Keeping your mouth healthy when you CAN'T see a dentist

Keeping your mouth healthy when you can’t see your dentist or hygienist

Right now we are in a unique situation. Following advice from the government and the Chief Dental officer dental practices have been forced to close their doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

We love being there to support our patients, so here are some top tips on keeping your mouth healthy so here are some top tips to keep your mouth in shape until we see you in person.

1) Don’t stop brushing! I know it sounds simple but when things are disrupted and people are out of their normal routine its easy to forget you 2 minutes twice a day. If you are working from home you may have time to do more……..

2) Learn to use those little brushes or floss . If you have more time on your hands this might be your chance to get to grips with cleaning the 40% of tooth surfaces your brush doesn’t reach. If you need any more motivation, it’s the bacteria IN BETWEEN your teeth that cause most of the gum inflammation.

3) Don’t skimp on the toothpaste. If you find yourself snacking more than usual then make sure you are using plenty of fluoride toothpaste. It’s the fluoride that helps strengthen enamel against attack from sugar acids.

4) Watch out for the sweet snacks! I will admit that I have a sweet tooth! And during the last few weeks I have been eating much more of the sugary stuff than I normally do. I am not going to beat myself up about it. But I am trying to keep it to mealtimes and not nibble throughout the day.

5) Remember to smile! Life is really tough at the moment. Its so hard to get away from the negativity and doom. Remember to allow yourself some lighter moments, and laughter. We will get through this.

Stay inside and safe everyone. Karen x

#coronavirus post. I am struggling, are you? Its OK to NOT be OK.

We are living in very challenging times.

I can’t remember a single time when the whole of life as we know it has been as significantly and swiftly changed out of all recognition.

I am left feeling anxious

Bewildered

Panicked

Terrified

To use a modern word I am most definitely ‘triggered’

This Coronavirus is hitting me hard emotionally.

I am struggling with several things:

Uncertainty

Health fears

Financial worries

These things are all extremely painful for me to unravel.

I had a tough early childhood.

I lost 3 close members of my family before the age of 9, including a sibling and a parent.

Unsuprisingly I have ‘issues’ around illness.

Especially as it applies to those I love.

I have asked myself if I chose to work in healthcare because of my past.

So the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak is pushing all my buttons right now.

And pushing them hard.

I grew up in a single parent household on benefits.

We didn’t have much.

As an adult I have set up a fantastic business and struggled month after month to pay my staff. I have battled for several years to try and pay back the debt associated with this time.

I still have a lot of debt which I have been very gradually whittling away.

In one week this has slipped out of my grasp.

The financial uncertainty of months with little or no income is also pushing my buttons

All that I have worked for is gone.

Hence I am struggling.

And I am sure you are too.

We are all completely blindsided by this.

And I have had to give myself permission to be OK with that.

It’s OK to be triggered

It’s Ok to be frightened.

It’s ok to be struggling

We are all in this together.

Stay strong everyone.

Let’s save as many people as we can by #doingtherightthing

I will see you all on the other side.

#nofearhere

Quick Breathing Exercises to help you relax at the dentist

It’s quite common to feel like you can’t breathe propely when you are anxious about things. This can lead your chest to feel tight and this only increases the feeling of panic!

There are a few breathing exercises you can practice that will help you relax for your dental visit. You can practice them any time, personally I find them helpful while in a long queue at the Post Office or for the ladies loo!

1. Breathe to a count. Its a way of getting you to breathe slower and more calmly. Breathe in for the count of 4, then out for the count of 6. (Hint: keep the count lengths the same, don’t rush the second one) then again: In for 4, and Out for 6. And again. When you have got that down to a fine art slow down your counting. See how much calmer you feel.

2. Breathe a rectangle. This is my personal favourite because I learn things ‘visually’. Its the same as the 4:6 method above but instead of counting a visualise drawing a rectangle, and breathe in on the short side of the rectangle, and out along the long side of the shape. I make sure I picture my drawing pencil really clearly as this helps me focus on drawing the rectangle with my breath. As I calm I make the rectangle bigger and bigger to slow my breathing down.

3. Square Breathing. This method involves breathing in for 4, then holding for 4, and breathing out for 4, and holding for 4. In 4, hold 4, out 4, hold 4, etc. And on you go. This takes focus, especially the holding parts, which is very good for calming you down.

Doing these kind of exercises while waiting for your dental appointment, while in the dental chair having a filling, or even before you phone for an appointment will really help you manage your fear.

Why are people scared of the dentist?

I have been a dentist for 26 years now. For most of that time I have looked after people who would describe themselves as ‘dental phobics’. I seem to have ‘a way’ of helping them or more accurately, helping them to help themselves.

Why are people scared of the dentist?

There are as many answers to this question as there are people who are scared!

I always ask people about their experiences as the dentist and why they feel like they do. Peoples answers usually revolve around their own dental history. A difficult dental extraction, feeling pain during their treatment, or feeling like they were being ‘told off’ for the state of their mouth. Quite often childhood experiences and the ‘school dentist’ feature heavily.

Sometimes a relative had a tough time at the dentist and the fear has been passed on.

Some fears are more general such as not being in control, loud noises or fear of water. These can manifest as dental fears and grow to become an issue at the dentist when its not really the dental treatment that is the cause.

Its helpful to try and understand your fear, where it comes from, particular triggers for you. That way you can share this information with your dentist and learn to manage it skilfully.

Some people I treat want to know every little thing I am doing, in as great a detail as I can provide it. For them, this knowledge makes them feel safe. Other people really dislike knowing what I am doing and prefer it if I keep a running commentary about what my kids are doing after school, or what’s going on with my boiler at home; anything apart from what I am doing in their mouths. You can see how important it is that we both know about their particular preferences.

By knowing what you find hard we can work together to make your experience the best it can be.

We can only do this if you understand your fear, and tell me as much as you can about it.