We Need To Talk About Going To The Dentist
It’s being reported that a majority of people brush their teeth once or less per day, and general fear of the dentist is getting worse.
By nowproducerdave on February 27, 2018
Dental care is important. You need your teeth so you can eat. Getting fake teeth is expensive and a hassle, and can be more expensive than just receiving regular dental care. But still, a majority of the US population (primarily millennials though everyone applies) avoids the dentist like the plague. They would rather go without sex for a month than visit the dentist just once. Seriously.
Out of 2,000 people who were asked, 30% of them say that they brush once per day. The average person says they have gone 2 days or more without brushing their teeth at least once per day. That’s one-third of people who brush their teeth once per day or less. That’s just the at-home part of things.
When was the last time you were at the dentist? Last month? Last year? 2015? 62% of those 2,000 people in the group say that they are afraid to visit the dentist. Most of them said that they would rather “face their fears” and talk in front of people instead of going to the dentist, and we’ve all seen people who are absolutely terrified of public speaking. Another 33% say they would rather give up sex for a month or more to avoid going to the dentist.
Among the fears about going to the dentist, some say that the fear of pain during or after treatment keeps them away, the noise of the drill, maybe they had a negative experience once before, and some added that they’re embarrassed to go to the dentist because of their lack of dental hygiene. Check here for some more things people are saying they fear about the dentist. And remember, just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. When it hurts, it’s already too late.
We get it, any sort of medical care can be scary, and we’re not shaming. If you’re nervous about dental care, you can just talk to your dentist about it. They’ll be more than happy to talk you through what they’re doing, they see people all day every day with varying levels of dental anxiety and understand how to help. Dentists aren’t monsters who love putting people in pain, they can help you get through your anxiety. Regular dental care is important to your overall health, and will help you to avoid much more pain later. See some more about dental anxiety here.
