Tooth loss may be highly preventable with the right dental health care and maintenance, but that doesn’t mean good hygiene guarantees you’ll never lose a tooth.
Your dentist expects you to keep up with good hygiene at home and your recommended schedule of checkup and cleaning appointments. However, your dentist doesn’t expect you to know everything there is to know about your dental health. During your routine dental visits, asking questions can be important to filling in the gaps in your dental health knowledge. Today, we take a look at a few common questions patients ask during their checkups, and how the answer to them can help improve your long-term dental health.
What to Ask
How can I improve my hygiene routine?
During your exam, your dentist can spot signs such as weak tooth enamel and/or receding gums, both of which can indicate the need for more focused hygiene practices at home. Your dentist can make suggestions for improvement based on your weakest areas, though most suggestions focus on brushing and flossing at least twice a day consistently and refraining from eating too much sugar.
Do I need treatment for a cavity or gingivitis?
The diagnostic part of your exam involves your dentist looking for signs that an issue has already developed, such as a cavity or gingivitis. If it has, then the benefit of detecting it is that your dentist can treat it early and help you avoid more serious damage to your teeth and/or gums.
Should I worry about bite issues?
Besides cavities and gingivitis, your dentist will also routinely check for issues with your bite’s alignment and function. For instance, if bruxism or TMJ disorder becomes a problem, then your dentist can detect the signs of it through your regular dental examination and recommend appropriate treatment, if necessary.
Schedule Your Next Dental Checkup
Education is important to your continued good oral health, so feel free to ask us any questions you wish during your visit! To schedule your next appointment, call Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Tooth loss may be highly preventable with the right dental health care and maintenance, but that doesn’t mean good hygiene guarantees you’ll never lose a tooth.
The bad news about needing a tooth filling is that it means your tooth has a cavity, which is caused by progressive tooth decay.
These days, noticing that your teeth are stained isn’t as serious of a concern as it used to be.
Bruxism describes the constant grinding of your teeth, often while you sleep, and it can often be the underlying cause of a host of other dental health concerns.
Would you know if you developed gum disease? Most patients want to say yes, but many people who experience severe gum disease didn’t realize or treat their condition in time to stop it from growing worse.
A toothache can be one of the most problematic, and common, oral health symptoms.