Ace Your Dental Checkup

Those visits to the family dentist in Boise, Idaho, every six months are far more critical than many adults realize. Your oral health strongly correlates with the health of your overall body and can contribute to your mental, social, and physical well-being. When your teeth and gums are healthy, it enables you to speak, socialize, and eat without fear of pain, discomfort, or embarrassment. Therefore, we must commit a routine dental checkup.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should schedule your dental checkup and show up unprepared. Adults who take the time to prepare a dental checkup list to cover off all topics they should mention to the dentist are far more likely to maintain good oral health and overall well-being. So, aside from eating nutritious foods, brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing with a fluoridated mouthwash, what should you do to prepare for your next dental checkup?

5 Important Things that Should be on Your Dental Checkup List

When preparing for your next dental checkup, take some time to prepare a list of key topics that you should mention to your dentist. Your dentist can provide you with better overall care when he or she is better informed about what is going on with your overall health.

1. Tell your dentist if you have had COVID.

Though the world seems to be returning to normal as more Americans get vaccinated, we have to remember that we just lived through a major pandemic. And, though we can get out and about and don’t need to wear our masks or socially distance as much as we had to over the last 14 or more months, it doesn’t mean that all of the concerns are behind us.

If you have had COVID, your dentist must know this. Be sure to provide all relevant details, such as when you had the illness and the symptoms you experienced. Further, be sure to let your dentist know if you have been vaccinated and when. If you haven’t been vaccinated, there are some things your dentist will want you to know about the COVID vaccine.

2. Tell your dentist if you have gum tenderness.

Gum tenderness is a common symptom of periodontal (gum) disease. When you do not floss properly or do not brush regularly, food particles can get stuck between your teeth, thus causing your gums to pull away. Unfortunately, patients often overlook gum health, but there are things that everyone should know about gingivitis, an illness that, when not treated, can lead to periodontitis.

Though your dentist will likely notice other signs of gum disease, you must share how your teeth and gums feel overall. If your family dentist determines that you have gum disease, they can get you started on a treatment plan that can help get you back to good oral health.

3. Let your dentist know if you are experiencing swelling or bleeding after brushing or flossing.

Swelling or bleeding after brushing or flossing is another common symptom of gum disease. But it can also be a sign of something else, including improper brushing or flossing techniques, hormonal changes, or other illness including oral cancer or an abscessed tooth. As with other health concerns, the more your dentist knows, the more targeted treatment you can receive.

4. Inform your dentist if you have high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure is a vital indicator to your dentist as to how you might respond to various dental treatments. Your dentist or dental assistant might even decide to take your blood pressure at your visit as a baseline to help alert the dentist to anxiety concerns and your overall health. If you have high blood pressure, your dentist may want to consult with your doctor or cardiologist before pursuing specific dental procedures.

5. Tell your doctor if you are a diabetic.

If you haven’t picked up on it yet, the more your dentist in Boise, Idaho, knows about your health, the better treatment that they can provide. So, if you have diabetes, be sure to tell your dentist about this at your next dentist appointment. If you have diabetes, you are more susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay, dry mouth, and thrush. If you are suffering from any of these ailments, your dentist can partner with you to help you feel better.

Prepare your Dental Checkup List and Schedule Your Appointment with Staley Dental

If you are overdue for a dental cleaning or are experiencing tooth or gum pain, don’t delay scheduling your next dentist appointment with Staley Dental in Boise, ID. There are many things that your dentist wishes you knew, including how much your daily decisions impact your oral health. So, be sure to inform us of your daily diet, your adherence to daily flossing, whether or not you smoke or use other tobacco products, whether or not you have tried teeth whitening, and if you are experiencing any pain. The more you include on your checklist and share with us, the more we can help you.