Regular dental cleanings and exams best keep your teeth and gums healthy. Without these routine checkups, infections, tooth decay, and gum disease might spread like wildfire and harm your mouth irreparably. The secret to maintaining your smile in top condition year after year and avoiding expensive and uncomfortable oral health issues is preventive dental treatment. Your general dentist in Louisville will thoroughly examine your mouth during your teeth cleanings to ensure the dental hygiene issues that might harm you.
Let's explore the different oral problems that require the attention of your hygienist!
Tooth Decay:
Small black spots or receding patches on the enamel of your teeth, even below the gum line, are signs of tooth decay. To find any potential decay, your dental hygienist will check your teeth and take x-rays. To prevent the bacteria from moving to the middle of your tooth, you might need to have a cavity filled or undergo a more severe surgery if there are signs of decay.
Gum Damage:
Gum disease can arise due to poor dental hygiene practices, genetics, or medical issues. Inflammation along your gum line is typically the first indication of a problem. Your dental hygienist will examine your gum tissue while cleaning your teeth, looking for any signs of inflammation, discoloration, or tissue recession. She will also inquire about any gum pain you may have experienced. If these things stand out, you might require periodontal or gingivitis therapy.
Open Abscesses:
Open abscesses may develop when your gum tissue or other oral structures sustain an injury or infection. A little red or white patch on your lips, inside cheeks, or gum line could be an abscess. Your dental hygienist may discover the inflamed tissue during teeth cleaning, even though pain is typically felt when an abscess starts. Treatment for the underlying issue and sessions with prescription mouthwash may be provided.
Oral Infection:
Problems with oral infections affect your whole health in addition to your teeth. Canker sores, thrush, gingivitis, periodontal disease, herpangina, hand, foot, and mouth are common diseases. Untreated mouth infections can occasionally lead to endocarditis or a heart infection.
To ensure that you receive prompt treatment, your dental hygienist in Louisville, KY, will look for any indicators of oral disorders throughout your mouth, such as redness, swelling, pus, or bleeding.
Broken Teeth:
During the visual examination, your dental hygienist performs during your cleaning, little enamel cracks or damaged teeth are frequently discovered initially. Your teeth structure gets significantly weaker when this kind of damage occurs, which raises the possibility of more serious issues. Minor cracks can be filled in or resurfaced. Tell your dental hygienist about accidents or injuries so they can carefully examine your teeth. To maintain oral health, significant cracks, and fractures must be fixed and replaced with a bridge or implant.
By cleaning every six months, your hygienist can identify minor problems before they worsen, preventing difficulties like systemic infection or tooth loss. Regular dentist visits also maintain the brilliance of your smile and safeguard your oral health.