Studies show that dental phobia, also referred to as dentophobia or odontophobia, is a common issue seen in 30 – 80% of the population.
People with dental phobia experience a severe irrational fear of dental situations, leading to complete avoidance of dental care. Nearly 36% of people experience a fear of undergoing dental treatment.
Whereas a significant number of people, nearly 12% of the population, experience extreme fear and anxiety that can result in worsening oral conditions.
CBT is the most effective psychological therapy that helps individuals with guided imagery and relaxation techniques to help them overcome their fears.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a goal-oriented psychotherapy designed to help individuals with mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, eating disorders (BED), severe mental illness, and marital problems.
It has been considered more effective than any other behavioral therapy or psychiatric medication to improve functioning and quality of life. CBT helps you to be aware of the thinking patterns that are creating issues in your daily life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is problem-oriented, concentrating on addressing specific issues in the present rather than exploring them. You work with a psychologist to set goals and practice new skills by attending a limited number of sessions.
A therapist begins by discussing your current and past emotional and physical health to gain a comprehensive understanding of your situation. The relationship between your thoughts and feelings helps you view your situations more clearly and respond to them more positively. CBT is also used in conjunction with other therapies, treatments, or medications.
CBT has been shown to be effective in treating a number of mental health conditions, such as –
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Phobias
- Schizophrenia
- Psychosis
- Insomnia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Alcohol or drug addiction
- Binge eating disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
How CBT Helps With Emotional Challenges
It helps individuals deal with emotional challenges by teaching practical skills to identify, challenge, and change negative thought patterns and behavior associated with emotional distress.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you manage overwhelming feelings or problems more positively by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts. Unlike other treatments, CBT helps patients deal with their current problems rather than focusing on issues from the past.
CBT helps to deal with negative thoughts and feelings by:
- Identifying and challenging negative thought patterns
- Reducing symptoms of mental disorders
- Learning techniques to cope with stressful situations
- Ways to manage emotions
- Regulating emotional response
- Developing healthier behaviors
- Building coping skills
- Overcome any emotional trauma (abuse or violence)
- Deal with conflicts and improve communication skills
- Cope with loss or grief
- Managing mental disorders when medicines are not recommended
Can CBT Benefit Individuals With Dental Phobia
Negative experiences from the past and family history can lead to dental phobia. Significantly, most individuals with dental phobias benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. Research shows that CBT is highly effective in reducing dental anxiety and improving the ability to undergo dental procedures.
CBT is recommended as the first-line, evidence-based treatment for dental phobias and can be adopted in both adults and children. In a randomized controlled trial, 73% of children who received CBT successfully managed all stages of dental procedures, compared to 13% in the control group.
In a study, it was seen that 77% of patients who received CBT became regular dental attendees for years after the treatment. CBT enables most individuals to receive dental treatment without the need for sedation.
How CBT Helps People Overcome Dental Phobia
A therapist helps the patients identify and challenge negative, irrational beliefs. He will discuss your inner feelings and thoughts with you, trying to understand the causes of your fear and nervousness.
They may also work with you to identify what triggers your thoughts and how they can help redirect them as soon as they occur.
Other Ways To Manage Dental Phobia
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Relative Analgesia
Also commonly known as happy gas or ‘laughing gas,’ it is primarily used to promote relaxation in patients. A mask is fitted on their face, allowing them to breathe nitrous oxide to reduce fear.
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Anxiety Relieving Medications
Anxiety-relieving medications (anxiolytics) or benzodiazepines are commonly used for dental phobia. These medications help a person feel calm and relaxed before and during the procedure.
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
- Temazepam
- Diazepam
A single dose is ingested approximately one hour before the start of the dental procedure.
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General Anesthesia
A dentist or an anesthesiologist typically administers local anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, a patient is fully asleep.
You may need to visit the dentist’s office before the treatment, and you may also need a post-operative visit. Some common side effects include nausea and a longer recovery time with sedation.
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Conscious Sedation
It involves administering medication through intravenous drips in the arms or hands. A dental sedationist or an anesthetist provides intravenous sedation.
