What could a patient's hand covering their mouth indicate?

A patient's hand covering their mouth can often indicate a variety of emotional responses, but embarrassment is a significant one. When individuals feel self-conscious about their dental health or appearance, they might instinctively cover their mouth. This behavior can stem from concerns about their breath, the state of their teeth, or feeling exposed during a dental examination.

Embarrassment can manifest in many social situations, and in a dental context, patients may worry about the judgment of others, including dental professionals. A hand over the mouth can be a subconscious reaction to these feelings, signaling a desire to hide an aspect of themselves they are not comfortable with while in the vulnerable scenario of a dental visit.

While discomfort, anxiety, and fear can also lead to certain non-verbal cues during dental appointments, the specific act of covering the mouth aligns most closely with feelings of embarrassment in this context.