In this post, we review a list of 12 reasons to visit your dentist right away instead of waiting for your next annual appointment.
We hope that you are keeping up the habit of visiting your dentist at least once a year for an annual check-up.
There are so many dental problems that can be prevented by finding them early, especially serious issues like gum disease and oral cancer that can be treated if discovered as soon as possible.
In case you find your self wondering if it is necessary to see a dentist now or wait till your annual exam, here is a list of signs that we think should cause you to visit the dentist right away.
Reasons to visit a dentist right away
Pain or swelling
Gums are puffy or bleeding
You’re hiding your smile
You’ve recently had work done
Ongoing medical issues
You are pregnant
Trouble eating
Dry mouth
Tobacco use
Jaw pain
Spots or sores
Annual check-up time
Pain or swelling
If you are suffering from pain or swelling, there is no reason to put off that visit that may be scheduled for a month or longer away. Make that visit right away. Toothaches, swelling, and pain are all symptoms of issues that you should have treated right away. The sooner the better. You can end that pain and also improve your long-term health.
If your gums are puffy or bleeding when you brush, it’s time to visit the dentist. These are signs of gum disease and the sooner you can have it treated the sooner you can stop the damage. It can’t always be reversed but you can keep it from causing more serious damage.
If you are hiding your smile, that’s a sure sign that it’s time to get some work done to address the issue. Don’t hide your smile, get it fixed and start feeling great again.
You’ve recently had work done
If you have recently had fillings, crowns, dental implants or dentures, you need to follow up with your dentist as recommended for a follow up so they can make sure everything has worked out the way it should.
Ongoing medical issues
Your dental health can tie in with your overall health and each may influence each other. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, or an eating disorder, or undergoing medical treatments, you should make sure your dentist is a partner in your treatment and health. Symptoms of other health issues can show in your mouth or your gums could point to other potential health issues.
You are pregnant
If you weren’t sure, it IS safe to go to the dentist while pregnant. It is recommended you do so because pregnancy can make some dental issues worse. Make sure you schedule an appointment so that you will have one less thing to worry about.
Trouble eating
If you are having trouble eating or drinking, do yourself a favor and schedule an appointment with your dentist. Stop living with discomfort and don’t take a chance that you’ll make your issues worse by waiting.
Dry mouth
Sometimes dry mouth can be a symptom of another medical issue. It can also be a side effect of medications you are taking. Check with your dentist and get to the cause of this so you can find a solution.
Cigarettes and chewing tobacco can affect your dental and physical health. If you are a regular tobacco user, you should have an oral cancer screening in Plano to check for any early signs or oral cancer so it can be addressed as soon as possible.
Jaw pain
It is time to visit the dentist if you are having jaw pain or popping when you are opening and closing your mouth, waking up in the morning or chewing. These could be symptoms of TMJ and your dentist can help you find a TMJ treatment in Plano that can work for you and ease your TMJ pain. Another reason to schedule an appointment could be an uneven bite.
If you notice a spot or a sore in your mouth that isn’t normally there and it lasts for a week or longer, you should see your dentist about it. Different types of mouth sores include canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia, and candidiasis. These can all vary in their seriousness and have different causes. Mouth sores can be the symptom of a disease or disorder. They can also be an infection from bacteria, a virus or fungus or result from irritation caused by braces, dentures or the sharp edge of a broken tooth or filling.
Annual check-up time
Have you had your annual dental check-up in Plano, TX? We sure hope so! It’s simple to schedule and will help keep your mouth healthy and contributes to your overall physical health.
The month of April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Why are oral cancer screenings important?
Although many people are under the impression that oral cancer is rare, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over 50,00 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2018.
Another misconception is that only smokers and tobacco users will get oral cancer, but this is not true. Alcohol users and people who have contracted HPV virus are also at risk, as are people with a genetic predisposition, whether people smoke or not.
