{"id":111,"date":"2025-03-13T14:02:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T14:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2025-04-22T14:07:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T14:07:04","slug":"how-to-make-your-next-dental-checkup-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/13\/how-to-make-your-next-dental-checkup-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Your Next Dental Checkup Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_622347000-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A woman at her dentist\u2019s office\" class=\"wp-image-112\" style=\"width:305px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_622347000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_622347000-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_622347000-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_622347000.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s almost time for your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">biannual dental cleaning and exam<\/a>, you may be wondering how you can make it as fast and efficient as possible. The good news is that it\u2019s not entirely beyond your control. In fact, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your next dental appointment goes as smoothly as it can. Here\u2019s how to make your next visit the best it can be, so you can get back to daily life and show off that freshly cleaned smile as soon as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though dental exam and cleaning appointments should never be painful, if it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve flossed or had a professional cleaning, you could experience some tooth and gum sensitivity. If you\u2019re worried about pain, take an OTC pain reliever about 30 minutes prior to your appointment. You can also start using a sensitive toothpaste about a week or two before your appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep it Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to care for your smile on your own when you\u2019re at home. Be sure to brush your teeth twice daily, and floss at least once daily. This will not only make your cleaning easier for your hygienist, but it will also help reduce discomfort for you, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Put the Brakes on Whitening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may think you\u2019ll impress your dentist by getting your teeth as white as you can with whitening toothpaste or white strips prior to your cleaning appointment, this is not recommended. For starters, your dentist\u2019s office is a judgement-free zone, so there\u2019s no need to impress them with your teeth. Furthermore, it\u2019s easier for your hygienist to clean your teeth if he or she can see the plaque, and finally, if you have any undiagnosed issues with your teeth, whitening them can make things like cavities worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, save your money <em>and<\/em> your time and hold off on whitening until after your cleaning and exam. Then, if you\u2019re still not satisfied with the shade of your teeth, you can talk to your dentist about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/teeth-whitening.html\">professional whitening<\/a> that\u2019s both safer, faster, and more effective than OTC whitening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Calm and Carry On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re one of the 36 percent of American adults who suffer from some degree of dental anxiety, your dentist has options to make your appointment much more comfortable. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/sedation-dentistry.html\">Sedation dentistry<\/a> can help keep you calm and relaxed during any appointment, even a routine exam and cleaning. If you are anxious or fearful about seeing the dentist, speak to your dental team prior to your appointment and see if you\u2019re a good candidate for this life-changing treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, while it\u2019s normal to be nervous or anxious about your upcoming dental appointment, the good news is that with a little advanced planning, you can ensure that your next visit will be as efficient and comfortable as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Our Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/meet-the-dentists.html\">Holt Family Dentistry<\/a>, our skilled duo of dentists has over two decades of experience making smiles healthier. Whether you need an exam and cleaning, professional whitening, or you\u2019d like to restore missing teeth with the help of dental implants,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dr. Gordon-Holt and Dr. Shah are ready to help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To schedule your cleaning and exam, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.holtfamilydentistry.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">visit our website<\/a> or call us today at 704-542-2325.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If it\u2019s almost time for your biannual dental cleaning and exam, you may be wondering how you can make it as fast and efficient as possible. The good news is that it\u2019s not entirely beyond your control. In fact, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your next dental appointment goes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Make Your Next Dental Checkup Easier | Dr. Sheila Gordon-Holt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering how you can make your next dental checkup easier for yourself and your dentist? 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