Dental Health Practices You Should Avoid

You know that brushing twice daily and flossing daily are essential for good dental health, but do you know what dental practices to avoid to protect your teeth and gums? Prevention is about both good dental hygiene and avoiding harmful habits. Our dentist in West Hollywood explains.

1. Skipping routine checkups
Many people, particularly those who experience dental anxiety, skip their biannual dental checkups and only visit us when they experience pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, by the time many dental conditions are causing pain, they may require more extensive treatments. Routine checkups give us an opportunity to evaluate your oral health and identify early signs of problems when they are most easily treated.

2. Ignoring or dismissing symptoms
Tooth and gum pain is easy to recognize as dental health problems. Did you know that headaches, jaw pain or shoulder pain could also indicate a dental health problem? Many people attribute these symptoms to stress or ignore them, but they could be signs of TMJ disorders, impacted teeth or other serious dental health issues. Talk to us about any new symptoms you are experiencing even if you do not believe they are associated with your teeth so that we can create the treatment plan that is right for you.

3. Leaving gaps in your smile
Abscessed teeth, teeth that have been knocked out and other missing teeth can affect your ability to chew and speak and dissolve your self-confidence. Talk to us about your tooth restoration options, which may include dental implants, so that we can restore your smile and your dental health.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your next checkup.

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