When you visit your family dentist, it's good to discuss any and all concerns you have about your oral health and about the condition of your teeth and mouth. Your dentist can do much more than just clean your teeth while you're in his or her office; a dentist can give you personalized advice on how to keep your teeth healthy between visits and how to avoid conditions that might otherwise affect your mouth and throat. Note a few questions you might bring up to your dentist, and concerns you might discuss, to protect your dental health.
Ask about tooth sensitivity
If your teeth seem very sensitive to anything hot or cold, or to sour foods, don't assume that this is a normal part of aging. You may be grinding your teeth or otherwise wearing down their protective enamel so that the nerve endings are exposed. You may also be using harsh products on your teeth, including whitening products, that are damaging the teeth so that they're now overly sensitive. Ignoring these issues can mean long-term damage to teeth and even eventual tooth loss.
Ask about receding gum
If it seems that your teeth are larger at the point where they meet the gums, or you notice that your gums seem smaller than usual, ask your dentist about this issue. Receding gums can be caused by damage to the gums, gum disease, or other such conditions. A receding gum line can also lead to lack of support for the tissue and bone surrounding the teeth, and this can mean eventual tooth loss.
Gums can also become sensitive, and this might cause you to avoid brushing and flossing as you would, which then leads to even more damage to the teeth! Ask your dentist about your gums potentially receding if you notice this problem, and note what to do to make your gums healthy again.
Ask if your mouth doesn't seem fresh
If you floss and brush and use a mouthwash or rinse, but your mouth and breath never seem to be fresh and clean, ask your dentist about this problem. You may have dry mouth, so that bacteria and germs still cling to the inside of the mouth even after brushing and rinsing. You may have an oral infection, infected tonsils, or other such problems that will give you bad breath no matter what you do to clean your mouth and your teeth. All of these issues can be addressed by your dentist to protect your teeth and to make your breath fresh.
Share21 March 2018
Hi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Kerry, and this blog is focused on dental fillings. It looks at the history of fillings, options for contemporary fillings, how to protect your fillings, when to replace them and much more. If you have ever had a cavity filled or if you are planning to get a tooth filled, you will find the information in this blog useful. I try to look at fillings from all angles, and I even plan to look at how to avoid fillings through proper dental hygiene and sealants. Thanks for reading, and I hope you find the info intellectually "filling."
