“It can also make it harder for the dentist to see what's going on underneath,” he says. Dental anxiety is often fueled by fear of pain and discomfort.So, you may be tempted to pop a pain reliever before your appointment. Don’t Drink AlcoholPratt cautions against drinking alcohol the night before a dental appointment. You might hope your dentist will spot the problem without your input, but staying quiet about something like tooth pain can leave too little time to explore it thoroughly — and may even mean coming back for a second appointment. Yet these are exactly the details that help your dentist catch underlying problems and decide how best to treat you.