As a young mother, I was reasonably ignorant when raising my firstborn. My biggest regret is that I didn't help her take better care of her teeth. Like many people, I didn't realise the importance of baby teeth, resulting in long-term dental problems. Recently, my daughter got married and some of my tears were for the beautiful, glistening smile she presented to the cameras. Ever since I realised the dental damage I had caused, I had been saving for my daughter to have cosmetic dentistry. The results are remarkable. During the course of this journey, I have learnt a lot about caring for children's teeth and corrective procedures that can be undertaken when issues arise. I am sure many of you would be interested in the latest knowledge and techniques that are available to prevent and repair dental complications. I'm Margret Devlin - thanks for visiting.
Most adults know to visit the dentist at least once per year if not every six months, for a checkup and exam and for a thorough cleaning. This type of visit can alert your dentist to needed procedures and to developing problems such as tooth decay or gum disease.
However, it's good to note if you may need to visit a dentist or dental clinic in between those visits to address concerns with your oral health. Note a few symptoms of needed dental care that you don't want to overlook but rather, should have checked as soon as possible.
1. Inflamed or bleeding gums
Your gums might get a bit inflamed and may even bleed slightly if you apply too much pressure with the toothbrush or dental floss, or if you have foods that tend to scrape and irritate the gums.
If your gums are chronically inflamed or bleeding though, this is something to bring to the attention of a dentist. You might have the onset of gum disease or may have an oral infection that is causing them to bleed. Ignoring this problem can make it worse so that you suffer tooth decay, or allow an infection to spread and travel in your body.
2. Chronically bad breath
As with your gums, occasionally having problems with your breath can be expected and explained away by foods you eat or needing to brush more often. When breath is chronically bad, this often means that you have an infection or tooth decay and the odor from these conditions is showing on your breath.
Your tonsils may be infected or you may have wisdom teeth that you cannot reach with a brush or floss, so they become decayed. You may also be suffering from dry mouth, which in turn allows bacteria and germs to stay inside the mouth as saliva helps to rinse these away. Visit a clinic like Now Dental to learn about treatment options for these conditions when you notice you have chronically bad breath.
3. Loose teeth
A loose tooth can be caused by an injury or by bone loss under the tooth, so that the tooth root is not held as firmly as it should be. A dentist can note if you need a root canal, which is a surgery that addresses the soft tissue inside the tooth, in order to strengthen the tooth root. After an injury, a dentist can add a type of brace to the tooth so that the root becomes strong again and the tooth remains intact.
Share7 May 2015
