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7 stereotypes M’sian dentists are fed up with

7 stereotypes M’sian dentists are fed up with

For some reason, dentists make everyone uncomfortable. Yet, they only serve to keep our teeth healthy and sparkling clean.

Despite all the undeserving hate towards them, here are the things they want you to know:

1. They’re not trying to hurt you

Getting your teeth looked at shouldn’t hurt. If it does, it usually means that your teeth are in way worse shape than you thought.

If that’s the case, you really need to listen to your dentist and take better care of your teeth.

2. The longer you wait, the more it will hurt

Many people try to take painkillers and ignore teeth and gum pain, but that only gives the problem time to grow and get worse. And if getting a bad problem checked hurts, it’s not the dentist’s fault.

Even extraction of teeth under anaesthesia will not be painful unless your tooth is infected and filled with pus!

3. Don’t scare your kids with dentists

Kids are highly impressionable, and telling them things like “If you’re naughty the dentist will pull all your teeth out!” is ingraining unfounded fears in the child.

As a result, they will be more likely to act out in the dentists’ chair and make things difficult for everyone involved (yes, even you).

4. They can’t stop time

You’d be mad at your boss if they dropped a giant project that would take hours and expected you to finish it over lunch break, wouldn’t you?

Well, that’s what you’re doing to your dentist when you show up with 5 cavities and a bunch of other problems with your teeth during a scheduled 10-minute check-up.

If your dentist asks you to schedule another visit, it’s not because they are lazy. It just means that they need more time with you to do a good job and they can’t miraculously fix your problems in 10 minutes.

5. They aren’t trying to scam you

Sure, there are unethical doctors from all schools of medicine that may push unnecessary procedures on you. However, for the most part, dentists just want you to have good oral health.

Very often, dentists can see a growing problem before we even realize it, which is why they may suggest procedures that you may balk at.

You can always seek a second opinion if you are uncomfortable, but more often than not, they will tell you the same thing.

In fact, government dentists don’t even earn money from you directly, and government dental clinics offer extractions and dental check-ups for as low as RM1 (really, how much lower do you want?)!

6. You can eat before you see a dentist

You can certainly eat before seeing a dentist! In fact, it’s recommended to eat before you go for a tooth extraction.

However, do remember to rinse your mouth well with water to remove food debris, as it helps the dentist check your teeth better.

7. Get your teeth checked regularly

It’s recommended to see a dentist twice a year even if you feel that your teeth are fine. (It’s like servicing a car- regular checks can avoid a large problem down the road!)

This is to ensure that your dentist will be able to check for signs of any growing new problems and nip it in the bud before it becomes too large or painful.


Taking care of your dental health can be incredibly cheap as well, so you don’t have to break the bank to get your teeth fixed. Find the closest government dental clinic near you here.

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