Most of you have probably heard
the Canadian Dental Association recommendation that you visit the dentist twice
a year. While this is a good guideline, there could be reasons for you to visit
the dentist even more often. We have patients in our Hinton
office who come more frequently than that.
Each of you has individual oral
care needs, and we will suggest a realistic schedule for your dental
appointments to ensure optimum oral health. Besides tooth whitening with our
cosmetic dentist, there are many good reasons for you to visit us often.
We Check for Gum Disease
One of the best reasons to visit
us often is that we check your teeth and gums for signs of gum disease.
Gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is still reversible with
professional cleaning and proper flossing. You don’t want that gingivitis to
advance to gum disease, though. Gum disease puts you at higher risks for a host
of other health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s
disease, osteoporosis, preterm birth and cancer.
Certain situations can increase
your risk of gum disease, such as tobacco use, diabetes, pregnancy, crowded
teeth, poor oral habits and even genetics. If any of these apply to you, we may
want to see you more frequently than every six months. You may notice certain
changes in your gums, such as bleeding, swelling, tenderness and pulling away
from the teeth. These symptoms could signal gum disease, so call your dentist
for an exam as soon as possible.
We Thoroughly Clean Your Teeth
Plaque naturally builds up on our
teeth throughout the day. The thin sticky film can harm your teeth if you don’t
properly remove it. Oral bacteria are found in plaque, and these bacteria react
with sugars in your mouth and produce acids. These acids eat away at the hard
enamel on the outer layer of your teeth. The hole the acids make is called a
cavity. Our professional hygienists have the right tools and training to remove
plaque buildup and also remove hardened plaque – or tartar – from your teeth.
Tartar that accumulates near the gum line can even cause gingivitis. Frequent
cleanings will even improve the appearance of your teeth. We also offer teeth
whitening in Orleans if you desire an even more illustrious smile. You can
thwart plaque and tartar buildup with frequent trips to the dentist combined with
a careful at-home oral care regimen. You should floss at least once a day and
brush at least twice a day to ensure healthy teeth and gums between dental
cleanings.
We Monitor Tooth Movement
One less obvious reason to visit
us often is so we can monitor the movement of your teeth. You may have a full
set of permanent teeth, but you could still experience shifting and crowding as
an adult. We offer Invisalign, invisible braces for Hinton residents who want
straighter, more attractive smiles. Your misaligned teeth could even be causing
stress on your bite. Our neuromuscular dentists can examine how your teeth,
jaw, muscles and bone are functioning together.
We Screen for Oral Cancer
At each dental visit we take time
to inspect your mouth, cheeks, tongue, lips and gums for any signs of oral
cancer. Oral cancer is much easier to treat the earlier it’s found. In later
stages oral cancer can spread to other parts of your body, which makes it much
more difficult to eradicate. We will monitor your mouth for any red or white
lesions, persistent lumps, bleeding or trouble swallowing. These could be
symptoms of oral cancer. Approximately 3,200 new oral cancer cases affect
Canadians every year, and each year approximately 1,050 Canadians die from oral
cancer according to the CDA. Take every precaution that oral cancer doesn’t
affect you or your loved ones.
Research is helping us understand
how tightly oral health is linked to our total body health. Visit your dentist
regularly, brush and floss routinely and eat a balanced diet for the healthiest
teeth and gums possible. The rest of your body will benefit, too. Our Foothills
Dental team is happy to help you reach your oral health goals and realize your
dream smile.
To schedule an appointment, call Foothills
Dental Centre. Trusted and proudly serving Hinton, Edson, Jasper,
Grande Cache, Spruce Grove, Whitecourt and the Drayton Valley.