The Whole Tooth and Nothing But the Tooth

Have questions about your oral health, but always find it difficult to ask during your checkup while your mouth is being worked on? Here are a few questions you've always wanted to ask your dentist.

Is It Possible To Have Cavities If You Do Not Have Pain?

Many people assume that if their teeth do not feel as if they are in pain then they do not have any dental problems. However, cavities can happen to anybody and not be painful. If the cavity is not big enough to reach the nerve of the tooth or cause increased sensitivity, you'll likely feel no difference at all. The goal is to catch these cavities early enough by scheduling regular checkups with your dentist and having a teeth examination. Many small cavities can be found through x-rays and fixed with a very small filling.

Can Chewing Gum Really Prevent Cavities?

While you may picture chewing gum as something that is bad for your teeth, this is only true if you are chewing sugary chewing gum.  There is actually a benefit to chewing sugar-free gum as a way to prevent cavities.  Chewing gum will help increase your saliva production, which keeps your mouth clean and lowers the acidity levels in your mouth that leads to decay.  If you just have a meal and do not have time to brush your teeth, chewing gum can help prevent the damage that is caused by leaving the foot on your teeth.  The only people that may want to avoid chewing gum are those that have TMJ problems.

How Can You Tell If A Patient Has Not Been Brushing And Flossing Regularly?

Don't think that you can get away with not brushing or flossing between checkups, and then make up for it by putting extra care in right before you appointment. There are going to be plenty of signs that a patient has not been brushing or flossing over the past six months.

For starters, the gums are going to be more inflamed than normal , with them bleeding quite easily when the dentist is cleaning the patient's teeth. While brushing and flossing helps get rid of plaque, it will not get rid of the hardened plaque on your teeth known as tartar.  That tartar is going to remain, and the only way it got there was from a lack of brushing and flossing over time.

Feel free to talk to your dentist before or after your appointment if you have other questions.