Early detection of oral cancer, while it is small, isolated and hasn’t spread, allows for more treatment options and a much higher chance of survival. This is why we offer and strongly recommend oral cancer screenings.
In Dr. Wilhite’s decades of experience, he has unfortunately seen patients suffer from oral cancers. What gives us hope though, is that new oral cancer screening methods now allow for earlier detection of abnormalities than was ever possible before.
Our office provides oral cancer screenings in Plano, and we recommend them to all adults over the age of 18. An oral cancer screening is affordable, fast, simple, and painless. They save lives.
About Oral Cancer Screenings
The most effective way to control oral cancer is through early diagnosis followed by timely and appropriate treatments. Because over 90% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, the vast majority of oral cancers are diagnosed from surface lesions.
Although there is no standard routine screening test for oral cancers, many pre-cancers in the mouth can be found early during screening exams by a dentist. Sometimes people will experience symptoms in the mouth that will send them to a dentist or doctor for an examination.
Unfortunately, oral cancers don’t always cause symptoms until they have grown or spread. Sometimes they cause symptoms such as a toothache or ear pain that can be mistaken for a dental issue when it is actually an oral cancer issue.
By having regular oral cancer screenings, you will be able to detect issues much sooner. You can schedule a screening every six months along with your routine dental check-ups to ensure you are examined regularly.
Please schedule your oral cancer screening this month. Recommend that your friends and family get oral cancer screenings. Save a life!
Are you ready to schedule your oral cancer screening in Plano, Texas area?
Contact us today to set up your examination. Dr. Wilhite has over 30 years experience and can detect oral cancer issues. He will be able to identify possible issues and recommend further treatments if needed.
Oral cancer is cancer that can develop in any part of the mouth. It is common enough that it affects over 200,000 people in the United States each year.
Although it can be fatal, oral cancer is often treatable if detected early enough. That is why we always recommend oral cancer screenings every year for our patients. If detected soon enough, treatment is available.
Want to schedule an oral cancer screening in Plano, TX? Call (972) 964-3774
Because it is treatable, it becomes important to detect it as early as possible. Your dentist can perform an oral cancer screening using the latest available technology. Using the OralID device, your dentist can check your mouth for signs of oral cancer and find them sooner than previous screenings could. The screening takes just a few minutes and is entirely painless.
In between screenings, you should be on the lookout for oral cancer symptoms.
If you find any of these symptoms, follow up with your dentist or doctor to schedule a screening and evaluation.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Persistent ores, swelling, lumps, bumps, or thick patches anywhere in or around your mouth or throat that don’t heal
A mouth sore that bleeds
Areas of red or white patches in your mouth or lips
Persistent mouth pain
Thickening of the skin or lining of your mouth
Painful swallowing or feeling of lump in throat
A sore throat that does not go away
Unexplained numbness or pain in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
Pain in one of your ears but without any loss of hearing
Hoarseness or change in voice
Trouble moving your jaw or tongue
Dentures that no longer fit normally
Persistent bad breath
Excessive weight loss
Pain in tongue
Difficulty chewing
Loose teeth
Ear pain
These are the most common warning signs of oral cancer. Only a medical professional can provide a diagnosis.
Tobacco usage, in any form, increased the risk of oral cancer. Nearly 90% of people with oral cancer are tobacco users. Heavy use of alcohol also increases a person’s chances of developing oral cancer.
By limiting these lifestyle choices, you can significantly lower your risk of developing oral cancer.
Ready to schedule your oral cancer screening in Plano, Texas area?
Contact us today to set up your examination. Dr. Wilhite has over 30 years experience and can detect oral cancer issues. He will be able to identify possible issues and recommend further treatments if needed.
Pain or swelling
Pain or swelling
You’ve recently had work done
You’ve recently had work done
Tobacco use
David Wilhite is a Plano, Texas Dentist specializing in cosmetic dentistry with over 30 years experience in general and pediatric dentistry.
About Oral Cancer Screenings
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