Going to the dentist in Sarnia is not always about fixing problems with your oral health. In fact, most dental appointments focus on the prevention of oral health issues. During a dental appointment, your dentist will take a comprehensive look at your oral health condition. Afterward, your dentist will provide feedback on your current oral health condition and recommend tips for cleaning and teeth maintenance. Many times, if you keep up with your oral health, your dentist will send you home with a new toothbrush and tell you to keep up the good work. Other times, you may have to book a follow-up appointment and address any pressing concerns. Here are six things your family dentist in Sarnia will be checking for when you go for regular dental appointments.

Gums

When it comes to your gums, a dentist is checking for the color and strength of your gums. Red and weakened gums are a sign of gingivitis or potentially a more serious case of gum disease. To keep up with your gum health, you need to keep plaque build-up to a minimum. Brushing and flossing twice daily is a great way to avoid plaque build-up.

Teeth Strength

Your dentist in Sarnia will want to make sure you have strong teeth. They will check for tooth strength by using a variety of dental tools. Weakened enamel shows up as more yellow and even clear. Intaking healthy amounts of calcium and vitamin D are two ways to improve tooth strength.

Abnormal Growth

Another vital portion of your routine dentist appointment is oral screening for cancer. Your dentist will look for unnatural growths or sores on your gums, tongue, and throat. They may perform screening with different UV tools to search for abnormalities. Additionally, your dentist will check your neck and lymph nodes for any swelling. This is one critical reason seeing a dentist should be routine. They know what they’re looking for and, with regular visits, can track any changes.

Cavities

Your family dentist in Sarnia will look for any possible cavities in your teeth. If they find any, you will be asked to book a follow-up appointment to get a filling. Cavities result from plaque build-up on or in between the teeth. Cavities commonly show up in between teeth because it is hardest to keep plaque-free and is often missed when brushing your teeth.

Look for Issues in Teeth Structure

Your dentist may want to take teeth and jaw x-rays. These x-rays will offer an inside look into the hidden structure of your teeth. X-rays can act as a crystal ball for dentists for any issues that may arise in your oral health future.

Bad Habits

Your teeth are a canvas for your oral health habits; both good and bad. In the same way, your dentist will be impressed with your consistent cleaning, they will be able to tell from stains if you smoke or drink coffee frequently. They may recommend you stop smoking or cut back on drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea if the tooth damage is prominent enough.

Looking to book your next appointment? Call Wiltshire Family Dental in Sarnia today to schedule an appointment!