Top 3 Things Your Dentist Wants You to Know

We always try to spend time at each and every appointment educating patients on key points to learn, know, and remember. While every part of your oral health routine is important, there are a few “favorite things” that take precedence and we want every patient at our Chicago Heights and Highland Park dental offices to know.

Bleeding is NEVER Good

There’s a common misconception that it’s ok for your gums to bleed a little bit while brushing or flossing. The truth is, your gums should never, ever bleed. If they do, it’s a key sign that something is not right. Whether it’s your hygiene routine that’s not being done well, or you have gum disease, bleeding gums need to be addressed, examined, and treated as soon as possible.

Healthy Mouths = Healthy Bodies

Your oral health is directly linked to your overall health. This is probably the most important “favorite thing” on our list. Dental problems like gum disease can not only cause tooth loss, they’ve also been linked to heart disease, strokes, dementia, and much more. This is why keeping up with regular appointments at our dental offices in Chicago Heights and Highland Park is so important. Routine visits not only help keep your smile clean, they’re also key to catching problems before they get really serious.

Bad Breath Could Mean Bad News

Sure, bad breath can be caused by something you ate, but if your breath is chronically bad, there’s a good chance that something isn’t right. Gum disease, dry mouth, and poor hygiene can cause bad breath, and no breath fresheners like mouthwash, mints, or gum will help fix it for the long term. By starting a good hygiene routine of brushing twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing once a day, you can help fight bad breath. However, there are times when the problem has progressed too far and the bad breath doesn’t go away. This is when you need to call our Chicago Heights or Highland Park dental office. It’s important that we check out what’s going on and work on getting it treated.

I’ve only touched on a few of the favorite things we want our patients to know, and there’s still so much more to learn. If you have questions about your dental health, or you want to learn more about the importance of regular checkups, proper hygiene, and knowing the signs of when something isn’t right, give our dental office in Chicago Heights or Highland Park a call today.

Serving patients in Highland Park, Deerfield, Highwood, Chicago Heights, Crete, Park Forest, and surrounding areas.