Five Signs it’s Time to See a Dentist

Most of us try to avoid seeing a dentist for as long as we can. Not only does it take up time in our days – days that are busy enough as it is – but they are not the most fun of appointments. You have to spend time in a waiting room, only to then spend more time with a bunch of strange instruments in our mouths. We all know that we should be going to the dentist, but try to find excuses not to whenever we can.

However, there are certain signs that will tell you it’s time to visit a dentist. If you are experiencing any of the signs below, it’s a good time to make an appointment with your dentist.

You’re Experiencing Tooth Pain

One of the most obvious signs that it’s time to see your dentist is when you’re experiencing tooth pain. Tooth pain can come from any number of things, but all of them need to be taken care of by a dentist. Your dentist can help to treat the underlying problem and keep it from getting worse. If you ignore tooth pain, you could find yourself dealing with a much larger problem somewhere down the road. So make an appointment with your dentist and go back to being able to chew with comfort.

Pain in Your Gums

Along the same lines as tooth pain is pain in your gums. Gum pain signals that there is something wrong with either your gums themselves or your teeth. Just like with tooth pain, if you ignore gum pain for too long, the problem is likely to grow. If you’re lucky the gum pain will be from something minor, but in some cases, you may need a minor surgery to fix the issue. The only way to know for sure is to talk to a dentist and let them examine you.

Grinding Your Teeth

Do you have a habit of grinding your teeth? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people grind their teeth every day, sometimes without even realizing it. You may even grind your teeth in your sleep. Grinding your teeth can lead to tooth pain, jaw pain, and more. If you’re grinding your teeth your dentist will be able to tell by examining you and then they will recommend a course of action. This could be something as simple as relieving some stress or changing your posture, or you may need to start wearing a mouth guard at night.

You Have a Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Another time you’ll want to visit a dentist is when one or more of your teeth are cracked and chipped. While not necessarily a problem for your health, many people do not like the way these teeth look when they smile. A dentist will be able to perform a tooth restoration and get your smile back to the way it was. Liking your smile plays a big part in your self-confidence, so if you don’t like the way yours looks because of a chipped or cracked tooth, it’s time to let a dentist fix it for you.

You Haven’t Been in a While

Finally, the last sign that it’s time for a dentist visit is if you haven’t been there for a while. Even if you aren’t experiencing any problems at the moment, it’s important that you visit your dentist regularly. Doing so will allow your dentist to make sure you don’t have any issues – like gum disease or oral cancer – and they can perform a deep cleaning. Seeing your dentist at least twice a year is recommended for good oral health, so if it’s been a while since you saw yours, now is a good time to make another appointment.

Finding a Dentist

Maybe the reason you haven’t been to the dentist in a while is because you don’t have one. If so, you’re going to want to find one as soon as you can. Chances are there are multiple dentists offices within your area, and you should be able to find one that takes your insurance and isn’t too far from home.

According to Wasilla Family Dentistry, here’s what you can expect from a typical visit to your dentist: “Once you have checked in, you will be escorted to a private patient room for your exam. During this cursory assessment, we are looking for dental decay as well as signs of gingivitis or gum disease. We will also obtain digital x-rays in order to evaluate the health of the teeth and the underlying jawbone. We will then provide a thorough cleaning of your teeth”.

After that it’s just a quick talk with your dentist to go over any issues or recommendations, and then you’re good to go. If you go at a time when it isn’t too crowded, you can be in and out in under an hour. So the next time you’re experiencing any of the signs listed above – or if you just haven’t been there in a while – make an appointment with your dentist. Doing so will ensure you have good oral health for a long time to come.