Important Questions to Ask Your Dentist
When it comes to oral care, you might have a lot of questions about dental health. However, you may hesitate to ask some of them because you don’t want to seem uneducated or silly.
Fortunately, your dentist wants you to ask all of the questions that you have. Here are a few important questions to ask your dentist during your next visit.
How Do You Keep Your Teeth White In Between Visits?
One of the most important questions to ask your dentist is how to keep your teeth white. In fact, teeth whitening is one of the most common procedures that dentists perform. What you may not know is that you can do a few things to keep your teeth white in between your visits.
One way is to avoid foods that stain your teeth. Pigmented foods, wine, tobacco, and coffee are the top ones that stain teeth, making them appear less than white. With that said, your dentist can provide other at-home tips during your next visit if you simply ask.
What’s the Best Way to Prevent Cavities?
Knowing how to avoid the development of cavities is essential to oral hygiene. Believe it or not, you can go about limiting your chances of developing cavities in multiple ways. However, there’s no way to avoid getting cavities completely, which is why visiting the dentist for regular teeth cleanings are so important.
One tip that your dentist might give you is to use teeth cleaning products that contain fluoride, especially toothpaste and fluoride rinse. According to Glenview dentist Dr. Eric Lim’s website, decades ago, studies showed that children who were born and raised in areas with natural fluoride in drinking water had fewer cavities than those from other areas.
The fluoride absorbed into your teeth makes them stronger as you grow. This continued strengthening of the enamel with fluoride products reduces the chance of tooth decay.
To avoid cavities, you can also avoid sugary foods and using tobacco products. For more ideas, ask your dentist during your next checkup.
How Often Should You Schedule a Dental Visit?
Some people think that they only have to visit the dentist when they have a problem. However, you should actually visit your dentist at least twice a year, according to the American Dental Association. Even if your mouth is in perfect health, you can reduce your chances of getting cavities and developing other oral issues with regular dental visits.
With that said, you might have to visit your dentist more often than twice a year depending on your oral health. For example, you might need extra checkups if you have periodontal or gum disease. You should ask your dentist how often is best for your situation.
Why Do You Have Sensitive Teeth?
Pain in your mouth is a sign that something is wrong. Some people have sensitive teeth by nature, while others have sensitive teeth because of various factors. Worn enamel, gum disease, and cavities are a few examples. Talking to your dentist can help you determine and treat the cause of your sensitivity as well as prevent sensitivity in the future.
In addition, your dentist can recommend avoiding some activities that cause teeth sensitivity.
Overusing over-the-counter teeth whitening products and grinding your teeth while you sleep are two causes that you can control. Your dentist can help you find a long-term solution to keep you from grinding your teeth.
Don’t clam up the next time that you visit your dentist. Ask some of the above questions, and they might even lead to other questions that are just as important. The more that you know about protecting your teeth, the better chance that you have to achieve and maintain a healthy smile.
