Even if your main purpose of visiting your dentist is tooth care and other oral health concerns, there are some things that you should discuss with your dentist. Such things are also what your dentist needs to know in order to provide you with the highest possible quality of dental care.

Keep in mind that oral health is also part of your overall health and the best dentists in Idaho Falls understand this and would want to ensure they have a view of the big picture. So, if you want your dentist to give the best dental care and treatments, don’t forget to discuss with them the following:

1. Oral Health

While dentists usually provide you with general updates about the health of your teeth, they may keep things short and be considerate of the time to keep your appointments as efficient as possible.

But if you have extra time during your appointment, don’t hesitate to discuss your current oral health and what they can suggest to make it better. You may also ask for insights into what type of possible problems may affect your smile, what should be done to counteract the issues, and know the causes of why they happen.

2. Hazardous Lifestyle Choices

Some lifestyle habits may increase the risk of tooth decay and some oral health issues. Such habits may include regular tobacco smoking. When describing this habit of yours to your dentist, you should be precise even though you might be uncomfortable sharing this information.

It’s crucial that your dentist knows the specifics of your lifestyle choices since smoking tobacco may affect your mouth differently from cigarettes. Discussing this with your dentist may help you improve your lifestyle choices in the long run and choose healthier alternatives like vaping or e-cigarettes. So, if you don’t want to worsen your current dental health and achieve healthier looking teeth, share your lifestyle choices without hesitation.

3. Prior Medical Conditions

There are some medical conditions that may have a huge impact on the health of your gums and teeth. Any kind of condition that compromises your immune system may make you more susceptible to some infections and other dental issues.

For instance, diabetes may increase the risk of gum disease. Digestive problems and heart problems as well as medicines to remedy such conditions may also have some dental side effects.

If you’re taking birth control pills and your dentist provides you with antibiotics, the medication may affect the effectiveness of the said pills.

Blood clotting may be also affected by liver disease and other conditions. Medications like aspirin and other herbal preparations may also interfere with your body’s normal blood clotting.

Moreover, if you need a tooth removal procedure and you’re on a blood thinner, you should discuss the medication you’re taking as you might experience excess bleeding after the dental surgery.

4. Fear Of Dental Procedures

Some people fear going to a dentist’s clinic. One of the reasons may include dental pain. For others, the thought of injections or drilling may be anxiety-provoking.

If you fear any dental procedures, you need to discuss it with your dentist prior to your treatment. Explaining this with dentists may enable them to think of the best solution to help you.

If dentists know that their patients are anxious about dental procedures, they may prepare a better and calmer environment, and choose laughing gas and sleep dentistry to put you at ease. There are also times that dentists provide pain medication before surgeries and during recovery.

In some cases, other dentists may speak with your medical specialist or family doctor to get more information about your current medical situation. So, it’s important for your dentist to know as much as possible about your current or previous health condition.

5. Pregnancy

If you think there’s a possibility that you’re pregnant or you already know that you’re pregnant, you have to discuss this with your dentist. The reason behind it is that dentists need to take extra precautions to protect the unborn child from the dangerous effects of X-rays.

Particular medications may also be contraindicated. Sometimes, pregnancy may cause anemia. Moreover, morning sickness may make you sensitive to certain smells and tastes. It’s essential that your dentist is aware that you’re pregnant to take into account such things when doing treatments.

6. Order Of Dental Treatments

Dentists will often recommend various kinds of treatments that can be split up into steps to ensure you’ll get the best smile. They do this to fix different problems one after the other to improve your smile’s appearance and oral health.

If you’re wondering why such treatments are in that order, such as needing to get dental implants before getting a custom crown, never hesitate to ask your dentist to explain everything for you. More often than not, fixing some oral health issues may enhance the effectiveness of the treatments in the future while there are conditions that should be met before another treatment is possible.

7. Dental Symptoms

Particular oral symptoms like mouth sores that don’t heal properly or gums that bleed excessively may be a sign of some health conditions. For instance, chronic illnesses like HIV, once undiagnosed, may start to show symptoms.

Teeth that fall or become loose may be a symptom of osteoporosis. Unusual symptoms like mouth sores or strange spots may be a sign of cancer. The golden rule is that if something unusual happens in your mouth and you don’t have any clue about it, discuss your concerns with your dentist before it’s too late. Your dentist may give you helpful information about why it’s happening and if it should concern you or not.

8. Hygiene Routine

A good oral hygiene routine is important to maintain a healthy, radiant smile. However, some people make mistakes when flossing, brushing or even rinsing, which may prevent their smile from being as healthy as it should be.

When dentists spot an oral health problem during check-ups, like cavity or gum disease, they discern the causes and find out if your hygiene routine is to blame. To ensure that you’re keeping your smile protected all the time, discuss with your dentist the best solutions on the ways you may improve your daily oral hygiene routine like tricks to clean the hard-to-reach areas.