This twilight sedation helps you feel relaxed and may even cause you to fall into a light sleep, but you will still be able to respond to questions. Possible side effects of sedation include drowsiness and nausea after the procedure.
Tips To Ease Dental Phobia
Here are certain tips on how to ease your dental phobia:
- Ask a friend or a family member about their experience, and make an appointment with a verified dental professional.
- Learn about their practices and be fully aware of the treatment procedure.
- Be sure to communicate with the dentist, as you are not the first patient to experience dental phobia.
- Ask your dentist to explain the treatment procedure in detail.
- If you feel nervous before visiting the dentist, please let them know so they can make your experience more comfortable.
Key Takeaways
Visiting a dentist can be a daunting task if you have a dental phobia, and scheduling an appointment can be equally nerve-wracking and intimidating.
Here at Dacula Dental, we offer sedation dental treatment options to help you have a more comfortable and positive experience. Visiting a dentist is essential, even for those who have dental phobias.
Here at Dacula Dental, we offer a range of solutions, including sedation dentistry, to help you feel more comfortable during your dental procedures. For further information, don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team.
“Conquer Your Fear, And Smile with Confidence”
FAQ’s
How common is dental phobia?
Very common. Studies show that up to 36% of people experience dental anxiety, and about 12% have an actual dental phobia. It affects people of all ages and often leads to skipped appointments, worsening oral health over time.
What are the symptoms of dental phobia?
People with dental phobia may experience:
Panic or crying before appointments
Sweating, rapid heartbeat, or nausea
Insomnia the night before a dental visit
Avoiding dentists for years
What is sedation dentistry, and is it safe?
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It ranges from mild (like nitrous oxide) to deep sedation (IV or oral sedatives). It’s widely used for phobic patients and is considered safe when administered by trained professionals.
According to a study, around two-thirds of the participants, in a majority of 80% of male athletes, have been reported to consume sports and energy drinks, gels, or bars at least once a week, the commonest being Sting.
Despite having good oral hygiene, athletes generally have poor oral health and higher risk of dental problems that cause gingivitis, irreversible periodontitis, and tooth erosion.
About 80% of athletes experience at least one oral problem that has a negative impact on their daily activities.
Impact Of Sports Drinks On Your Teeth
Athletes are generally at higher risk of oral health problems for several reasons. For peak performance, athletes in competitive sports frequently consume foods, beverages, and sports drinks that are rich in carbohydrates and energy.
The main dangers of sports and energy drinks come from higher levels of sugar content and acids. These drinks contain enough acid to damage your teeth just within five days of regular consumption.
Some energy drinks contain 50 – 60 grams of sugar, which is a total of 14 teaspoons of sugar, and the combination of sugar and acid present in sports drinks can damage your enamel, which leads to the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
It has been found that acid in energy drinks can gradually destroy your tooth enamel. When your teeth enamel is damaged, it makes your mouth prone to bacteria due to lack of protection from enamel.
Negative Effects Of Energy Drinks On Dental Health
Energy drinks are packed with unhealthy ingredients like herbal stimulants, preservatives, high caffeine levels, carbohydrates, calories, and extremely high levels of sugar.
The excessive sugar in energy drinks can make your teeth susceptible to cavities that can harm your tooth enamel and put your teeth at a higher risk of decay.
Tooth Decay And Cavities
Certain ingredients and high sugar levels in drinks can promote cavities and tooth decay, such as –
- Preservatives
- Artificial Colours
- Extreme levels of caffeine
- Empty calories
- Additives
- Single carbohydrates
Some brands contain over 50 – 60 grams of sugar in a single can. This amount of sugar can cause serious damage to your overall oral health and physical health.
High sugar consumption feeds bad bacteria in the mouth that produce plaque and tartar and acids that destroy enamel and lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Permanent Enamel Damage
The high acidity of sports or energy drinks can lower the PH level of saliva, which reduces its protective properties and exposes teeth to acid damage.
Tooth enamel damaged by acidic sports drinks will not regrow and are susceptible to serious oral health issues.
Possible side effects of damaging tooth enamel are –
- Sensitivity to hot and cold beverages
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
- Pain and discomfort
- Plaque build-up
- Cavities
- Tooth decay
Teeth Sensitivity
Enamel is a protective covering of the delicate, sensitive inner layers of the tooth. When tooth enamel is damaged, the inner layers of teeth are exposed to foods, air, and drinks. This exposure can cause sensitivity and discomfort, especially when consuming hot or cold beverages.
Gum Disease
Damaged enamel also leaves teeth susceptible to gum recession. When the gums recede, the tooth roots can be exposed and cause additional sensitivity. It may also lead to painful, inflamed, or bleeding gums.
Once the gum line recedes, it can create pockets where bacteria can easily build up below the gum line. This can lead to severe gum disease, decay, and even tooth loss if left untreated.
Tips To Minimize Damage To Your Teeth
There are several ways and safety measures that can be taken to prevent the damage that can be caused due to drinking sports drinks.
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Take Good Care Of Your Teeth And Gums
You should effectively clean your teeth and gums by washing away the acid and sugar by brushing and flossing after having an energy drink.
Taking good care and maintaining optimal oral health helps to eliminate the disease-causing bacteria from your mouth that damage your enamel, leading to tooth decay.
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Avoid Sipping Energy Drinks For Too Long
You can’t clean your mouth while already drinking energy drinks, so avoid sipping your energy drinks for too long. Try to drink your energy drinks relatively quickly to prevent acid damage or break down your tooth enamel.
Sipping on energy drinks for a longer period of time can increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
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Have Energy Drinks In Moderation
Everything is great when taken in moderation, and you should not drink energy drinks regularly. But, if you are a diehard fan or need to drink energy or sports drinks every day, you must take precautions to prevent your favorite beverages from damaging your teeth and gums.
Need Help To Maintain Your Oral Health? Our Caring Team Is Here to Help
With excessive sugar, high caffeine, and acids, energy drinks affect your teeth in various negative ways. We recommend avoiding sports and energy drinks, but we also understand you may still want to enjoy one now and then.
By rinsing your mouth with water after consuming energy drinks, waiting to brush your teeth, plan a dental health check up every 6 months, and using a straw, you can minimize tooth decay from energy drinks.
At Dacula Dental, We are always available to help maintain your and your family’s dental health, and we constantly inform you about the best foods and drinks that you can have to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
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Final Thoughts
Energy drinks are seriously bad for your and your family’s dental health, as they contain high sugar and acid. You are recommended to drink plenty of water to wash away the sugar and acid from your mouth and do not brush your teeth straight after drinking it.
If you do drink energy drinks, you are advised to rinse your mouth with water to prevent acid from spreading on the tooth surface, which can cause erosion or tooth decay.
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A low-carb diet can significantly reduce periodontal inflammation as limiting refined carbohydrates reduces the fuel source of bacteria that contributes to plaque formation, leading to gum disease.
Studies have revealed that a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet produces worse outcomes in terms of conditions like periodontitis and gum disease.
We are opting for a healthy lifestyle and eating less pasta, bread, and processed food that is filled with carbs to maintain fitness and get a better figure.
Most of us have been eating high-fat foods like avocado, eggs, seeds, fish, coconut, yogurt, dark chocolate, cheese, tofu, and nuts. These are among the most fulfilling meals and make us less inclined to snack outside of meal times.
A keto diet is a popular diet plan that is low in carbohydrates and high in fat. It is commonly used for weight loss. Many of us have turned to low-carb diets to uplift our lifestyle, where carbohydrate consumption is a calorie overkill.
Impact Of Low-Carb Diet On Oral Health
When you start a low-carb diet, it’s not just only about losing weight or feeling more energetic. It’s also a chance to improve your oral and dental health.
That is to say, by eating fewer carbs, you might be reducing your sugar intake, reducing bacteria formation, and preventing cavities.
