Acupuncture could be of use in reducing anxiety.

People worried about emergency dentistry treatments might like to have acupuncture sessions in order to reduce their anxiety, it has been stated.

A study by researchers from Sheffield and Denmark showed that in the majority of cases, anxiety levels can be reduced following acupuncture, as the body releases natural chemicals to calm a person.

Those that took part in the research all claimed to have had a fear of the dentist for between two and 30 years, yet the results showed that typical levels of stress were more than halved for those who underwent acupuncture.

“Acupuncture prior to dental treatment has a beneficial effect on the level of anxiety in patients with dental anxiety and may offer a simple and inexpensive method of treatment,” the study’s authors noted.

Elsewhere, the CNN Wellness blog recently reported that not coping with stress properly can lead to real problems with oral health, as people tend to grind their teeth more.

Indeed, the post revealed that in many cases, people who are stressed do not realise they are grinding their teeth, as they do it in their sleep.