8 interesting questions to ask your dentist
Dentist appointments near me
If you’re looking for a new dentist whether it be for NHS patients, emergency dental care or you simply want to find a dentist in your locality this article should help with some of the top questions that dentists get asked every day.
1. How can I improve the colour of my teeth
Improving the colour of your teeth can help to increase confidence, it’s also one of the few dental treatments which can be entirely elective and undertaken on most people.
The most basic technique is to opt for teeth bleaching, this can only be done on natural teeth and does not work on restoration such as bridges or veneers.
Looking after your teeth at home is also a great way to improve the colour of your teeth, ensuring you brush twice a day with fluoride containing toothpaste and also clean in between your teeth with either a brush or floss. Using mouthwash in between meals will also help. A good oral health care routine like this helps to keep decay and discolouration at bay.
2. How often should I visit the dentist
We recommend visiting the dentist once every six months. This is an ideal time to monitor any progress of decay and catch the early warning signs of gum disease early. Leaving it much longer than this time period means that gum disease and decay could progress to a more serious level by the time you visit a dentist.
3. What can I do at home to keep my teeth healthy
To keep your teeth healthy you should follow this simple daily health care routine:
- Brush in the morning for 2 min with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Rinse after lunch with a fluoride mouthwash.
- Rinse after your evening meal the fluoride mouthwash.
- Brush in the evening for 2 min with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean in between your teeth in the evening using either floss or interdental brushes.
It’s important not to use mouthwash at the same time as brushing, mouthwash typically contained less fluoride toothpaste so you will actually wash off the fluoride if you rinse directly after brushing.
4. Do you have to take x-rays every time I visit
It’s not normally recommended to take x-rays at every dental appointment. Taking x-rays every couple of years should generally be enough for patients with good oral health.
5. Do I have to use a mouthwash everyday?
We recommend that you use a mouthwash everyday after meals and never at the same time as brushing. Rinsing after meals helps to clear away any debris and gives your teeth a little bit more protection in between brushing
6. What is the best way to find an experienced dentist?
We recommend the following techniques to find a good dentist:
- Ask your friends and family that have had treatments at the dentist.
- Read verified customer reviews, particularly on Facebook and Google.
- Asks to see before and after cases of patients that have been seen before.
- Find out how many years experience your dentist has.
- Ask what additional courses or special interests your dentist has, particularly orthodontics, endodontic, periodontics or restorative dentistry.
7. What are the busiest days of the week for a dental practice
For an emergency dentist you will usually find that Mondays are the busiest day of the week, simply because there have been a couple of days over the weekend where the dental practice hasn’t been open. If you do require urgent dental treatment we recommend calling NHS 111 in the first instance and asking for advice. Many dental practices offer emergency dental services for out of hours emergencies. Particularly an NHS dentist.
8. How do I know if I have a dental emergency?
The following can be considered a dental emergency:
- Severe pain which does not respond to regular painkillers.
- Severe bleeding which cannot be stopped.
- A broken tooth which has bleeding coming from the tooth itself.
- Tooth which has been knocked out completely.
- A dental abscess
Things which are not normally considered a dental emergency include things like:
- minor bleeding which stops of its own accord
- a tooth which has been knocked, maybe a little loose has not been knocked out completely
- A dental crown or filling which has come out with out severe pain
- A broken dental brace