If you’re like most folks, you know to discuss your smile’s status at dental visits. Dentists can’t care for your grin when they lack the right details about your teeth and gums. However, oral health isn’t the only thing worth bringing up; you should also mention other health factors at your next checkup. Doing so ensures you get the best possible treatment. As for the specifics, here are four health-related factors you should discuss during your next dental checkup and cleaning.
Changes in Your Medication(s)
While they may seem irrelevant, your current medications are things your dentist should know about. These medicines could affect your long-term oral health.
Depending on your medication, your smile could be doing well or poorly. Some supplements – including vitamins A, C, and D – actually strengthen a patient’s teeth and gums. Similarly, a medicine you take for a non-dental issue (i.e., diabetes, etc.) could cause a dry mouth that harms your enamel and gums.
Any Heart or Digestive Issues
It’s also good to mention your heart or digestive issues (if any) to your dentist. That way, your dental provider can tailor your treatment plan as needed.
The fact remains that your oral health affects your heart and digestion (and vice versa). For example, bacteria from a case of gum disease could enter your bloodstream and raise your blood pressure. That increased hypertension would then make your medication less effective. On the other hand, chronic digestive issues may also cause acid reflux – something that wears away at your tooth enamel.
Jaw Pain or Headaches
Dentists will want to know whether you’ve had any recent jaw pain or headaches. After all, such discomfort can be the result of oral health problems.
Most patients don’t associate their heads and jaws with oral health, but pain in these areas can relate to your smile’s well-being. In fact, such aches often indicate a disorder affecting your temporomandibular joint (TMD). Once a dentist diagnoses you with such a condition, they can quickly treat you and ease your aches.
Recent Illnesses
Whether they were mouth-related or not, please mention any recent illnesses you’ve had to your dentist. They’ll use that information to determine how to go about your checkup.
You see, some full-body illnesses can greatly affect your oral health. A major example would be kidney disease – an ailment that makes gum disease more likely. At the same time, health conditions can also cause dry mouth and increase your risk of tooth decay. Yet others will even affect when you can get your checkup, a factor that puts your smile in more or less danger.
Before your next dental checkup, try to memorize the points above. Mentioning them to your dentist will do your smile a lot of good!
About the Practice
South Arlington Dental Care is based in Pantego, TX. Led by Dr. Prachi Shah, our practice is strongly committed to effective and wide-ranging dentistry. We always tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each patient’s specific smile needs! In doing so, our team can help any family get healthy and dreamy grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (817)-860-2222.