4 Conditions You Probably Did Not Know Require Dental Attention
As a general rule of thumb, you should see a dentist twice per year. While this statement is factual, other reasons can prompt you to see a dentist. Even if you brush your teeth and floss twice daily, you may still need to see a dental specialist, especially if you fall under the high-risk category. That includes pregnant women, smokers, people with weak immune systems, diabetic patients, or those suffering from gum disease.
Take a look at other conditions that require dental attention:
1. You Experience Headaches or Soreness
If you experience headaches or sore neck, you probably clench your jaw a lot while sleeping. Some people also clench their jaws when anxious about something. This habit leads to a dental problem in your temporomandibular (TMJ) joints. A dentist can suggest exercises or stress-relieving options to lift the discomfort. Also, there are some devices you can wear at night to treat this problem.
2. You Have Dry Mouth
A dry mouth is quite uncomfortable to live with. The condition mainly arises from excessive use of certain antibiotic drugs. It could also be due to other health conditions like diabetes. As minor as this symptom may seem, it can lead to gum disease, which often results in smelly breath. Because of that, you need to see a dentist for immediate treatment. Usually, they recommend a special kind of mouthwash.
3. You Have Canker Sores
Canker sores are a dental problem that affects many people, and the right person to see for that is a dentist. This condition causes tiny sores on the gums, the inner lips and cheeks, on your tongue or the roof of your mouth. Canker sores result from accidental bites or irritation by spicy or acidic foods. If the area does not heal within a week or if the symptom keeps recurring, you should visit a dentist at once. The sores could also be due to other severe conditions like allergies, hormonal shifts or stress.
4. You Are Restless While Sleeping
Many people snore, gasp for air, choke or wake up a lot in their sleep. This condition is called sleep apnea and is caused by a blocked upper airway. When that happens, you practically stop breathing for about 10 seconds. In that case, there is insufficient air going to the brain, causing you to wake up. While you should see a sleep physician for this condition, you may also need dental services for an additional oral appliance treatment.
As you can see, a dentist does more than teeth whitening and treating bad breath. Because of that, you should be careful not to miss your dental sessions for early diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions.
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