A good oral exam should be as thorough as possible. Apart from the professional expertise of your dentist, coming prepared with a set of questions can ensure that you leave your exam as informed as possible. Below, we cover the top 4 questions to ask your dentist during your oral exam.
However, many patients don’t know exactly what kinds of questions to ask in these situations in order to make their exams go smoother. Knowing exactly what to ask is key to a successful transaction.
Top 4 Questions to Ask Your Dentist During Your Oral Exam
If you have a dental exam scheduled, take a look at this list of the best questions to ask your dentist during the exam to improve your results.
Are There Signs of Oral Cancer?
The preliminary signs of cancer can lie dormant and unnoticed for years before they ever express themselves in a more obvious way. Many of the signs of oral cancer are similar to gum disease, so it’s good to ask your dentist to see if any of your symptoms might actually be the symptoms of oral cancer. The following symptoms would indicate a cancerous or precancerous situation:
- Loose teeth
- Strange lumps inside the mouth
- Plaque formation
- Aching gums
Modern dental technology is able to detect the presence of cancer in the mouth, and if caught early, can increase the chance of containment of such cancers.
What Foods Should I Avoid?
This is a question to ask if you feel like your diet is compromising your dental health. Some of the foods that can negatively impact the appearance of your teeth include:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Wine
- Acidic fruits
- Sugary drinks
All of these foods have the potential to stain and deteriorate your teeth. Your dentist should be able to offer you some advice regarding your diet and the things to change.
How Can I Improve My Dental Health?
Your dentist has all of the know-how on how to improve your dental health and the right practices to engage in. So, you should be able to field them some questions regarding the current state of your dental health. Some of the common practices that are suggested in the consultations include:
- Using the right kind of toothbrush
- Flossing regularly
- Using the right kind of mouthwash
- Avoiding sugary and acidic foods
Engaging in these practices regularly should help to keep your oral health stronger for longer periods of time. Ask your dentist if there are any activities in particular that they think would benefit your oral health specifically.
Are There Signs of Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an incredibly common condition in most adults in the United States who are over the age of 30. With this in mind, it is best practice to keep track of your oral health in this regard. It is also quite common that your dentist will ask you questions about your gum health during your exam. Some of the questions you can expect include:
- Do you have random aches in your mouth?
- Does eating overly hot or cold food feel uncomfortable?
- Do your gums bleed?
- Are your gums sore?
It’s best to address the development of oral diseases before they develop to an advanced stage. Failing to do so can cause tooth loss and damage your gums and teeth. Asking your dentist to specifically look for the signs of gum disease in all of its stages can give you a higher chance of remedying this situation before it starts to impact your dental health too heavily.
Setting Up an Oral Exam
Oral exams should be undertaken fairly frequently, with most dentists recommending that patients receive one at least annually in order to maintain optimal dental health. In addition, an oral exam will likely be the first line of defense in case you have some type of dental health issue that has been bothering you.
In the case of the latter situation, going into your exam with as much information primed as possible can give you and your dentist a better chance at remedying whatever issues you’ve been experiencing before they reach stages that will require more intense and costly procedures to fix. In this way, a good oral exam can save one time and money down the line.
The Best Dentist in Rialto
Baseline Dental Care is one of the top clinics in Southern California and is completely dedicated to the pristine dental care of any interested patients. If you think that you might be due for a dental exam and would like to set up an appointment, contact us today in order to schedule an oral exam in Rialto.
