Biting the Bullet – 7 Subtle Signs You Should Be Seeing a Dentist

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If there’s one wager that’s easy to make, it’s that nobody enjoys going to the dentist. Even if you’re not affected by a fear of the dreaded dental chair, it’s still an uncomfortable environment. You could literally have the best Dentist Manalapan has ever seen and you’d still probably dread that inevitable trip to the dental clinic The mouth is one of the softest, most vulnerable parts of the body, so it’s unsurprising that we’re averse to poking around it.

Nevertheless, dental appointments are an essential part of oral health. If you want to keep your teeth until old age, you’ve got to suck it up and accept your fate twice a year. In reality, routine checks are far more tedious than they are frightening. Most are pretty quick, and all dentists are trained to be warm, friendly, and put patients at ease.

So, there’s really no excuse for shrinking your dental duties. If you have any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with a dentist in South Melbourne today.

Chronic Pain

Pain in the mouth is never a good sign. However, there are many reasons why a tooth may ache, and it could be nothing to do with decay. On the other hand, if you have persistent, nagging pains (even if they’re not intense), there could be an underlying problem.

Tender Gums

The gums are the gateway to oral health. You can tell all kinds of things just by looking at their current condition, paying good attention to the structure of your mouth. You may need to find a periodontics, if your mouth is in a poor condition. They specialise in the supporting structures as well as vital tissues in your mouth. Healthy gum tissue is a rosy pink colour. It is moist to the touch, but it holds firmly to teeth. If the tissue is inflamed (red) or painful to brush, you must consult with your dentist. If you are experiencing inflammation, your dentist will be able to provide an effective form of gum treatment.

Discolouration

One of the most common dental procedures is plaque scraping. This is when a dentist literally scrapes built-up deposits from the surface of teeth. It doesn’t hurt, and it improves their health and appearance. If you have discoloured patches on some teeth, you may need a scraping.

Bad Taste in the Mouth

Periodontal disease (gingivitis) is a disease of the gums that can lead to tooth loss. Unfortunately, it’s more common than you might think. Statistics state that one in three Australians has the condition. Symptoms include chronic bad breath and a lingering, unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Bleeding Gums

This isn’t a subtle sign, but it’s worth mentioning because it’s very common. The truth is that all gums, even the healthy ones, have a propensity to bleed sometimes. However, it should not happen more than a few times per month and certainly not every day.

Persistent Headaches

In some cases, persistent headaches can be related to oral health problems. This might sound surprising but think about the effect that something like grinding the teeth might have on the skull. Chronic grinding (particularly during sleep) erodes teeth and causes shooting pains.

Infrequent Visits

Finally, there’s no better reason to pay your dentist a visit than a long absence. We all know that dental appointments should be booked twice per year, but it’s easy to let things slip. If you know that you haven’t been keeping up, make it a goal to schedule a routine inspection.

Why the Dentist Should Hold No Fear

For many people, it’s a fear of painful procedures that keeps them away from the dentist. This isn’t really logical though because very few practices (even the gory ones) involve any sensation at all. These days, patients are completely numbed with very good anaesthetics.

Moreover, dentists are trained to deal with those who feel nervous. In fact, they expect it. They know as well as you do that being prodded in the mouth is a strange process. All they want is to make you comfortable, so they can finish the appointment quickly and let you get back to your day.