Can you recall the last time you visited a family dentist? If you see your dentist on a regular basis, keep it up. However, if you only think of a dentist only when you face an emergency, such as a toothache or bleeding gums, then it’s time to change your habits. The basic rule of thumb is to see your family dentist in Summerville, SC, or nearby, once every six months with your entire family.
But if you don’t visit your family dentist regularly, then you should definitely see one when you or your daily member experiences the following seven signs. Watch out for them and schedule an apportionment without delay. You should treat your and your family’s dental health as a priority.
1. Persistent Bad Breath
If you have been availing of the services of family dentistry in Summerville, SC, or elsewhere for some time now, then you should already know the right brushing techniques. If you follow good oral care habits without fail and use the right dental care products, you should not be having bad breaths.
Occasional bad breath may indicate improper brushing or maintaining poor oral health, or even from certain food items. But if it happens persistently or there’s chronic bad breath, then it may be a warning sign of some dental infection. Leave it up to your family dentists to diagnose the issue, find out the underlying cause, and provide an effective solution.
2. Visible Dental Damage
If you have one or more cracked or chipped teeth due to some accident, injury, or infection, you should not live with it. Take active steps with the help of your family dentist to restore any cracked or chipped tooth to prevent internal damage, requiring a costly and painful root canal in the future.
3. A Lost or Missing Tooth
Adults having full-grown sets of teeth should not normally lose a tooth unless they had some major injury or accident. See your family dentist immediately to start an effective treatment without delay to prevent distortions in the facial appearance and your jaws.
4. Sensitivity to Temperature Changes
If you feel pain or discomfort while having hot or cold food substances and fluids, it may be a warning sign of tooth decay or infection. Sensitivity to hot or cold food substances may occur when there’s an erosion in your tooth enamel. Whatever may be the underlying cause, you should see a family dentist who will examine your dental health and recommend the most suitable treatment option for you.
5. Toothache, Headache, or Jaw Pain
Toothache can be a critical sign of tooth decay or infection. If you don’t treat this problem on time, it may turn worse quite quickly. Similarly, if you or one of your family members experience severe headaches or jaw pain, it may indicate TMJ disorders.
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) connects your skull and the jawbone. TMJ disorders may occur due to an improper bite, arthritis, general wear and tear due to poor oral health, or trauma. So, rather than living in intolerable pain, visit a family dentist.
6. Bleeding Gums
Gums may bleed at times due to rough brushing, flossing, or chewing on hard food substances. However, if it’s a regular thing now, then there may be severe gum disease. Only an experienced and trained family dentist could address this issue.
7. Tooth Discoloration
Some food items may cause staining in your teeth. However, if the staining or discoloration has been there for quite some time, and now you are left with unhealthy-looking gray or even black teeth, then there may be a tooth infection. Let your family dentist check this issue on an urgent basis.
Final Words
You may wonder why is it necessary to visit a family dental practitioner and not just any other dental professional. Well, a family dentist would apprehend the health conditions and keep the medical records of your entire family, thus requiring fewer appointments for a particular treatment procedure. So, if you notice the above red flags, it’s time to opt for family dentistry services.