If you’re not sure about your way of brushing your teeth, you can also ask your dentist about the right way to do this effectively. There are instances that you may put too much pressure when brushing your teeth, which may have a negative impact on it. So, don’t be shy about asking for the proper pressure or method to brush your teeth.

9. Surgeries

If you’ve undergone a major surgery recently or you have a scheduled one, your dentist must know about it. Remember that surgeries may increase your health complications and risk of infections.

In such cases, dentists will ask permission to discuss your health condition with your surgeon to accommodate your dental needs.

Never have second thoughts when sharing information about your surgeries with your dentist. Even if you feel uncomfortable about it or discussing it may cause you more stress, it may help your dentist solve your dental issues. Besides, you don’t need to share everything about your surgery. Oftentimes, you’ll just need to tell your dentist about the kind of surgery you’ll have or you’ve undergone.

10. Discomforts And Strange Pains

Have you experienced discomfort in your gums or teeth, but it disappears after several days, and you forget to tell your dentist about it? You might think that it’s okay, but this can be a big mistake. It’s a fact that you visit your dentist only twice or so in a year and remembering such things may require taking note of them. However, any unusual sensitivities and pain is something worth mentioning.

Make sure that you point out strange odors, pain or sensitivity in your mouth. Sometimes, oral health may be a warning that you have a serious disease or any related health concern. Other times, your body is battling with an illness that’s affecting your dental health.

11. Diet and Eating Habits

You may love a lot of food, but not all may be healthy for your teeth. For example, coffee and teas, when consumed in moderation, may have some positive effects on your body. However, when it comes to your teeth, they may stain and weaken them.

Another example is when you eat many sweets or synthetic food, as this may also affect your oral health and you might require a deeper clean once you visit your dentist next time. To tackle possible dental problems as early as possible, discuss your diet or eating habits with your dentist. In this way, you’ll be aware of the food you should give up for your dental health’s sake.

12. Toothpaste and Toothbrush To Use

When it comes to toothpastes, you have countless options to choose from. But not all of them may be ideal for your oral health care. If you’re confused about the toothpaste for you, discuss this with your dentist so they can give you more information on how to choose toothpaste wisely. Oftentimes, dentists would recommend any toothpaste that has an ADA Seal of Acceptance.

In terms of toothbrushes, there are two types you may choose from. One is a manual toothbrush and the other is an electric toothbrush. While both of these are effective, the most crucial thing to consider is how you use a toothbrush. Your dentist may recommend the kind of toothbrush that’s most effective for your needs.

13. Heavy Alcohol Consumption

Other than the alcohol’s lingering smell, patients who are heavy drinkers are prone to cavities and dry mouth because alcohol contains high amounts of sugar. Dry mouth may result in cavities because of insufficient saliva, which neutralizes the harmful acids.

In general, drinking too much alcohol isn’t healthy and may damage your body badly. So, if you’re a heavy drinker, make sure that your dentist is aware of it to know the best dental treatments suited for your oral issues.

14. Grinding Teeth

Some people grind their teeth and might not even know it. The best dentist may inform you about this. However, if you notice some symptoms of grinding teeth like popping and clicking of your jaw or headaches in the morning, you need to set an appointment with your dentist immediately.

Dentists can verify whether you’re grinding teeth or not, and would give you some recommendations regarding the treatment that you should consider. Oftentimes, the treatments for grinding teeth may vary depending on the condition’s severity. In severe cases, botox is recommended, and mouth guards for mild cases.

15. Dental Procedures

If dentists recommend several dental procedures during your appointment, try to get more information about them. Know the procedures that are necessary and the ones that can be optional or purely cosmetic. In addition, discuss which procedures are urgent and which can be delayed. This will provide you with a good idea of what you must be spending your money on and what you should prioritize. Some dentists may also recommend vanity treatments, but such may not be necessary for general mouth health.

16. Oral Cancer

No one considers oral cancer and it’s hard to detect, even for some experienced dentists. In this case, even if you don’t think you have this kind of cancer, talk to your dentist to know the ways that you may be screened for it.

The key to effective and successful treatment is early detection and most dentists recommend screens at least once every year to detect some abnormal cells in your tongue, mouth or throat. It also enables you a rapid response and early detection that might be the difference between an unsuccessful or successful treatment.

Bottom Line

It’s crucial that you share and discuss such pieces of information about yourself with your dentist. Whenever you’re asked to provide details about your medical history, it isn’t only a formality. It’s also an essential part of your treatment.

Not providing facts about your mental or physical status or your medications may have some consequences, most particularly if you’re visiting your dentist due to emergency dental problems. Also, the clearer you are with each other, the better you may be in achieving your common dental and overall health goals.

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