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My teeth don’t hurt so they must be healthy

why this myth is not true at all

 

One of the phrases we often hear as dentists is exactly this: “My teeth
didn’t hurt so I thought they were healthy” from patients who then seek treatment.
Other times, patients may come into our clinics for routine dental exams and they’re surprised to hear that they need a filling or a root canal treatment. Again, because they haven’t felt any pain yet, they firmly believe their teeth and gums are healthy.
But just because your teeth don’t hurt yet, that doesn’t mean you should postpone your routine check-up. Here are some tips on how to be safe rather than sorry:

 

1. Your mouth will try to fix the problem before asking for help

Your mouth, like any other part of the body, will try to manage the disease or decay before it asks for help. And by the time your teeth will ask for help, decay will have reached at least a moderate level, continuously increasing and ultimately bringing pain and more costly procedures, too.

#AB tip for patients: It’s important to come for your routine exam and cleaning. Your doctor will be able to examine your mouth and perform X-rays, that will show any sign of decay or infection, or treat a cavity that is in its early stage.

#AB tip for dentists: Strong patient-doctor relationship and some good scheduling skills will keep your patients healthy. They might fear the dentist, and many of them only come when they feel pain. Talking to them about the benefits of regular check-ups – or the consequences of missing them will make them understand their importance.

 

2. Cavities & model patients

You may be a model patient who goes for checkups every six months, brush your teeth daily, and generally cares about oral hygiene more. Will you be surprised to know you have cavities, during one of your checkups?

#AB info tip: Plaque, a sticky material that covers the surfaces of your teeth, contains bacteria. This sticky substance feeds on simple carbohydrates present in your foods and generates plaque acid twenty about minutes after eating or drinking food. Your tooth enamel is dissolved by plaque acid and therefore, a cavity forms.

A cavity gradually exposes the dentine that makes a tooth sensitive if left untreated. Again, further decay will reveal the tooth pulp where the nerves in your teeth are if left unchecked. Your tooth can become infected and cause intense pain if this happens. You’re looking at the need for a root canal treatment or even future extraction of the tooth.

Food remnants and bacteria that “hide” between the teeth and in the area close to your gums will cause gingival inflammation and will eventually damage the gums and bone, which are the tooth support system. This may result in the loosening of teeth and even losing them for lack of support.

#AB tip for patients: Maintaining dental health includes brushing your teeth twice a day, along with flossing or other designated means between all your teeth. In addition, regular descaling by your dentist or a dental hygienist is required, once in a few months (frequency is individual), since some of the residues needs to be removed by special tools and knowledge.

#AB tip for dentists: Teach your patients all about prevention, recommending a proactive approach to getting any treatment that may be necessary, which saves time, money, and stress in the long run. And of course, always choose high-quality dental tools, to make sure the treatments you perform will keep them healthy for a very long time.

 

3. Some oral problems do not hurt

Gum inflammation usually does not hurt, even at advanced stages. Some teeth problems may also advance without you knowing it. And we must not forget other oral signs and conditions, that might be related to your oral health, or even your overall body health. Do not overlook any unusual signs and report them to your dentist.

 

All in all, keeping up with your six-month cleanings and checkups can help prevent many dental issues from starting in the first place, bringing benefits to both patients and dentists. This asks for a long-term commitment from both sides.

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Keywords: dental, cavity, dentist, hygiene, patient, treatment, teeth, health, oral health, pain, toothache, AB DENTAL, clinic, dental implant

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