Frequently Asked Questions During Dental Checkups
by Lonnie Bryant
Experts recommend that you visit a dentist two times a year. This ensures you receive professional cleaning and maintain oral health. Here are some of the frequently asked questions during dental checkups.
How Can You Practice Oral Hygiene?
It's important to enquire from your dentist about the best ways of maintaining oral hygiene. Your dentist will instruct you to brush and floss at least two times a day. Your dentist will also insist that you ensure your dental products contain fluoride.
Another way you can maintain oral hygiene is through your diet. Your dentist will advise you to avoid or limit your intake of foods that are rich in sugar. They will recommend a balanced diet and warn you against chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes.
How Can You Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease?
Tooth decay arises when bacteria in your mouth combine with food debris to form tartar. Tartar attacks the pulp of your tooth. If left untreated, you'll have a hole in your tooth, and in severe cases, the tooth may come off. Gum disease is also a product of tooth decay.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is through brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Visiting your dentist regularly also helps them identify signs of tooth decay. Dental cleanings are effective in removing decay and preventing gum disease. Therefore, apart from brushing and flossing teeth, you need to visit the dentist regularly for dental cleanings.
How Can They Keep Your Teeth White?
The secret to white teeth is practising oral hygiene and visiting your dentist for cleanings. You should also avoid teeth staining foods like wine, coffee and chocolate. Habits like smoking also have a dulling effect on your teeth.
Discolouration can be genetic or can come gradually as you age. Surface stains are easy to get rid of through whitening procedures like strips, trays and laser whitening. Internal stains are much more difficult to remove. In most cases, the permanent solution for internal stains is veneers and composite bonding.
Why Are Your Teeth Sensitive?
Teeth sensitivity is characterised by a painful sensation when consuming foods or drinks that are cold, hot or acidic. Sensitivity arises when your tooth enamel wears out due to constant exposure to extreme temperatures. As a result, the nerves of your teeth are affected hence the painful sensation. The solution to tooth sensitivity varies depending on the cause.
You may experience tooth sensitivity if you've receding gums or a fractured tooth. Tooth sensitivity is also a side effect of some tooth whitening procedures. Fillings and orthodontics can also contribute to sensitivity.
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About Me
There are more than two ways to straighten a smile, and in this blog, I plan to discuss them all. I plan to look at the differences between braces and retainers and explain why sometimes you may need them both. I look at the differences in cost, time commitment and efficacy. Personally, I have had a bit of experience with this subject – I had braces as a young teen, and I had a permanent retainer. In this blog, I discuss what I have learned, and I present all kinds of new information on the topic. Whether you are trying to make decisions for yourself or your child. I hope you find this information useful.