If you have a family, you know how busy you can be as well. If you aren’t taking your daughter to soccer practice, you may be running your son to music lessons. That’s before you try to fit in work responsibilities and try to make time for family and friends.
In other words, we understand why you may have forgotten to schedule a dental visit. It’s also why we want to encourage you to call 858-762-9991 today to set up your next appointment with us while it’s on your mind.
At the office of Brian Davey DDS, we work with you — and all our patients in the San Diego, CA area — to keep your smile looking great and your mouth as healthy as it can be. We also wanted to share some reasons why you may want to plan a dental visit soon.
You are Expecting a Baby
First and foremost, congratulations on your growing family.
However, many people are under the impression that they should not visit the dentist during pregnancy. Frankly, this is a mistaken belief.
This is a time with dental care may be more important than usual. (And if you ask us, your oral health is always important.)
You are probably quite aware of the many ways your body is changing during your pregnancy. One thing that is happening is your body is releasing hormones that are beneficial for your child as he or she is growing inside you. Those hormones also are helping the bacteria in your mouth. This is why you have an increased risk for gum disease at this time.
We would rather help you prevent this, which is why we encourage you to keep your regular checkups during your pregnancy. Be sure to let us know how far along you are when you make your appointment.
If you are in need of some particular services, we may advise waiting until after your baby is born for those specific procedures. Otherwise, routine care shouldn’t be a problem.
Something Doesn’t Look Right
You see your mouth more than anyone. You see it in the morning and in the evening when you look in the mirror while brushing your teeth. You also see it when you’re checking to see if food is stuck between your teeth after a meal or if you are worried something might be on your teeth. (We do it, too.)
It also means you are more likely to notice when things are out of the ordinary. For example, you may have sores or discoloration on the soft tissues of your mouth. There are many reasons why this could happen. Some are relatively minor, while others could be the result of an infection of one kind or another.
Regardless, you should have a professional take a look at your mouth if you are concerned that something looks out of the ordinary.
You’ve Had Dental Work in the Past
More than 90 percent of people will have at least one cavity during their lives. Some of those teeth get fillings, and some get crowns. Some of those teeth also get pulled and replaced. Plus, millions of people break teeth or have teeth knocked out every year, too.
If you fall into or more of those groups, regular checkups are important for maintaining your oral health. Fillings don’t last forever, and while they can last for decades, dental restorations also can wear down or come loose.
It’s better for you is we find those problems in our office than it is for you to learn about them the hard way. If you had any kind of restorative care, our team will keep a close eye on it to let you if and when it’s time to be replaced.
You Use Tobacco
Tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer.
These are three big problems that you are more likely to have if you use any tobacco product. In case you are wondering, yes, that includes vaping, too. (Think of vaping like you would diet soft drinks. Having fewer calories than regular drinks does not make them healthy.)
Tobacco products contain nicotine, and this addictive substance is bad for your oral and your overall health. One problem is that nicotine can have a negative effect on blood flow. This can damage the soft tissue of your mouth and lead to receding gums.
That can expose the roots of your teeth. That can allow plaque to form on the roots, which is bad for your teeth and your gums.
Nicotine also can make some people more likely to grind their teeth together. This can wear down or weaken the enamel of your teeth. It also puts more pressure on your jaw, which can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and jaw stiffness.
It may go without saying, but tobacco doesn’t help your smile either. The chemicals in tobacco can cause stains to form more quickly.
The best thing you could do is too quickly.
Your Gums Are Bleeding
Let’s makes this simple — if your gums are bleeding, that is a problem.
Your gums should not bleed.
Bleeding gums are a symptom of gum disease.
Sorry to be redundant, but we wanted to drive home the message. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.
We want you to keep all your teeth, which is why we want you to keep your gums as healthy as they can be, too. We offer some of the most advanced gum disease treatments in modern dentistry.
We offer Perio Protect trays as a non-invasive way to attack the bacteria causing your infection. We have laser dentistry to better target infected tissue.
And we use OralDNA to identify the particular bacteria that are causing your problem. This helps us design a more effective and efficient treatment for you.
It’s Been 6 Months (or more) Since Your Last Visit
As important as professional dental care is for all the situations mentioned above, preventive care could spare you from many of those problems. A good daily oral hygiene routine and a couple professional cleanings can help you avoid many major dental issues.
To schedule your next appointment at Dr. Davey’s office, contact us online or call 858-762-9991 now.
