What a Dental Exam Can Tell Us About Your Oral Health

You know that your body is a lot like your home or your car, in that it needs regular care and maintenance to function its best. With that in mind, you probably schedule routine wellness exams with your primary care provider to stay on top of your physical health.

Don’t forget about your oral health, though. The same maintenance mentality can go a long way toward preventing some of the most common and serious issues, from painful toothaches to tooth loss. That’s why we recommend biannual professional dental exams.  

We make it easy for you. We combine your oral exams with teeth cleaning here Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Sujay Trivedi, Dr. Michael C. Westcott, and our team use your visit to get your teeth sparkling clean, while also examining your mouth. With that exam, we learn a lot. Specifically, we: 

Check the state of your gums

Gum disease — a leading cause of adult tooth loss — affects 2 in 5 American adults aged 30 or older. 

But it’s not all bad news. When you catch it early, you can usually treat gum disease at home. Proper oral care, including regular brushing and flossing, can most likely reverse early-stage gingivitis. That goes a long way toward protecting your oral health and preventing tooth loss. 

Left unchecked, however, gum disease advances from gingivitis to periodontitis. At that point, you will likely need targeted, long-term treatment to address the state of your gums. Simply put, it’s worth catching and treating gum disease early. When you do, you can reverse its damage, preserve your teeth, and protect your oral health. 

Look for signs of tooth decay

Just like gum disease, tooth decay is easiest to treat when it’s caught early. In fact, early intervention can mean the difference between a quick and easy filling, a more intensive root canal, or possibly a tooth extraction. 

At first, decay only affects the exterior of your tooth. As it advances, though, it can eat through the protective outer portions of your tooth to reach the sensitive pulp inside. Not only can this leave you with a very painful toothache, but it can compromise your tooth’s longevity. 

If you don’t want to have to get a root canal to save the tooth, get your dental exam twice a year. This way, we can catch issues before they progress to a more serious stage. 

Assess your oral health habits

When we examine your mouth, we can see if the care routine you’re using at home is working for you. Based on what we find, we help you develop a plan to better protect your oral health long-term. 

If, for example, you struggle to find the time to floss on a regular basis, we might recommend that you get a water pick for easier cleaning. Or we may recommend a specific type of electric toothbrush based on what your teeth and gums need. We can also let you know where your brushing habits may fall short — don’t forget to spend some time on those back molars!

On top of all of this, we expertly clean the plaque and tartar from your teeth. You leave your appointment not just knowing more about your oral health, but also with a sparklingly clean smile. 

To schedule your next teeth cleaning and oral exam, call 561-556-1698 today, or book your visit online any time.