Orland Park - Advantages of Attending Dental Appointments Every 6 Months
Admin • October 27, 2021
With a busy work schedule and responsibilities at home, many patients might be tempted to forgo their routine dental appointments. However,
skipping biannual dental services can be risky for your oral health. Discover a few advantages of attending your dental appointments every six
months.
Healthier Gums in Orland Park IL
The health of your gingival tissues often affects the overall health of your mouth. The gums, like the teeth, are affected by the acidic waste of oral bacteria.
When you eat, the bacteria in your mouth feed on leftover simple carbohydrates from the particles of food that remain on your teeth after you
swallow. As the microbes digest their meals, they release acidic byproducts that corrode the tooth enamel and inflame the gums. Brush and floss regularly to remove plaque deposits, which are leftover food, oral bacteria, and biofilm.
Still, even though you may brush or floss away much of the plaque, some of the sticky material may become trapped along the gumline, between the teeth, and on other dental surfaces long enough to harden into place. Once the plaque hardens or calcifies, it becomes tartar.
Tartar, which is also called calculus, is not removable with a toothbrush and floss. Instead, a dental professional must scrape the hardened material from your teeth using a scaling tool.
Removing calculus and the additional bacteria that can become trapped within its pores helps prevent gum disease. Although a minor bout of
gingivitis with gums that only bleed when you brush your teeth may seem unimportant, gum disease can quickly progress. Periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease, may lead to gingival infections that result in bone and tooth loss.
Regular dental cleanings can help protect the health of your gums.
Whiter Teethin Orland Park IL
Cosmetic applications, such as teeth-whitening sessions, can improve the color of your teeth. However, preventive treatments, such as dental
cleanings, also affect your tooth color.
Tartar is not white. Instead, the calcified material has a dull yellow hue. When large amounts of tartar accumulate on the teeth, the yellow substance may cover the white enamel, making your teeth appear discolored.
As a dentist professional cleans your teeth, the dental provider removes the tartar to reveal the tooth enamel underneath it. Additionally, they polish your teeth, making them appear even brighter.
Cancer Detectionin Orland Park IL
Although oral cancer is relatively uncommon, if the disease does happen, the prognosis is often better if the cancer is discovered in the early stages.
During your routine visits, the dentist examines the health of your teeth as well as the condition of your mouth's soft tissues.
Even though you see your mouth regularly, you are often unable to view all the areas of your mouth that a dental professional can see. Dental
providers use small mirrors and tools to thoroughly review your oral cavity.
A dentist can spot irregularities in tissue color, texture, and size. If they suspect cancer, they may biopsy the tissue, and you may need to go to a
physician for further testing.
Healthier Teethin Orland Park IL
Routine checkups not only help your teeth remain whiter, but they also help your teeth stay healthier. Small cavities may cause no discomfort and be difficult to notice to the casual observer. However, when a dental provider examines your teeth during a biannual exam, they look for areas of decay that others may easily miss.
A small cavity, if left untreated, could deepen and spread. Cavities can become so severe that they require a root canal or extraction to alleviate the associated discomfort.
To assess the condition of your teeth, your dentist does not rely solely on a visual examination. Instead, they also x-ray the teeth to review the
condition of the dental roots and find areas of decay that they may miss with a visual inspection.
If you have not visited a dentist within the past six months, contact
Silver Lake Family Dental to schedule an appointment.
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Learn about dental care, preventative tips, and treatments from a trusted dentist in Orland Park, IL. Call Silver Lake Family Dental (708) 403-0071 today.
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Even though eating keto can lead to a slimmer figure, it can also impact your oral health. Take a look at what you need to know about your healthy mouth.
When you eat or drink cold items, the last thing you want to experience is pain. Learn about treatment options for sensitive teeth.
Bruxism (nighttime tooth grinding) can permanently damage your dental health if you end up with a severe case. Learn more about the condition.
Many dental patients need to wear a night guard at night to avoid damage from clenching their jaw and grinding their teeth. Whether you're choosing a custom-fitted one you send away in the mail, a basic boil-and-bite guard, or a professional night guard fitted in person by your dentist, a night guard can be an essential part of your dental care. Here are some considerations for helping you choose between the many night guard options available to you. 1. Texture of the Guard Some night guards are made of soft and cushion-like plastic. This may sound positive, since the material will be able to soften the shock of clenching your teeth together. However, these chewy-textured guards may actually encourage a chewing motion and could actually increase grinding in some cases. Increased grinding could mean that symptoms such as jaw and muscle soreness, headaches, and gum irritation increase. These symptoms can still occur even if you're using a night guard, so you can see why choosing a guard that doesn't increase grinding is important. A less squishy, comparatively hard-textured night guard may work better. 2. Comfort and Convenience Before you decide on a night guard, think about the process of wearing it. If you have a sensitive gag reflex or jaw joint issues (such as temporomandibular problems, which may accompany nighttime grinding), you may not be comfortable holding a thick, bulky guard in your mouth. An uncomfortable night guard is not only less pleasant to wear, but may keep you awake at night, reducing sleep duration or quality. Or you may even find yourself removing it in your sleep, eliminating its effectiveness. So comfort is a big deal here. A guard that's made of an extra-stiff material or one that's not quite the right shape and size could also be uncomfortable. 3. Sturdiness and Longevity Before comparing prices on different styles of night guard, don't forget to consider the monthly or yearly price based on the product's expected lifespan. Check the product information to see how long the product typically lasts. And don't forget to factor in the possibility of chewing through the guard. If your nighttime grinding is bad enough that your dentist has told you to wear a night guard, you may be at risk of wearing through your night guards on a regular basis. Talk to your dentist about how severe your problem is and whether you'll need to look for an extra-durable night guard. 4. Price For many patients, price is a big factor. If you can afford it, you should consider investing in the professionally fitted night guard your dentist offers. Although expensive up front, these guards are likely to offer a long service life. They're also less likely to be bulky and uncomfortable. However, for many dental patients, a professional guard is just not affordable, especially if you don't have dental insurance to cover it. In this scenario, you're likely better off looking for a mid-range price rather than a bottom basement product that's made as cheaply as possible. Some patients use a sports mouthguard as a night guard, because sports guards are widely available and affordable. However, this option is not optimal because a sports guard is likely to be thicker and more cushioning, yet less hard and therefore less able to stand up to grinding. Also, these guards may be quite difficult to sleep with since they're so bulky. 5. Possible Side Effects In some cases, a poorly made night guard could interfere with your bite by changing how your teeth fit together all night, every night. Your dentist's professionally fitted night guard is less likely to interfere with your bite. It's a thin material that won't force your jaw into an open position or keep your teeth from fitting together normally. These considerations can help you choose a night guard that's likely to work for your situation. If you find that you struggle with the first night guard you try, don't give up. Talk to your dentist about which option you should try next. Schedule an appointment with Silver Lake Family Dental today to discuss your dental needs with your friendly local dentist.
