5 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Dentist or Hygienist

Did you know that your regular dental checkups are about a lot more than just keeping your teeth clean? These biannual visits are an excellent opportunity to learn more about your own oral health and how to best take care of it. To stay up to date on the health of your smile, there are several important questions you should be asking yourself and your dental team. Here are five questions you should ask your West Hartford dentist or hygienist every time you visit them.

1.) Are My Medical Records Up to Date?

It can be easy to forget to tell your dentist or hygienist about any new health conditions or medication changes you’ve had since your last checkup. However, your oral health and your overall wellbeing influence one another, so it’s important that your chart is as up to date as possible. Ensuring your dental professionals have accurate information about your medical history helps them provide the best possible care.

2.) What Can I Do to Improve My Oral Health?

Your dentist or hygienist will always inform you about any oral health issues they discover and the best ways to treat them. However, you can ask them how to improve the health of your teeth and gums even if no problems were detected. They would be more than happy to help you optimize your at-home oral hygiene with the latest cleaning techniques and new products.

3.) Why Do I Have a Dry Mouth, Bad Breath, or Other Unusual Symptoms?

If you’ve been experiencing a dry mouth, bad breath, or other unusual dental symptom, you should let your dental team know. Even if these symptoms aren’t causing you pain, they could be warning you of a larger underlying issue. It’s always a good idea to have any changes in your mouth looked at by a professional to either ensure that it’s nothing to worry about or catch any hidden problems as early as possible.

4.) Why Do I Have Pain, Discomfort, or Sensitivity in My Mouth?

Any discomfort in your mouth should be looked at right away by your dentist, even if it’s minor. All manner of oral health issues can cause dental pain or sensitivity, including gum disease, teeth grinding, cavities, dental infections, and bad chewing or brushing habits. Be sure to tell both your dentist and your hygienist where the discomfort is and what it feels like so they can inspect the area for any abnormalities.

5.) When Can I Book My Next Appointment?

You should be asking this question every time you visit your dentist. It can be easy to forget to schedule your next dental appointment if you put it off. Instead, book your next visit before you even leave the office to ensure it doesn’t slip through the cracks. Remember, you should be getting a routine checkup and cleaning every six months to best monitor your oral health.

Don’t be shy during your dental checkups! Seize the opportunity to learn more about the health of your smile by asking these five questions during your visits.

About the Practice

The team of dental professionals at West Hartford Dental Group have the experience and training needed to help their patients overcome any oral health issue or dental emergency. However, they’d much rather prevent these problems from developing in the first place! That’s why they encourage all their patients to come in for regular dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year. They are passionate about helping each of their patients understand and take charge of their oral health, so feel free to ask them questions! They can be reached via their website or at 860-606-3953.