Your gums play a bigger role in your oral health than you might think. Not only do they support your teeth, but they also act as a barrier to harmful bacteria. When your gums are healthy, your entire smile benefits. But when gum disease starts to develop, it can lead to discomfort, tooth loss, and even affect your overall health.
In many areas of life, we often receive a warning before something goes wrong. For example, your car might make an unusual sound, signaling that there’s a problem needing attention. Your oral health works in a similar way. There are a number of warning signs that can alert you to potential problems with your teeth, gums, or mouth, signaling the need for a visit to our office for an examination. Since we see many of our patients infrequently during the year, it’s important that you regularly monitor your oral health. You can do this by visually inspecting your teeth and using your tongue to feel your teeth and gums.
We are thrilled that the summer season is starting in a few short days, although the weather may seem like it is already summer. We want to share some important reminders to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy this summer:
With spring starting in a few short days, now is the perfect time to schedule a visit to the dentist. Spring is a popular time for people to deep clean their homes and clear out the winter clutter and mess. We can do the same for your dental health. When you visit our office for a hygiene examination and cleaning, we do a deep clean of your mouth, removing any plaque and bacteria that have built up since your last visit. Failure to schedule routine appointments can lead to serious complications with your oral health.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if everyone had excellent oral health and never had to worry about dental decay, gum disease, or any other problem? While this would be wonderful to experience, it is not realistic. However, there are certain things you can do for your current and future oral health. The best way to do this is with the help of preventive dental care. When teeth are cared for properly, you have a better chance of keeping your natural teeth for your lifetime. Preventative dentistry focuses on keeping your teeth and mouth free from decay and disease.
One of our goals is to help our patients have excellent oral health. It is important for patients to regularly check the state of their oral health and be mindful of any changes. One issue that you may notice on occasion is bleeding gums. This is typically seen when you are brushing and rinsing your mouth. It is not unusual for bleeding gums to occur from time to time; however, if you notice this being a frequent issue, it is best to visit our office to be sure no problems have developed. Some possible causes of bleeding gums can include:
One of our top priorities is to ensure that you have optimal oral health. We do this by encouraging patients to maintain their routine hygiene examination appointments and receive treatment for any problem areas. Unfortunately, some patients have habits that can lead to complications and problems with their oral health, such as:
Do you wake up in the morning and feel discomfort in your jaw and are having a hard time figuring out what could be the problem? If so, you may be suffering from problems related to a condition known as bruxism. Bruxism is the term used to describe a condition where a patient repeatedly clenches and grinds their teeth unconsciously. If not treated in a timely fashion, bruxism can lead to serious oral health complications and the need for additional treatments. One of the biggest problems with this condition is that patients are often unaware of it until they are diagnosed by a dentist because bruxism commonly occurs during sleep.
At Parker & Pennington Dentistry, we know we have a number of patients who take medication daily as a way to treat and prevent health problems. You may be surprised to learn that many medications that help your overall health can cause problems with your oral health. We want to share some of the common side effects and tips to help your oral health:
Do you feel nervous or uneasy before you visit our office? If so, you are not alone. There are many people who experience some form of nerves or anxiety before they visit the dentist. We never want your feelings to keep you from getting the dental care you need and deserve. Delaying dental care can lead to serious oral health issues, which in turn leads to more time in our office. We want to offer some tips to help you relax before your next visit:
