What Happens in Your Mouth Between Dental Appointments?
A lot can happen between the time you leave our office with that fresh-from-a-cleaning feeling and the next time we see you. You’ll enjoy hundreds of meals with coffee, cola, or maybe wine. You may sometimes skip brushing and flossing because you’re too tired or running late. That’s what real life looks like, and through all of it, your mouth is constantly changing. Most of those changes are completely normal, but what happens between appointments can have a lot to do with what we see the next time you’re sitting in our chair.
Plaque Doesn’t Take Days Off
Even right after a professional cleaning, plaque gradually begins forming again. That is perfectly normal and to be expected. Your job is not to somehow prevent plaque from ever appearing. It’s to keep removing it by brushing and flossing regularly.
When plaque is left behind, it can contribute to cavities and gum inflammation. It can also harden into tartar, which you can’t remove with your toothbrush at home. That’s where we come back into the picture.
Your Gums Can Change Too
Your gums can tell us quite a bit about what has been happening since we last saw you. Maybe you have noticed a little bleeding when you floss. Perhaps one area feels tender, or your gums seem puffier than usual. Please tell us about those changes, even if they seem minor. We would rather know what you have been noticing so we can take a closer look and help you understand what is going on.
Life Leaves Clues
Your mouth goes everywhere you go, so naturally, your daily habits can leave their mark. Maybe you have been drinking more coffee or tea lately and notice some staining. Perhaps you have been under extra stress and find yourself clenching your jaw. You might have started a new medication and noticed that your mouth feels drier than it used to. Even changes in your eating habits or overall health can be useful information for us.
That’s why we ask questions when you come in. Your answers to our questions help us understand what has been happening with your smile since we last saw you.
We Want to Hear about Changes, No Matter How Small
Useful information comes from what you tell us about your oral health, not just what we see during our examination. Whether it’s a tooth that has become more sensitive, food suddenly getting stuck somewhere it never did before, or an old filling that feels different, all of these changes are worth telling us about as soon as you notice them.
You spend every day with your smile, so you’re going to notice a subtle change before anyone else does. Please don’t wait until something hurts to tell us about it. We want you to tell us so we can keep an eye on it.
Your Home Routine & Our Care Work Together
We only get to see you periodically, which means you’re doing most of the work to maintain a healthy smile. Brushing, flossing, drinking plenty of water, and paying attention to changes all help protect your oral health between appointments. Then, when you come back, we can remove buildup you can’t take care of at home, examine your teeth and gums, and see whether anything has changed.
It really is a team effort, and we’re all on the same team. If your routine has not been perfect lately, you don’t need to worry about getting a lecture from us. Just tell us what has been going on, and we’ll start from there.
A Lot Happens Between Hellos
One of the things we enjoy about caring for families year after year is getting to pick up where we left off. We get to hear what has been happening in your life and also see what has been happening with your smile. That long-term relationship has been part of our approach to care for generations. So, between now and the next time we see you, keep doing the little things. Brush, floss, pay attention to changes, and give us a call if something doesn’t feel right. And if you need to see us before your next scheduled appointment, call our office located in Spring Hill, FL. We’re always happy to see you, catch up, and make sure your smile is doing well.
