I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
It's always recommended that you see a dentist every six months for a thorough checkup, but you may also experience symptoms in between your visits that indicate you need to make an appointment right away. Consider five signs that it's time to call a dentist and make an appointment as soon as possible.
1. Worn teeth
If your teeth are becoming worn, you may be grinding them at night. This in turn can wear down the enamel over time. You can eventually experience tooth loss if this is not corrected. Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to wear at night to protect your teeth if this is the case.
2. Receding gums
Gum tissue should not recede or change over time. Typically this is a sign of gum disease or of bacteria buildup in the mouth. Receding gums can lead to tooth loss. A dentist, like at Cambridge City Dental, can determine the cause of your receding gum line and treat it properly so as to protect the health of your teeth.
3. Persistent pain
Occasional discomfort in the mouth can be the result of brushing teeth too hard or flossing too deeply, but when you have persistent pain, it's time to see a dentist. You may have cavities or impacted wisdom teeth. Or you may have the beginnings of gum disease. These should be treated before they become worse.
4. Jaw pain upon waking up
This can be a sign of grinding your teeth or of a problem with the joint of the jaw itself. If you ignore this problem, you can cause tooth erosion as mentioned above or can see more damage done to the jaw joint itself. A dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to use at night to address either of these problems.
5. Persistent or unusual bad breath
Everyone has bad breath on occasion, but if yours is persistent or comes with a bad taste in your mouth, this is typically a sign of too much oral bacteria. You may not be brushing enough, or you may have tooth decay or the beginnings of gum disease. Your dentist can advise on how to address these.
Keep these symptoms in mind and consider calling a dentist if you experience any of these. Addressing these symptoms as soon as they arise can ensure that your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible and can keep you from experiencing even more problems down the road.
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