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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

4 Signs Of Dental Care Issues

by Eric Bailey

Dental care is an important priority for both aesthetic and medical reasons. Many folks, however, don't know quite what they should be looking for and doing. If you're worried about keeping up with your dental care needs, it's a good idea to keep an eye out for these four signs of possible trouble.

Tender Spots

While it's reasonable to assume that ulcers and sores would be highly visible, they're not always extremely evident. In some cases, a bit of tenderness around the gums is all you'll feel. Generally, if the problem seems to persist for more than a week or two, it's something you should talk with a dental services provider about.

Swelling can also increase over time. If the swelling spreads beyond your mouth, such as making your cheek or jaw look like a ball, then you may have a fairly aggressive infection. It's best to schedule a dental care appointment as soon as possible. People experiencing pain in the neck or face should go to the ER immediately.

To avoid this sort of trouble, don't focus on just brushing your teeth. Make sure your brush is coming into contact with your gums. Flossing will also help.

Dry Mouth or Heavy Salivation

Ongoing infections often lead to drying out around the affected areas. Some people experience this as dryness in the mouth. Other's bodies have the reverse response, producing excess saliva.

A Click in the Jaw

Misalignment of the bite have a tendency to put pressure on the joints of the jaw. Over time, this can lead to serious problems that produce a distinct clicking sound in the jaw. People who've had a number of teeth removed experience this problem, as do folks who have poorly fitted dentures. It rarely occurs in those who've had major realignments of their teeth performed.

Staining

It may feel easy to dismiss staining as a purely aesthetic issue, but it can lead to physical problems. In particular, the collection of plaque on the teeth can serve as a matrix that allows stains to set in. This same matrix also can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria, and it can even collect debris from food.

One of the reasons dental care providers encourage semi-annual cleanings is to clear these plaques up. It also will give the hygienist a chance to look for issues you might miss when you're just brushing your teeth. So be sure to receive dental care services on a regular basis.

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