because it’s important not to mask your breath with toothpaste. Your dentist will want a full picture of what is going on in your mouth, and that includes your breath.
This is especially true if you have to undergo general anesthetic. This means your eyes will be shut for an extended period of time, which not only can cause discomfort when you have to remove the contacts, but also increases the risk of eye infection.
In addition, sometimes dentists need to know if, when, and where you feel pain. If you mask your pain with medication, you won’t be able to give your dentist the feedback he/she needs.
Taking pain medication beforehand may seem like a practical solution for what is usually a painful procedure. Except dentists use anesthesia and might prescribe you the correct meds to take afterwards, so you won’t really have to worry about that.
It’s safe to say we’re all guilty of this. It does make sense, right? Well, it depends. If you have eaten recently, then sure, by all means brush your teeth. If not, it's best to avoid it.
It’s important that you are open about your medical history with your dentist. If you suffer from any conditions or have had surgery, it’s important to tell your dentist in advance of any dental procedures.
Your dentist might have to take special precautions and even medicate you if required. "Pretreatment one hour before the appointment with an antibiotic is recommended for patients with certain health conditions," explains dentist Martin Hogan.
A meal high in protein and fat is a safer bet when it comes to sustaining your energy levels. "If your pre-dental meal doesn't sustain you throughout your appointment, this could leave you feeling restless, irritable, and even light-headed mid-appointment," explains doctor of dental surgery Brandon Cooley.
Bringing a picture of perfect teeth to a cosmetic dental appointment might sound like a good idea at first.
Ideally, you will want to eat foods that don’t cause a blood sugar crash, and allow you to have a steady supply of energy throughout the entire dental procedure.
But this is not how cosmetic dentistry works. You can’t really pick and choose and get a copy done.
Going to your dentist appointment with your face full of makeup is not a great idea. While a bit of blush and mascara is okay, avoid foundation and, especially, lipstick.
A trip to the dentist involves your mouth being open, the use of tools, and sometimes anesthetics, so your face can get a bit numb, and messy.
Doctor of dental surgery Jay Grossman compares the process to getting hair color done. “You can't just put the same highlights or lowlights in everybody's hair,” he says.
Some people just have a drink and don’t think much of it, while others do so because it helps with the nerves of sitting in a dentist’s chair. Either way, alcohol should be avoided because it can interact with dental medication.
"Of course, you could drink wine before going to the dentist, but it will affect [your] treatment. There will be some contraindications between the wine and some dental medication," explains dentist David Potts.
It's safe to say that most of us don't jump for joy before going to the dentist. Still, taking care of our oral health is of utmost importance, so we do our best to make the trip worthwhile. There are, however, do's and don'ts we should be aware of when it comes to paying the dentist a visit.
In this gallery, we go through some of the most common things many of us are guilty of doing before going to the dentist. Click through to learn all about them.
Avoid these things before going to the dentist
Did you know that you shouldn't brush your teeth?
HEALTH Dental care
It's safe to say that most of us don't jump for joy before going to the dentist. Still, taking care of our oral health is of utmost importance, so we do our best to make the trip worthwhile. There are, however, do's and don'ts we should be aware of when it comes to paying the dentist a visit.
In this gallery, we go through some of the most common things many of us are guilty of doing before going to the dentist. Click through to learn all about them.