Counting ceiling tiles is classic—I do the same thing with those weird abstract paintings in waiting rooms. Meditation apps never really did it for me either. I get too distracted by my own thoughts (and the sound of that ancient fish tank bubbling away in the corner).
The money side is rough, no doubt. Dental bills always seem to hit when you’re least prepared. I once had to get a filling redone and spent the whole time mentally calculating how many lunches I’d have to skip. At least you’ve got ramen as a backup plan... I lived off peanut butter sandwiches for a week.
Podcasts are genius, though. True crime makes the dentist’s drill seem like background noise. If you ever find a “nap through dental work” button, let me know. Until then, distraction and a little humor seem to help more than any breathing app ever could.
I get the whole distraction thing—podcasts are solid, and I've definitely zoned out to a few episodes of random stuff while in the chair. But, honestly, I always found trying to distract myself ended up making me more aware of what was happening. Like, I'd be listening to a story about some 90s heist, but then the drill would whine and suddenly I'm back to thinking, "Oh god, what if this hurts?" or "How much is this gonna cost me?"
What actually helped me (and this is coming from someone who’s been through multiple extractions and braces twice) was leaning into the process instead of fighting it. Not in a zen way—meditation apps bug me too—but just kind of letting myself pay attention to what's going on, step by step. I’d remind myself, okay, now they’re numbing me, that’s usually the worst part, but it stings for maybe 10 seconds... then it’s over. Then just noticing what parts feel weird but not painful. Breaking it down like that made it all feel less overwhelming than trying to run away from it in my head.
Money-wise, yeah, dental stuff always feels like a punch in the gut. I’ve had months where I was living on instant noodles and whatever snacks were left at work because of surprise bills. The only upside is that after a big extraction, you can’t really eat much anyway—so your grocery bill drops for a bit (silver lining?).
Anyway, not saying distraction doesn’t work for some people, but if you’re like me and find your brain keeps circling back no matter how many podcasts or songs you throw at it, sometimes just acknowledging what’s happening—step by step—makes it all a little less terrifying. And if you find a nap-through-dental-work button before I do, seriously... patent it.
I totally get what you mean about distraction sometimes making the anxiety worse. My kid had to get a tooth pulled last year, and I tried all the usual tricks—music, funny videos, even letting him play games on my phone—but he just got more tense every time the dentist did something new. What helped him (and me, honestly) was when the dentist explained exactly what was happening, step by step, kind of like you described. It made it less mysterious and scary.
Money-wise, don’t even get me started. We had to shuffle some bills around and cut back for a while. The only tiny bright side was that he could only eat soup and mashed potatoes for a week, so our grocery bill dipped a bit too.
Curious if anyone’s tried bringing something comforting from home for their kid (or themselves)? Like a favorite hoodie or stuffed animal? Did it actually help with nerves, or just get in the way?
Curious if anyone’s tried bringing something comforting from home for their kid (or themselves)? Like a favorite hoodie or stuffed animal? Did it actually help with nerves, or just get in the way?
We actually did the comfort item thing when my youngest had his wisdom teeth out. He insisted on wearing this ratty old soccer jersey (seriously, it’s barely holding together at this point), and he brought his favorite squishy stress ball. I was skeptical, but honestly, it seemed to ground him. The dentist didn’t mind, as long as it didn’t interfere with the procedure.
I do think there’s something about familiar textures or smells—like that well-loved hoodie—that just makes the whole experience feel less alien. Distraction didn’t work for us either, but having something “from home” gave him a little sense of control. I’d say it’s worth a try, especially if your kid is really attached to a particular thing.
Money stress is real, too. Dental stuff always hits harder than you expect. At least mashed potatoes are cheap, right?
I get the comfort item thing, but honestly, I’m not sure it would’ve helped me. When I had my extraction, I brought a hoodie and ended up just getting annoyed with it—felt too hot and in the way. I was so anxious that nothing “familiar” really cut through it. What actually distracted me a bit was listening to music with one earbud (they let me). Maybe it’s just different for everyone? I wish I could find something that actually calms me down in those situations...
