5 Things You Need to Know About Tooth Exams

1. Keep Your Smile Beautiful With Tooth Exams

A routine tooth exam is the best way to keep your teeth looking and feeling great. A professional cleaning will remove plaque buildup that discolors teeth, leaving them with an unattractive yellow tinge. If you are thinking of having any cosmetic procedures done to your teeth, such as whitening, braces or veneers, you need to have a tooth exam first to make sure you address any problem areas.

2. Tooth Exams nip Problems in the bud

A tooth exam is the easiest way to spot hygiene problems early on and stop them before they become painful and expensive. When you visit the dentist, he checks your teeth for discoloration and any other signs of tooth decay. He then cleans your teeth, removing plaque missed during regular brushing and flossing and he may do x-rays to check for any cavities on the inside of the teeth.

3. Start Young With Tooth Exams

Children should have their first visit to the dentist by their first birthday. This will not be a routine tooth exam, but rather a chance for the dentist to make sure your child's teeth are coming in properly and go over the basics of good oral care for young children. Once a child's primary teeth have all come in (around age two and half), they will have more regular cleanings. It is important to start tooth exams with children when they are young, so they become accustomed to the dentist and are not afraid of routine cleanings.

4. Tooth Exams Reveal Overall Health

It is amazing the stories our teeth could tell about us. Routine tooth exams actually uncover many health conditions. For example, women with gum disease have more instances of preterm, low weight babies than those with healthy gums. More and more dentists can spot serious problems, like eating disorders, bone health and even cancer during a tooth exam.

5. Healthy Teeth Equal Healthy Heart

Studies show that there may be a link between poor oral hygiene and heart disease. The plaque found on your teeth has bacteria that can lead to chronic inflammation of the gums and tooth loss. Some researchers believe that the bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and provoke inflammation of arteries, including those around the heart, leading to cardiovascular problems. Even though this research is still in its early stages, it never hurts to brush and floss daily and have annual tooth exams.