Have you chosen a dentist in your local area? Do you consistently go in for a check-up every 6 months as you should? Are you brushing and flossing at least twice a day and doing it properly?

If you answered, "Yes," to all these questions, that's great! But do you think that this is all you need to know about dental health?

It certainly isn't. In fact, there are several important questions besides these that you should ask your dentist during your next visit.

Many of these have to do with oft-ignored dental symptoms that your dentist should know about. Others concern helpful dental procedures that you might be missing out on.



You'll find all of these questions listed below. Read on to learn more.

1. Why Are My Teeth Hurting/Hypersensitive?

2. Why Does My Jaw Hurt/Click?

Likewise, jaw symptoms like pain and clicking noises indicate a number of dental health problems, including:

• An overworked jaw
• Grinding teeth in your sleep
• Bite misalignment
• TMJ or TMD



The popping may also be a sign of a serious jaw injury or arthritis. But you won't know for sure until you ask. Speak to your dentist about your jaw symptoms so that he/she can come up with a treatment plan.

3. How Can I Maintain Optimum Dental Health?

Hopefully, you take care of your teeth as best you know how. But what about the dental care tips that you don't know?

Your dentist knows the full details of your personal dental history. Thus, he/she can offer you personalized advice that is far better than any general dental care tips.



And, usually, your dentist will give you these pointers without any solicitation. But it never hurts to ask the dentist if there's anything more you can do. If you don't, he/she may assume you already know this information.

4. Why Do I Always Have Bad Breath?

We all know that eating onions and other pungent foods causes temporary bad breath. So do smoking and insufficient brushing/flossing.

But does it seem that you always have bad breath, even when none of these situations apply to you? This is usually a sign of a greater dental health problem. Possible causes include:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Abscesses
• Oral infections
• Respiratory infections
• Acid reflux
• Diabetes
• Kidney/liver problems



These are serious conditions that require urgent treatment. Don't be embarrassed to ask your dentist about your constant bad breath.

5. Should I Whiten My Teeth?

A lot of people decide against teeth whitening simply due to a lack of information. They worry to themselves that it might be too expensive, too painful, or too vain to even consider.

In reality, though, there are a lot of benefits to having your teeth whitened. So, why not ask your dentist and see what he/she has to say about this procedure? Then you can put your questions to rest and make an informed decision. 

6. Do You Recommend Any Other Dental Procedures?

As with teeth whitening, there are probably several other dental procedures that you've never considered either. The most common examples are braces, Invisalign, veneers, and dental implants.

Perhaps, you've let worries and opinions keep you from inquiring about these procedures, too. Thus, it's important to know that cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics are not merely about improving your appearance. Such treatments prevent serious dental complications, like jaw pain and bone loss.



Additionally, there may be loads of beneficial procedures that you simply aren't aware of. So, on your next visit, ask your dentist whether he/she would recommend any such procedures for you.

7. When/How Do I Bring My Child to the Dentist?

If you have kids and you've never taken them to the dentist, talk to your dentist about this right away. As soon as your child has teeth, they should start seeing a dentist, for several reasons.

First, dental X-rays reveal problems with your child's adult teeth long before their first baby tooth falls out. Plus, seeing a dentist at an early age reduces a person's fear/anxiety about dentistry later in life. If your child already has this fear, ask your dentist what he/she or you can do about this.



Furthermore, encouraging children to take proper care of their teeth is always difficult. But it's a lot easier when you ask for your dentist's professional help in this area. This is especially important because a cavity in your child's baby tooth can spread to the adult teeth below.

Bring These Questions to Your Dentist on Your Next Visit

Now that you know, write these questions down, bookmark this page, or print this guide out. Then, discuss these points with your dentist to learn how to take better care of your teeth. 



Don't wait to get the competent dental care you need. Call (856) 589-7789 now or contact Sewell Dental Designs here to make an appointment or speak to a dental professional.