This three-part article series provides advice on how to keep your teeth and gums in excellent condition and, in doing so, to keep your teeth!
Welcome back to our three-part article series on what it takes to keep your teeth and gums in excellent lifelong condition. As we mentioned in the first installment of this series, tooth loss is a major and pervasive problem in the United States. If the statistics of oral disease released by the American Dental Association are anything to go by, we simply aren't doing enough to keep our mouths free of cavity-causing bacteria.
According to Chicago dental implant specialists, the professionals who mitigate the damage done by tooth loss, the first important step in keeping your teeth healthy is basic oral hygiene. This includes regular and thorough brushing, flossing, rinsing (with an anti-bacterial mouthwash) and yearly visits to the oral hygienist. In this article, we shall turn our attention to the need for the advanced preventative and restorative healthcare that can only be provided by a qualified dentist.
2. Advanced Dental Healthcare
“One of the biggest problems with oral bacterial infections and the various problems caused by these pathogens (gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth decay and cavities) is that they don’t necessarily cause any pain,” say Chicago dental implant specialists. “Your mouth may feel uncomfortable, especially if your gums are swollen and inflamed, but the symptoms of these conditions can be ignored for many years.”
Ignoring oral problems only allows them to become progressively worse and what might initially only have required straightforward and inexpensive treatment can lead to the need for costly procedures with time. It can even lead to permanent damage, such as tooth loss. This is why it’s so important to visit your dentist regularly for a comprehensive check-up. You might have a problem and not even know it!
What Your Dentist Does for You
“Your annual or bi-annual appointment with the dentist will include a visual examination of your dentition and oral soft tissues,” says the Chicago implant dentist. What he or she will be looking for include:
- Signs of tooth decay,
- The presence of infection in the gums (localized or pervasive)
- Abnormalities in the soft tissue (tongue, cheeks and palate)
Your dentist will also assess the overall health of your mouth and provide recommendations for better home oral hygiene care. You should also be X-rayed, which reveals the health of the underlying jawbone and the insides of your teeth, as well as the roots. The orientation of your dentition can be assessed for any potential problems, especially if your wisdom teeth are yet to emerge. The health and function of any existing dental work will be double-checked to make sure you are getting the most out of your restorations (crowns, veneers, etc.).
“Should any problems be identified, your dentist will perform the necessary restorative work in order to eliminate that problem as well as the potential damage it could do in the future,” says Chicago implant dentist. “A cavity will be filled, a decayed tooth cleaned and capped and a gum infection treated. This preventative and restorative dental healthcare is absolutely fundamental in preserving the long-term integrity of your teeth and gums.”
Stay Tuned for Part 3
The final important component of keeping your teeth and gums in fantastic lifelong condition is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, since your oral health and general health are extricable. We’ll take a look at this the final installment of this three-part article series.
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