"Maybe it's just me, but having control over the remote doesn't really ease my nerves—friendly conversation or reassurance from the dentist usually works better."
Do you think it's more about the type of distraction rather than distraction itself? Some people find that visual distractions like TV don't help much because the anxiety is triggered by sounds or sensations. Have you ever tried noise-cancelling headphones or listening to your own music or podcasts during the procedure? Sometimes having familiar audio can drown out the drill noises and make the whole experience a bit more manageable...
"friendly conversation or reassurance from the dentist usually works better."
Yeah, same here. TV never really helped me either—it's like my brain just tunes it out completely. I tried podcasts once, and that actually made a difference. Maybe because it's more personal and conversational? Curious if anyone else finds certain types of audio more calming than others...
Podcasts worked well for my daughter too, especially storytelling ones. She used to get pretty anxious at the dentist, but something about following a story seemed to distract her better than music or TV ever did. Maybe it's because stories engage the imagination more? I'm wondering if anyone's kids have specific podcasts or audiobooks they prefer during appointments...
My son gets pretty anxious too, and we've tried music but it hasn't helped much... maybe podcasts would be better. Do you think certain types of stories work better than others—like funny or adventurous ones? Or is it more about having a familiar voice or character? I'm a bit hesitant to introduce something new right before an appointment, so any insight would be appreciated.
My daughter used to get really nervous about dental visits too, and honestly, podcasts made a surprising difference for us. I found that funny or lighthearted stories worked better than adventurous or intense ones—those sometimes got her imagination running wild, which wasn't exactly helpful right before an appointment. Also, familiarity definitely helps. She latched onto a podcast series with recurring characters, and hearing those familiar voices seemed to calm her down more effectively than random episodes from different shows.
I totally get your hesitation about introducing something new right before an appointment though... maybe try it out casually at home first? That's what we did—just played episodes in the background during quieter moments so she got used to the voices and style. By the time we tried it on the way to the dentist, it felt comforting rather than unfamiliar. Hope that helps a bit!
