Check Your Own Oral Health
Answer the following questions and find out if you need to take steps to ensure your own oral health.
If you have answered "No" to all of the questions above, well done! Chances are you have good oral health. However, it is advisable to visit your dentist at least once a year for a check-up, to make sure that everything is ok. Remember that there could be incipient problems that this checklist does not include and that you may not notice.
If you have answered "Yes" to any of the above questions, please do visit your dentist to find out the cause of the problem and take corrective action. Don't wait for it to get worse.
Here's an idea of what can be causing your problems. Information is from the Singapore Dental Health Foundation.
| 1. |
Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth, or even when you eat, are a sure sign of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque that accumulate on the surfaces of teeth, especially between the teeth and near the gums. If not controlled, gum disease can spread to the bone supporting the teeth and eventually cause the tooth to become loose! Plaque needs to be removed completely every day to prevent bleeding. Plaque can be removed by correct brushing and flossing. Sometimes, depending on how your teeth are arranged, you may need to use additional cleaning aids. Ask your dentist to show you the correct way to brush your teeth and to see if there may be any other reason why your gums bleed. Often, professional cleaning with good home care can resolve the bleeding. |
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| 2. |
Sometimes, if you have receding gums and the root surfaces are exposed, they may become sensitive. The sensitivity usually occurs when you take cold water, sour foods, etc. Your gums might be receding because of incorrect brushing. Your dentist will be able to advise you on what you may be doing wrong. Sensitivity may also be due to early decay or a broken filling. It can also occur if the natural enamel coating of your tooth becomes worn out. It may even be due to a dying tooth! Further examination by your dentist will be needed to ascertain the cause for sensitive teeth. |
| 3. |
That furry coating is dental plaque. This is a film of bacteria that collects on the surfaces of your teeth after every meal. Dental plaque can cause both tooth decay and gum disease. Dental plaque needs to be removed by brushing and flossing, ideally after every meal. If you can see dental plaque on your teeth, brush it off! If you don't know how to remove it, ask your dentist to show you how. |
| 4. |
That crusty, hard layer is calculus, commonly called tartar. Calculus is a hardened layer of bacteria, or plaque. It cannot be removed by brushing. It is most often found where saliva pools like the inside margins of the lower teeth and the cheek surfaces of the upper, back teeth. If left to accumulate, calculus will irritate the gums and cause gum disease. It has to be removed by a dentist through a process called scaling. |
| 5. |
A tooth that is getting darker (more gray or brownish-yellow) is one sign that the tooth may be dead, i.e. the pulp has been destroyed by infection or trauma. In such a case, the dentist would have to take an X-ray and probably perform root canal treatment for you. A tooth could appear to be getting darker if there is decay, or if a filling has deteriorated and become discoloured over the years. On the other hand, a tooth could appear darker simply because it is dirty! Also, remember that teeth generally do get darker as we age. Ask your dentist why your tooth seems to be getting darker. |
| 6. |
Pimples on your gums are not part of growing up! They are usually a sign of an abscess within your gums or bone. You must have your dentist check it and find out the cause! |
| 7. |
A bad smell from between your gums is usually due to food debris accumulating in the crevices between your teeth and gums. If brushing thoroughly and flossing does not eliminate it, it could be due to gum disease, tooth decay, or a rough filling. Your dentist may need to take an X-ray to see what could be causing the problem. |
| 8. |
Unusual swellings or swellings that you never noticed before could be a sign of underlying disease. It could be due to an infection, a cyst, or even cancer. Have it examined by a dentist. Remember, early detection may mean a definite cure. |
| 9. |
Food getting stuck between your teeth could be due to several reasons. It could be due to a cavity (hole caused by tooth decay) between your teeth, a rough filling on the sides of your teeth, or a space forming between your teeth because of the teeth drifting or tilting. Do get the area checked by your dentist. Even if it is not caused by any disease, your dentist can give you some tips on better care for your teeth. |
| 10. |
If your floss breaks when you try to clean between your teeth, it could be that you might be using the wrong technique. Ask your dentist to show you the right way. Floss that breaks, frays or simply gets stuck between your teeth could also be signs that there may be a rough filling on the sides of your teeth, or a cavity (tooth decay) or some calculus stuck on the surface of the teeth. Your dentist may need to take an X-ray to confirm the cause of this problem. |
Courtesy of Singapore Dental Health Foundation
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