Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Oral health experts recommend seeing your dentist twice a year to avoid the damaging effects of neglecting your teeth and gums. But some individuals live by the mantra, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Unfortunately, that is not a recommended approach when it comes to your oral health. Dr. Nancy Hartrick, our Royal Oak family dentist, explains when you need a dental checkup to protect your smile.
Why visit the dentist?
Even if you brush and floss daily, see your dentist regularly. Oral bacteria secrete acids that, if not removed often and thoroughly enough, harden into tartar, which only can be removed by a professional dental cleaning. To fully protect your teeth and gums, a dental hygienist must use specialized tools to clean your teeth. Otherwise, tartar buildup becomes discolored and increases your risk of chronic bad breath, receding gums, gum disease, and cavities. During your checkups, we’ll also look for problems and treat them early for optimal oral health.
Pain or Swelling
Dr. Hartrick can determine if you have an infection or gum disease if you have persistent pain or swelling in your mouth. You don’t have to accept long-term discomfort. Even if the discomfort subsides, the underlying issue may remain unless treated.
Bleeding Gums
Healthy gums don’t bleed, but they still need care. Our Royal Oak pediatric dentist checks for gum disease and periodontal pockets that harbor bacteria. Additional gum complications include puffy or inflamed gums, pus or an odor, bluish red rather than pink gums, swelling, or gum recession. These symptoms could indicate a serious condition that will worsen if untreated.
Previous Work
Fillings, crowns, dental implants, and bridges can become loose with every bite. Let our dentists fix any loose, crooked, or out-of-place dental work to avoid future problems and costs.
Pregnancy
Hormones during pregnancy may make gums more sensitive and susceptible to infection. Regular cleanings can manage or prevent pregnancy gingivitis. Low birth weight is linked to gingival and periodontal issues, which makes preventive dental care a necessity during pregnancy. So, see the dentist regularly for your health and the health of your unborn child.
Sensitivity
Sensitive teeth can be more than a minor nuisance. Sensitivity can also be caused by teeth grinding, decayed fillings, or broken teeth. Changes in how your teeth react to heat and cold often indicate a more serious issue. The source of this sudden discomfort may help solve the problem. When decay penetrates the tooth enamel, it can cause new food or temperature sensitivity, so it’s best to treat cavities right away.
Dry Mouth
Chronic thirst may signal a health problem. Insufficient saliva causes dry mouth. Saliva protects soft and hard mouth tissues from tooth decay. Our dentist in Royal Oak may recommend rehydrating techniques. Mouth rinses and sugar-free candies and gum can help combat dry mouth by stimulating saliva.
Chewing or Swallowing Challenges
Chewing and swallowing issues are more common in the elderly. Normal aging, medications, oral issues, or surgery can cause these problems. Dysphagia affects chewing and swallowing, which can lead to choking or aspiration if food or other objects become lodged in the upper airway. Blocked airways may be fatal. Only consume soft foods or liquids to prevent the problem from worsening until you see your dentist or doctor.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Nutrition, acid reflux, sinusitis, dry mouth, medications, uncontrolled diabetes, and gum disease can cause bad breath. The best dentists in Royal Oak recommend mints and mouthwashes to help, but they may mask the problem, although routine dental care that treats the problem at the source is the only way to get rid of bad breath for good.
Lingering Mouth Sores
Biting your tongue, cheek, or lip can cause mouth sores. If they last a week or longer, see a dentist. Cold sores, leukoplakia, candidiasis, canker sores, and other sores can be linked to viruses, infections, or cancer. Therefore, we recommend letting the dentist check your oral sore if it does not heal within a reasonable amount of time.
Jaw Problems
Untreated problems like an uneven bite or painful jaw popping when chewing or opening the mouth can eventually damage your teeth and lead to worsening pain. Your dentist may recommend an orthodontist. Possible jaw pain causes include periodontal disease, injury, infections, sinus problems, toothache, arthritis, or bruxism.
Family Dentists in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan
It’s always a good time for a dental checkup and cleaning. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to a dental office or if it’s slipped your mind for a few years, visiting our Royal Oak dental office for a checkup and cleaning is crucial to protect your overall health and wellness. Therefore, we encourage you to call Hartrick Dentistry at (248) 549-0950 or contact us online to request an appointment.