What Do Dentists Look For in a Checkup

When most of us visit our dentist for a routine checkup, we often just think of a dental cleaning and x-rays. However, there’s another important feature of a dental checkup that is overlooked: an oral examination. Oral examinations give your dentist the chance to view what’s taking place inside of your mouth.

Checkups are great for both oral health and overall health!

Are you familiar with your dentist revealing the fact that you should be brushing and/or flossing more often? This is because your dentist saw signs of decay not only on your teeth, but your gums as well. Or perhaps you’ve been brushing too hard, resulting in receded gums. These are typical oral-related problems, but excellent oral exams go beyond just oral health.

Checkups Are Not Just About Oral Health

Oral examinations may also result in learning various conditions that your body is facing. There are certain symptoms of a wide variety of ailments and health conditions that have the possibility of showing up in our mouths during a dental checkup.

Pink or White Gums – if you are experiencing gums that do not appear to be their usual red color and are looking a bit paler, then your body may be facing a deficiency in iron. You should consult your medical doctor if this is the case.

Abscess – if you are suffering from abscesses at the root of any teeth or on your gums, then you could be diabetic. Those with diabetes have a higher risk of developing these types of abscesses because they cannot manage their blood sugar levels as well as those without diabetes.

Spots – red spots or even white spots may point to a possible autoimmune disorder such as Crohn’s disease or lupus. If the spots are accompanied by tenderness and pain, then you should consult your doctor for further accurate testing. Often times these sores respond to treatment.

Heart Issues – no conclusive results have been found, but many researchers have theorized that periodontal disease in associated with an increased risk of heart problems. Work with your dentist to help restore your gumsto a healthy state.

Growths – if you or your dentist ever spots small red growths on your gums and even between teeth, then you may be pregnant. These growths are called pregnancy tumors, are rare, and are actually NOT dangerous.

As we can see, oral examinations can be an alternative, indirect way to receive more information not just about the state of your oral health, but also your body’s overall health as well. Developing a good relationship with both your dentist and your medical doctor can keep you poised for the future.

Your family dentist in Las Vegas encourages everyone to follow the American Dental Association’s advice and visit his or her dentist twice per year, once every 6 months.

These Foods Can Knock Your Teeth Out Unexpectedly

Have you ever heard of someone losing a tooth to an apple? We’re guessing you have. It’s not just apples that deal damage; other foods have the same potential to knock out your teeth, including dental work that may have been performed. The worst part is this phenomenon typically occurs when you least expect it to, calling for an emergency dentistry visit to repair or save your teeth. Here’s a small list of common culprits that would unexpectedly knock your teeth or dental work out.

Apples – biting into an apple could result in a broken, chipped, or fallen out tooth. We don’t want to scare you away from eating apples, as they possess health benefits: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Our only recommendation is to take slow, small bites.

Caramel – caramel is notoriously known for pulling your dental fillings out. Some caramel is softer than others, but the ones that are noticeably chewy you should stay away from. If you have multiple dental fillings in your mouth, then it would be best to stay away from caramel.

Taffy – Taffy is another candy product that has resulted in many lost dental fillings. We admit, it does taste great, but if you have multiple dental fillings then the negatives probably outweigh the positives.

Ice – believe it or not, people have lost their teeth to something as simple as ice. It can be habitual for people to chew on, but we recommend sucking it down instead of chewing – similar to a popsicle or hard candies.

Hard Candies – speaking of candies, hard candies have the potential to knock your teeth out unexpectedly. We won’t shame any brands, but specific hard candies should be sucked on before biting down.

Popcorn Kernels – when popcorn is actually popped, it doesn’t pose a risk to your teeth, but sometimes we blindly grab and chew popcorn without realizing we’re chewing on a solid kernel until a tooth becomes dislodged or chipped. Make sure what you grab out of the popcorn bag is actually popped corn.

The good news is that it’s rare to knock out teeth at all with these foods, especially if you’re paying close attention to what you put into your mouth. On the off chance that you do lose a tooth, chip a tooth, or damage any dental work, then don’t panic. 

Modern dentistry services offer a fix for any tooth-related problem. Just be sure to salvage any teeth or teeth fragments and store them safely in a container to take to your dentist. Schedule an emergency dentistry appointment as soon as you can – the earlier you make it, the better your chances of reversing the damage done.