Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Family Dentist

Your family dentist provides you many possible solutions for your dental healthcare needs, which may include general dentistry, crowns and bridges, endodontics, oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and more. One of the best things that a family dentist can do is to encourage you to take an active role in your long-term dental healthcare by asking questions in order to give you a better understanding of your oral health.

Here are the top 10 common dental questions you should ask your family dentist about how you can better manage your daily oral health care, and any other areas you can improve.

1. How Often Should I Get a Dental Checkup? Generally, it is recommended that adults visit their family dentist once or twice a year, even if you aren’t experiencing any dental problems. Getting your teeth examined and professionally cleaned on a regular basis ensures that any potential problems are identified early.
2. What Is the Best Way to Practice Good Dental Hygiene at Home? Practicing good oral hygiene at home is essential for maintaining good oral health. Brushing, flossing, and using fluoride mouthwash go a long way to keeping a radiant, beautiful smile while preventing cavities and gum disease.
3. How Can I Whiten My Teeth? Clean, white teeth enhance your smile and boost your self-confidence. Surface stains caused by coffee, wine, tobacco, and pigmented foods can be treated at home with whitening kits provided by your family dentist. For intrinsic discoloration, your family dentist can provide composite bonding or apply veneers to the affected teeth for a more permanent solution.
4. What Can I Do to Help Maintain Good Oral Health? The best way to ensure a healthy mouth is to follow a balanced diet and regularly visit your family dentist while maintaining your daily routine by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
5. Do I Need To Have Dental X-Rays Taken? Dental x-rays are a common diagnostic procedure that is considered extremely safe. Your family dentist will take a full set of dental x-rays to examine and compare in order to determine any issues against changes that occur between appointments. Bite-wing X-rays are usually taken every year and a full mouth series every four to five years.
6. What Can I Do To Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease? Visit your family dentist regularly while maintaining your oral healthcare routine. Certain health conditions such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS can also affect your dental health, as well as medications and certain types of chemotherapy.
7. What Do You Recommend For Tooth Sensitivity? This is a painful condition that occurs when you consume hot, or cold, or acidic foods or beverages. Tooth enamel protects the tooth’s pulp and dentin. Repeated exposure to acidity and extreme temperatures, receding gums, tooth grinding during sleep, chipped or fractured teeth, and other situations can cause the enamel to thin, causing sensitivity. Your family dentist will examine the affected teeth and recommend treatment to reduce the sensitivity.
8. Why Should I Consider Dental Implants? Dental implants are the ideal way to replace missing or weakened teeth. They can help to prevent your remaining teeth from moving or loosening as a result. A dental implant is permanent and is a good alternative to dentures for anyone with an otherwise healthy mouth and jaw.
9. Should I Use Mouthwash Regularly? A mouthwash or therapeutic rinse can complement brushing and flossing, in conjunction with your daily routine. Cosmetic mouthwashes are aimed at freshening breath and contain fluoride to help fight cavities. Therapeutic rinses can treat conditions such as gingivitis, tooth sensitivity, and inflammation. Prescription mouthwashes kill bacteria that cause bleeding, inflammation, and the formation of plaque.
10. When Should My Child First See a Family Dentist? Your family dentist recommends booking the first visit once their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. This helps your family dentist catch potential problems that can affect your child’s overall health and well-being as more teeth come in over time.

Olathe Dental Care Center provides superior dental care to residents of Olathe and the surrounding community. If you have any questions about your dental care, the treatments that we offer, or if you would like to schedule an appointment for your first visit and consultation, give us a call.  Our staff will be able to help you and provide you with the information you need. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Olathe Dental Care Center

913-782-1420