If you are interested in saving money and looking your best, consider having your teeth cleaned.
Brushing and flossing are important steps in dental hygiene, but so too is a visit to your dentist who can help find clues about your or your children's overall health.
You see, the mouth can reveal indicators about potential problems with your body and a good dentist can often be the gateway to your path for good health.
During a routine dental visit a good dentist may be able to uncover the following potential problems:
Upper respiratory disorders.
Viral infections in the lungs of suffers can produce lesions or sores inside their mouths.
Acid reflux and Hiatal Hernia.
Suffers who repeatedly burp bile into their mouths can experience eroded tooth enamel and a bitter taste in their mouths.
Diabetes.
Clues left in the mouth of diabetics include inflammation, infections, dry mouth, burning tongue, persistent gingivitis and multiple lesions. (Diabetics have special needs because some diabetic medication causes dry mouth and lack of saliva production which is known to cause cavities and gum disease.)
Kidney failure.
Dentists can also find evidence of kidney failure. Retarded tooth development in children, dry mouth, odor, metallic taste, ulcers on the tongues and gums in adults may lead the dentist to suggest a visit to a medical doctor to check for properly functioning kidneys.
Anemia.
Some of the earliest signs of anemia are oral, (including burning, fiery red tongue, inflamed mucous membrane and difficulty swallowing.
Osteoporosis.
Xrays of the mouth can reveal eroded and thinner jawbones which is a symptom of osteoporosis.
When you are seeking a new (and good) dentist, which can be very trying, make sure they are members of the ADA (American Dental Association) and that they have experience as well as continued growth and study of new and important discoveries in the field of dentistry.
Do not allow for more than one or two separate x-rays per year. In fact, you should not need more than one x-ray every two years if your dental health has not been compromised. Too many x-rays can cause more harm than good! They dental employees will encourage more x-rays and tell you they are much safer than in the past. This is somewhat true, but studies continue to show that x-rays are still intrusive and should be kept to a minimum.
***Here is my aside. When I was a teenager, I was well developed (big boobs) I had gone to the same dentists for years. Dr. Timothy Foley in Birmingham Michigan. My mother would drop me off when I was going for a cleaning and/or a filling. This dentist instead of using the tray to keep his instruments would lay out the instruments on my chest. When he did this I know my eyes popped, as did his assistants. I was uncomfortable but I had somehow gotten the idea that the tray would not fit. This was not true and when the filling (or whatever) was done I walked out of there feeling confused. I did not go back to him or any dentist for a long time. Fortunately I maintained my good dental hygiene and when I did go back to the dentist I began going to a female dentist. And another strange thing about the new dentist was that I could go years without needing anything but a cleaning.
Moral of the story. There are good and bad dentist out there. Find one you are comfortable with and who is good. Changing dentists even if you have been going to them for years is allowed. Do what is best for YOU (and your children)...
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