The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist at least twice a year for routine exams and cleanings. These checkups allow your oral health professional to carefully clean plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, address oral infections in their early stages, and recommend better at-home hygiene habits. However, these meetings are also great opportunities to ask any questions you have. Here are a few great inquiries to make at your next dental checkup.
How is my oral health doing overall?
Asking for a general overview of how your gums and teeth are doing can give you a better idea of how you should take care of them. Your dentist may point out areas that you are missing when brushing and flossing, signs of your gums’ health such as their color, and weak areas of your teeth that you should be aware of such as pre-cavity spots.
How can I avoid gum disease?
Nearly half of all American adults have some form of gum disease, and it can lead to tooth loss and possibly dangerous secondary infections like pneumonia or sepsis if it goes untreated. While gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can typically be reversed with improved oral care at home, it will eventually develop into the far more destructive stage of periodontitis if it is not resolved. Periodontitis causes permanent damage and must be managed with regular professional treatments like scaling and root planing or antibiotic therapy.
Why does my mouth hurt like this?
If you experience any unusual discomfort in your mouth, mention it to your dentist so they can investigate the issue. While oral discomfort may be caused by issues like grinding or an object stuck between the teeth, it may also be the result of destructive oral infections that must be addressed. Your dentist will be able to determine the cause of the problem and an appropriate treatment for it.
Don’t let your next dentist’s appointment slip by without learning something new. By coming to this visit prepared with questions, you can improve your oral hygiene at home and understand how to achieve better dental health.
About the Practice
Temple Choice Dental offers the finest oral healthcare in town. Led by Drs. Daood Alvi, Sileshi Assemu, Shruti Sharma, Simrat Sehmi, and Andrew Davis, the staff ensures that each patient enjoys thorough and judgment-free treatment in a calm and welcoming office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your next dental checkup, contact the office online or dial (254) 727-7144.