Summer is right around the corner and before you take off on your vacations, enjoy the relaxing time with the children, and enjoy the outdoors, get your regular dental cleanings taken care of so that you’re not working to schedule around the days of fun, heat, pools, beaches, and cold drinks. Get your summer to-do’s started now so that you have more time to enjoy without the worries that may arise.
Why is it important to visit the dentist before you begin your summer activities?
At each dental cleaning we always check to see that your entire oral health is doing well and that there aren’t any orange or red flags that have popped up that we need to take care of. By checking on your teeth, gums, and mouth, we’re able to see quite a few possible issues that could cause problems during the upcoming months of summer. These include:
Orange Flags
- Plaque Buildup – When plaque collects on teeth it hardens into tartar, also called dental calculus, on your teeth which can lead to serious gum disease.
- Sensitive Teeth – Tooth sensitivity, or “dentin hypersensitivity,” is exactly what it sounds like: pain or discomfort in the teeth as a response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold.
- Implant or Denture Problems – Dental implants can cause complications, such as infections, gum recession, and nerve and tissue damage.
- Braces Fits
- Overcrowding and Spacing
- Misaligned Jaw
- Overbites and Underbites
- Open Bites
- Periodontal Problems
- Unmatched Dental Midlines
- Issues with Chewing and Speech
- Self-Esteem Issues Related to Misaligned Teeth
- Canker Sores – Canker sores are oval shaped herpetiform sores that look like ugly blisters. They typically have a white or yellow center with a red border that forms inside the mouth, under the tongue, or on the inside of cheeks and lips.
- Bad Breath – Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath can result from poor dental healthcare and maintenance or even be a sign of other health problems. For some, bad breath is caused by a dietary issue of a diet filled with unhealthy habits.
- Dry Mouth – Dry mouth or Xerostomia is a condition where your mouth produces a deficient volume of saliva. This effect on the salivary gland can be a perfect opportunity for bacteria to grow.
- Sleep Apnea – Sleep apnea is a potentially serious health and life-threatening condition where your breathing starts and stops sporadically during sleep. We offer sleep apnea treatment at Pickett Family Dental in Keller, TX.
- Wisdom Teeth Removal – Typically wisdom teeth extraction happens between the ages of 15 and 25 and is recommended if you have any of the following issues with them:
- Wisdom Teeth Sensitivity – While wisdom teeth don’t always need to be removed so long as they are positioned properly in the mouth and are not causing pain, there are some common reasons people choose to have their wisdom teeth extracted. Impacted teeth and crowding of teeth within the mouth is the most common cause for wisdom tooth extraction. This can be associated with or without pain, depending upon the pressure on the molars and other teeth as the wisdom teeth come in.
- Loose Filling – Wondering what you should do if your tooth filling falls out? First thing to keep in mind is to relax and stay calm. Fillings can fall out and it’s not uncommon, although it can be quite surprising. If it happens while eating and you feel something hard that shouldn’t be there, just be sure not to accidentally swallow it. Now that you’re past the scary part, the next step is simple: Call the Dentist.
- Bruxism – Grinding your teeth (a.k.a. Bruxism) is fairly common for many people and while if it only happens on occasion it’s not detrimental. Grinding your teeth frequently though can cause damage to the teeth and other oral health complications.
Red Flags
- Oral Cancer – Oral cancer isn’t a laughing matter and it should be screened for regularly. Oral cancer overall has a 60% five year survival rate, but a 70 – 90% if caught within stages 1 a 2. What causes problems with oral cancer is that it can easily spread to the following locations:
- The tongue
- The roof of the mouth and under the tongue
- The inside of the cheeks
- The oropharynx (the area anterior to the soft palate)
- The salivary glands
- The lips
- Autoimmune Disease – Two fairly common autoimmune diseases that come to mind that affect your oral health are Lupus and Sjören’s Syndrome.
- Loose Teeth – If you have a child with a loose tooth working on getting their adult teeth, no one worries. However, if you’re an adult with a loose tooth, it’s normal to be concerned as that is a sign of extensive dental problems that typically include other symptoms as well. If you develop a loose tooth as a teenager or adult, you may also have the following symptoms:
- bleeding gums
- gum recession
- inflamed gums
- swollen gums
- Cavities – Typically, people try to put off having a cavity taken care of because of busy schedules, worry about the cost of a filling, or dental anxiety. If any of these three reasons sound like you, we want you to know that we’re here for your convenience and comfort.
- Gum Disease – Gum disease also known as periodontitis occurs when there is an infection of the gum tissue that holds your teeth in place due to poor brushing and flossing habits that allow bacteria and plaque to harden on the teeth, causing severe inflammation (gingivitis).
- Bleeding Gums – If you notice that your gums begin to bleed while brushing or flossing your teeth, then that’s a sign of gum disease and possibly other gum problems. If you notice your gums are bleeding early on before the damage worsens, then you can prevent periodontitis and gum recession.