This is good news for your teeth because sugar can lead to cavities. But it’s not as simple as “less sugar, fewer problems.”
Reduces The Risk Of Cavities
Reducing or limiting carbohydrate intake, especially sugar, reduces the fuel source for bacteria to multiply in the mouth and produce acid, which can erode tooth enamel, leading to cavities.
Lowers plaque and tartar formation
Reduction in sugar or carbohydrate consumption also leads to plaque and tartar buildup, as these substances are a byproduct of the bacterial metabolism of sugars.
Improves Saliva Production
Having a low carbohydrate diet such as ketogenesis helps increase saliva production, which helps to wash away food deposits and bacteria and contributes to good oral hygiene, leading to healthy teeth and gums.
Effects Of Keto Diet On Your Overall Health
A keto diet is one of the latest trends that is taking the health and wellness trends by storm, and everyone you see is on a keto diet nowadays.
The principles for following a keto diet are to restrict the intake of carbohydrates and have low-carb and a high-fat meal. It will put your body into a state of ketosis.
Ketosis is a metallic state where fat fuels the body, which only happens when your body is glucose-deprived and has limited access to glucose.
Negative Effects Of A Keto-Diet
The main side effects or negative effects of a keto diet are mouth odor or bad breath. Being on a keto diet creates chemicals when it is in a state of ketosis, and it releases chemicals when you exhale.
As your body adjusts to high-fat and a low-carb meal, your breath should eventually return to normal.
Here are some of the things that you can do to help combat bad breath –
- Drink enough water than usual
- Floss at least once a day
- Brush your teeth three times a day
- Use mouthwash when you need to freshen up
- Schedule regular cleanings at your dental office
Positive Impacts Of Following A Keto-Diet
If you are ready to combat mouth odor or bad breath, then there are multiple health benefits that come with maintaining a keto diet. Ketogenic diets can eventually have benefits that can help you to improve your oral health.
Cutting carbs out of your diet entirely can be a good decision for the long-term health of your teeth and your body. Carbohydrates contain bacteria that produce acid and initiate plaque formation in the mouth, which is harmful to your teeth.
Effects Of Consuming Carbs
Here are some of the most common and severe effects of consuming carbs on oral health.
Carbohydrates give these bacteria the energy they need to flourish and encourage the production of dangerous acids that eat away at your teeth’s enamel.
A Low-carb diet is healthy as it restricts carbohydrate consumption to around 50 to 150 grams per day, which is lower than the average person’s diet.
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Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs for various reasons, but regularly consuming a high amount of carbohydrates and sugary foods elevates your risk. Every person has some level of plaque on their teeth, and that plaque contains disease-promoting bacteria.
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Plaque Formation
The acids and remaining carbohydrates from food and drinks can form a sticky, colorless film on your teeth called plaque.
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Gum Disease
Bacteria that cause plaque tartar buildup also cause gum inflammation, leading to gingivitis and potentially more severe gum disease.
When you reduce your consumption of bread, cookies, pasta, sugar, and other high-carb food, you automatically cut out fuel resources for the bacteria in your mouth. As a result, it lowers your risk for tooth decay.
Key Takeaways
Taking a low-carb diet is healthy and not only improves your physical health but also prevents oral issues and aids in your overall oral health. If you are thinking of opting for a low-carb diet, you must include this healthy habit in your daily routine.
Having a balanced carbohydrate diet is important in maintaining your oral health. Reducing carbs can lead to bad breath or an oral odor caused by ketones. It is more annoying and embarrassing than being harmful to your oral health.
To combat bad breath, drink enough water to stay hydrated, and chewing sugar-free gum after the meal can also help. Don’t forget to brush two times a day and to floss regularly to keep your teeth clean and gums happy.
At ‘Dacula Dental’, we are always informed about what diet practices are trending, because what you eat carbs directly affects your teeth and overall your health! We are always available to answer any queries, and we constantly inform you about the best foods and drinks that you can have to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
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Keto Diet on Your Oral Health Advance Dental Art September 29th, 2020