🦷 Mondays with Mark: On Dental Trauma and Anxiety

Mental health reminds me a lot of oral health. It’s one of those things that’s foundational to the health of everything else in the body. No matter your diet or fitness routine, if your mental health is off, everything else falters. The same goes for oral health. Mental health, just like oral health, is one of the critical cornerstones of good health—without it, your efforts elsewhere won’t yield results.

Many of you have shared your struggles with trusting dentists, finding “one of the good ones,” or simply managing the anxiety of sitting in that darn chair.

It makes me happy to know that the Ask the Dentist YouTube channel, website, Instagram, podcast, and Functional Dentist Directory  have all helped you when seeing a dentist has felt out of reach.

But the DIY approach can only take us so far. At some point, the dental work must be done.

I see this vicious cycle happen—people can’t find a great dentist, or they’re afraid of the dentist for good reason—they’ve been burned in the past, or they have dental trauma, so naturally, they avoid the dentist. But the longer people stay away, the more complex the situation gets, and the more dental work needs to be done.

Dental issues never stay the same; they only get worse. And science shows that mouth bacteria contribute to things like anxiety and depression, and many more severe metal health issues. Again, a vicious cycle.

This isn’t about shaming anyone for their mental health struggles—far from it. The less that we talk about mental health in the realm of the dental profession, the more our patients suffer. Just as I want to see cardiologists talking about the importance of flossing and ditching mouthwash for heart health, I want to see us—dentists and hygienists—speaking out about the importance of mental health. Otherwise, we’re letting our patients down. It’s that important of a connection.

The study “No Mental Health Without Oral Health” is a good starting point if you’re new to this topic. So is my blog post about what to do for dental anxiety.

So, what to do about it? These are my top tips if you’re someone who’s ever felt anxiety about seeing the dentist.

These are my top tips if you’ve ever felt anxiety about seeing the dentist:

1. Nasal Breathing: If you have a cold and can’t breathe through your nose, reschedule. Breathing through your mouth while they’re working can trigger anxiety. Get any nasal breathing issues fixed to make dental visits easier.

2. Start Slow: Build rapport with a hygienist before seeing a dentist. Find someone you trust and stick with them to reduce anxiety.

3. Empower Yourself: Set up a signal, like raising your hand, to pause treatment instantly. This gives you control and eases anxiety. In my practice, I always tell my patients to raise their hand if they need to stop, no questions asked. A blocked airway with water pooling in the back of your mouth triggers your body’s natural reaction to suffocation.

4. Elevated Position: Being slightly elevated rather than lying flat can help. Find a dentist willing to work on you in short stints in a slightly elevated position.

5. Mild Sedation: It may cost more, but it’s a great option to reduce worry. This could be your first step towards weaning off sedation.

6. Choose Family-Owned and Functionally-Minded Practices: Your phobias are more likely to be triggered at private equity or HMO-owned dental firms. They are in a hurry, and the outcomes are not as good. Family-owned practices take the extra time with you and provide better care. Check out my Functional Dentist Directory—a network of dentists who subscribe to functional dentistry principles and are a part of the movement we’re starting here at Ask the Dentist.

7. Seek Professional Help for Anxiety: If you have dental phobia from bad experiences, talk to someone about it. Therapy is not a sign of weakness—it’s actually a sign of bravery, and a key cornerstone of overall health. BetterHelp is a great resource that I highly recommend.

If you’ve overcome dental anxiety, and you’re willing to share your story, please get in touch by hitting reply to this email—I would love to hear from you. I’m interested in compiling a list of dental anxiety success stories and publishing on askthedentist.com, to inspire others.

P.S. I like and recommend BetterHelp because it removes the biggest barrier—getting started. Fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist within 48 hours, without leaving your house. Use this link to get 20% off your first month of therapy.

At Ask the Dentist, transparency, and integrity are at the core of everything I do. My recommendation of BetterHelp comes from a genuine belief in the value of their services, based on my careful assessment of the product and the company. I only endorse products and services that I trust and believe will benefit you. If you have any questions about my affiliate relationships, please don’t hesitate to reach out.