Visiting the dentist: questions and Band 8 answers

I try to go about twice a year for a routine check-up and a thorough clean. My local dental practice usually sends me a text reminder, which is really handy because otherwise, to be honest, I'd probably put it off until I had toothache.

A little bit, yeah. I wouldn't say I have a full-blown phobia, but the sound of the drill always puts me on edge. Fortunately, my current dentist is very gentle and always talks me through what she's doing, which definitely helps ease my anxiety.

Yes, my parents were quite strict about it. Every six months, my mother would drag my brother and me to the family clinic. I used to dread it, but the dentist would always give us a colourful sticker at the end, which softened the blow.

Well, I brush twice daily using an electric toothbrush, which made a huge difference to my gums. I also try to floss every evening before bed, although I occasionally forget if I'm utterly exhausted after a long shift at work.

I'd say so, yes. People seem far more conscious of their smiles nowadays, probably due to social media. There's definitely been a massive surge in cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and invisible braces, whereas in the past it was mostly about dealing with pain or decay.