Dental hygiene • Mental wellness • Compassionate care
Helping anxious patients feel safe in the chair—and beyond.
I’m a dental hygienist, mental wellness advocate, and podcast host dedicated to transforming fearful dental visits into calm, connected experiences—one conversation at a time.
For patients, providers, and partners who believe oral health and mental health belong in the same room.
You’re not “difficult.” You’re human.
Whether you’re a patient who dreads appointments or a provider who wants to offer trauma‑sensitive care, you belong here.
- Dental fear & anxiety education
- Calm communication frameworks for teams
- Patient‑centered coaching & workshops
Trusted by dental teams, mental health advocates, and wellness‑focused brands.
About
A hygienist who sees the whole person, not just the teeth.
I blend years of clinical dental hygiene experience with training in mental wellness, trauma‑sensitive communication, and oral‑systemic health. My work centers on one belief: when people feel emotionally safe, everything else in the operatory gets easier.
Through my podcast, workshops, and 1:1 coaching, I help patients, clinicians, and partners create calmer, more connected, and more equitable dental experiences—without shame, pressure, or overwhelm.
Focus areas:
- Dental fear, anxiety, and avoidance
- Trauma‑sensitive, shame‑free communication
- Oral‑systemic wellness and whole‑person care
- Team training, culture, and burnout prevention
“There is nothing wrong with you for being afraid of the dentist. Your nervous system is simply asking for safety. My work is to help you and your care team listen.”
— Founder, Hope Loyd RDH, BSDH
Work With Me
Support for patients, providers, and partners.
Choose the path that best fits how you’d like to collaborate. Every offering is grounded in psychology‑informed, evidence‑based care and gentle, human language.
For Patients
Personalized guidance to help you understand your dental fear, advocate for your needs, and prepare for calmer appointments.
- Dental fear & nervous system education
- Calm appointment prep sessions
- Communication scripts to share with your provider
For Dental Teams
Workshops, trainings, and consulting to build calm, compassionate, and efficient dental experiences—without burning out your team.
- Trauma‑sensitive chairside communication
- Systems for anxious and neurodivergent patients
- Oral‑systemic wellness education
For Partners & Brands
Ethical collaborations, sponsorships, and research‑informed storytelling at the intersection of oral health, mental health, and equity.
- Podcast sponsorship & guest features
- Co‑created education & digital courses
- Documentary, research, and grant partnerships
Dental Fear Assessment
Gently understand what your nervous system is asking for.
This short, private assessment helps you map where dental fear shows up in your body, your story, and your everyday life—so you can explore next steps without shame.
- Takes about 5–7 minutes
- No diagnosis, no judgment—just insight
- Your responses stay private and are never sold
Important: This tool is educational and supportive. It is not a substitute for medical, dental, or mental health care.
Start the assessment
You’ll be guided through a series of gentle questions. You can pause at any time.
By continuing, you agree to our simple privacy promise: your responses are used only to support your experience with Calm Dental Voices and are never shared or sold.
Podcast
Gums & Gossip™Podcast.
Conversations at the intersection of dental care, mental health, and equity. Listen in as patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocates share real stories and practical tools for calmer care.
- New episodes released regularly
- Accessible, jargon‑light conversations
- Perfect for both patients and providers
Recent episodes
S7: Ep 16 — From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Healing Trauma, Dental Fear & the Nervous System
What happens when your body says "enough" -and you choose to listen with Shalini, a somatic psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and nervous system educator from West Yorkshire, UK sharing her own personal journey.
S7: Ep 12 Culture, Confidence & the Power of a Healthy Smile
Hope sits down with Elee Joven-Cultural Intelligence Speaker, mentor, and advocate...spanning from Guam, the Philippines...
S7: Ep 11 Gut & Gums: The Goddess Guide to Total Health
Connecting the dots between your mouth and your gut with Gabrielle Grandelle, a Functional Nutritionist and Health Coach....
S7: Ep 14 Empowering Afghan Women, Global Peace, Health, & Hope
Connecting the dots with Global Human Rights Activist and Humanitarian, Mursal Kakar
Speaking & Media
Keynotes, workshops, and conversations that calm the room.
Invite me to your conference, clinic, classroom, or podcast to explore how dental care can honor both the mouth and the mind—especially for those who have been historically overlooked or dismissed.
- Keynote talks & panel discussions
- Practice & DSO trainings (virtual or in‑person)
- Media interviews and expert commentary
Most requested topics
- Designing calm‑first dental practices
- Dental fear, trauma, and nervous system literacy
- Oral‑systemic connections in mental health
- Language that de‑stigmatizes fear and avoidance
Media one‑sheet & press kit available upon request.
Partnerships & Collaborations
Co‑create a calmer, more equitable dental future.
I collaborate with aligned organizations, brands, and researchers on projects that center patient safety, mental wellness, and access to care—always with transparency and consent at the core.
- Podcast sponsorships and series‑based partnerships
- Course & curriculum development for dental teams
- Research, grants, and documentary storytelling
- Global speaking and advocacy initiatives
If your work centers care, equity, and evidence, I’d love to explore what we can build together—slowly, thoughtfully, and with community in mind.
Partnership inquiry (for organizations, brands, and researchers)
Share only what feels comfortable. We’ll follow up with thoughtful next steps—no pressure, no spam.
Accessibility note: I prioritize projects that make care more reachable for communities facing barriers due to race, disability, income, or trauma history.
Mental Wellness Support
You deserve dental care that doesn’t leave you shaking.
This confidential form is a gentle starting place for patients and caregivers who want support navigating dental fear, past trauma, or medical anxiety.
I am a dental hygienist and educator—not a therapist or physician. If it seems like clinical mental health support is needed, I’ll gently recommend connecting with a licensed professional in your area.
- Minimal, non‑intrusive questions
- You choose how much you share
- We’ll respond with care, not pressure
Mental wellness inquiry form
Your answers will only be used to respond to your inquiry. We do not sell or share your information.
If you are in immediate crisis or feel unsafe, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region. This form is not monitored 24/7 and cannot provide emergency support.
A little more about my path here.
I’ve sat beside hundreds of people in the dental chair who apologized for crying, shaking, canceling, or avoiding care for years. Again and again, I heard the same sentence: “I know it’s silly.” My response is always the same: it’s not silly. It’s your story, your nervous system, and your history speaking.
Over the years I pursued continuing education in trauma‑sensitive care, motivational interviewing, somatic basics, and oral‑systemic health. The more I learned, the clearer it became: our profession wasn’t lacking clinical skill. We were lacking language, time, and tools to truly honor fear and mental wellness.
Gums & Gossip™ grew out of that gap. It’s a space where patients can feel less alone, providers can build new skills, and partners can invest in care models that are both gentle and grounded in research.
- Registered dental hygienist and educator
- Podcast host and oral‑systemic wellness advocate
- Speaker, facilitator, and curriculum collaborator
Contact & next steps.
Use this form for general questions, media requests, or if you’re not sure where to start. We aim to respond within 3–5 business days with clear, pressure‑free options.
- Questions about offerings or accessibility
- Media, podcast, and speaking inquiries
- Ideas for collaborations or new projects
Please avoid sharing detailed medical histories or crisis‑level concerns here; we’ll gently redirect you to safer, appropriate resources.
Contact form
We collect only what we need to respond to your message. No marketing lists unless you explicitly opt in.
Prefer not to use a form? You can also reach out via social links in the site footer.
Gums & Gossip™
A home for people who believe dental care should feel more human, more gentle, and more connected to the rest of our lives.
© 2026 Gums & Gossip™
. All rights reserved.