4 Things to Discuss at Your Dental Check-Up

Right from childhood, we were advised to speak out on anything bothering or confusing us. This applies to your dental appointments as well. When going for your regular dental checkups, below are important things you should discuss with your dentist.

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene

Everyone should practice excellent oral health habits, including brushing and flossing regularly and visiting the dentist for checkups. The American Dental Association advises adult patients to go for dental checkups, regardless of the state of their health. This will ensure deep teeth cleaning regularly and early diagnosis of potential issues.

For excellent oral health, you should consider the following:

•    Consume a balanced diet of vegetables and fruits

•    Reduce snacks with high sugar content

•    Use products containing fluoride

•    Avoid the use of tobacco products

Preventing dental health issues

The best way to prevent dental diseases and keep your mouth healthy is to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Health conditions including diabetes and HIV/AIDS, medications and some forms of chemotherapy tend to affect oral health. You can prevent any dental issues from worsening by discussing your questions with dental experts.

If you experience tooth sensitivity when eating hot or cold, sweet or acidic meals, you should mention that too. Tooth sensitivity means your enamel has degraded to the point where the tooth pulp or dentin is exposed and has less protection. Sensitivity may also be caused by:

• Receding gums
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Tooth grinding (bruxism)
• Tooth whitening procedures
• Orthodontics and filling procedures

The dentist will check the affected teeth and make suggestions to lessen tooth sensitivity.

Using dental washes

There are different kinds of mouthwashes, each for different purposes. Some mouthwashes are effective for keeping the teeth white with fresh breath, while others have fluoride to combat cavities. Therapeutic dental washes are available to manage oral conditions such as tooth sensitivity, gingivitis (early stage gum disease) and irritation caused by chemotherapy.

In more severe cases, some dental washes have chlorhexidine gluconate to eliminate the bacteria responsible for bleeding, swelling and the formation of plaque.

How to make the teeth whiter

We all want a beautiful smile to show off; it gives an extra boost to our confidence. Over the years, it is normal for teeth to get stains or discolorations. Tooth discoloration resulting from wine, coffee, tobacco and heavily colored foods can be removed using at-home whitening kits or with expert, in-office whitening. Intrinsic stains may require bonding or veneers to the discolored teeth, which would serve as a long-lasting solution.

You may also be curious about the importance of dental x-rays during checkups. Dental x-rays are necessary, especially during your first appointments, to give the dentist an overview of your oral cavity. This will allow the dental expert to evaluate and record the state of your mouth’s hidden areas for issues and crosscheck the result with subsequent scans.

Final note

Regular dental appointments are essential to keep your oral health in good condition. After your meeting, ensure you keep to your dentist’s recommendations.

Request an appointment in our McLean office here: https://www.oaktreefamilydental.com.