When To Know You Need To Visit The Dentist
Here are the circumstances of situations that warrant scheduling a dental appointment.
Q: “How can I tell I need to go to the dentist?”
A: The American Dental Association recommends making an appointment at the dentist in any of the following situations:
- Your teeth feel heightened sensitivity to hot or cold
- Your gums are puffy and/or they bleed excessively when you brush or floss your teeth
- You have had fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures, etc.
- You want to improve the way your smile looks
- You have severe bad breath
- You experience bad tastes in your mouth on a regular basis
- You smoke or use other tobacco products on a regular basis
- You become pregnant
- You are experiencing pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck
- You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay
- You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away
- You experience excessive mouth dryness
- You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy
- You have popping sounds in your jaw, or jaw movement has become painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up.
- You have an uneven or imbalanced bite
- You have difficulty chewing or swallowing
- You have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders or are HIV positive
Some information for this page was taken from the ADA and Mayo Clinic.
