{"id":796,"date":"2023-11-14T03:25:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T03:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/?p=796"},"modified":"2023-12-14T03:32:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T03:32:52","slug":"important-questions-to-ask-your-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/important-questions-to-ask-your-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Questions to Ask Your Dentist During Your Next Checkup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-797\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Female patient having a dental cleaning\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/consultation.jpg 1768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Routine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/dental-checkups-and-cleanings.html\">cleanings and checkups<\/a> are equally important as brushing and flossing. The American Dental Association recommends a preventive appointment every 6 months to keep your mouth healthy. Your dentist will learn a lot about you and your dental health. However, it is also your opportunity to get to know your smile. Here are a few questions to ask your dentist to discover more about your oral health.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have I Suffered Any Enamel Loss?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your teeth are protected by the hardest substance in your body. Your enamel is stronger than many metals, but it can erode over time. Unfortunately, it can&#8217;t regenerate. Once you&#8217;ve lost enamel, it is gone for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tooth decay is a leading cause of enamel loss. 92% of adults will experience cavities. Your risk can increase with age because your enamel will get thinner from wear and tear.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dentist finds any decay, they&#8217;ll recommend a dental filling. If you show signs of enamel erosion, they may suggest additional treatments, like fluoride varnish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I Have Gingivitis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, which is a preventable infection that can cause tooth loss and affect your overall wellness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 50% of adults have a form of the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people don&#8217;t notice the signs of gingivitis, allowing the infection to progress. Red, swollen, and bleeding gums are symptoms of gingivitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist will examine your gums and measure your periodontal pockets. If they find any signs of infection, they&#8217;ll recommend gum disease therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do You See Any Signs of Oral Cancer?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to be a smoker to be at risk of oral cancer. 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer annually. Sadly, there&#8217;s only a 68% 5-year survival rate, despite being treatable. The high mortality rate is attributed to late detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers report that 80% of new cases can be diagnosed early by dentists during semi-annual appointments. Your dentist will perform a quick oral cancer screening and let you know if they find anything concerning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can I Keep My Mouth Healthy at Home?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brushing and flossing are your first lines of defense against preventable dental problems. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at least twice daily, if not after every meal. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth. Brush for 2 full minutes and don&#8217;t forget to clean your tongue. You should also floss every day to remove plaque and food residue your toothbrush can&#8217;t reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides keeping your pearly whites clean, limit sugars and starches to keep tooth decay at bay. Break any bad habits that can lead to a dental emergency, like using your teeth in place of scissors or crunching ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t hesitate to ask your dentist any questions. They&#8217;ll give you the information you need to make educated decisions for your smile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Dr. H. Douglas Clark III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/meet-the-dentists.html\">Dr. Clark<\/a> studied biology and chemistry before achieving his dental degree from Marquette University School of Dentistry. He remains up-to-date with the latest advancements in dentistry to provide superior care. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">Request an appointment<\/a> through his website or call (715) 392-5161.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Routine cleanings and checkups are equally important as brushing and flossing. The American Dental Association recommends a preventive appointment every 6 months to keep your mouth healthy. Your dentist will learn a lot about you and your dental health. However, it is also your opportunity to get to know your smile. Here are a few [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Important Questions to Ask Your Dentist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have an upcoming dental appointment, here are a few important questions to ask during your cleaning and checkup.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hillavenuedental.com\/blog\/important-questions-to-ask-your-dentist\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Important Questions to Ask Your 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