Dentists are no less than magicians who can restore your dental health, fix your smile, and treat gum-related issues so that you continue to enjoy your best quality of life. However, their expertise doesn’t end here. Apart from routine cleanings and cavity fillings, a dentist can provide you with solutions that many people are unaware of.
From diagnosing systemic health problems to managing sleep disorders, a dentist can provide you with multifaceted solutions. So, if you also seek such solutions in Massachusetts, a professional and experienced dentist in Dedham, MA, can help you out.
When do people need a dentist?
Little-known things that dentists can do
Apart from providing usual dental solutions, a dentist can help you with several other issues that you might not associate with their expertise.
Help with bad breaths.
Unpleasant or bad breath, also known as halitosis, is usually the result of an oral hygiene problem. Surprisingly, your dentist can help you with bad breath. Your dentist may recommend you a tongue scraper to clean the surface of your tongue to remove the odor-causing bacteria or give you special mouthwashes to help you get rid of the unpleasant breath.
Provide treatment for sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a severe sleep-related disorder among adults. The common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are snoring and gasping during sleep. The result? You wake up tired and groggy even after a full night’s sleep.
Your dentist can provide you with a removable appliance that can keep your soft palate in the correct position and prevent it from obstructing the airway while you sleep. As a result, you get a peaceful and restful sleep and wake up fresh and full of energy.
Night guards to help with bruxism
Bruxism is a condition when a person involuntarily grinds or clenches the teeth while they’re awake or asleep. When bruxism occurs during sleep, you may experience a throbbing headache, jaw pain, and biting tongue.
Bruxism can have severe consequences on your oral health and jaws, like jaw soreness, stiffness, and dysfunction. It can even lead to TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction)- a condition that prevents your mouth from opening fully.
Your dentist can provide you with a customized night guard that’ll absorb the pressure caused by clenching and also protect your tongue. You can put on the guard before bed and remove it in the morning.
Athletic mouth guards
Many contact sports, like boxing, hockey, football, etc., can lead to unexpected injuries. A brutal hit or a nasty fall can chip your tooth, crack it, or even knock it out entirely. However, your dentist can provide you with a custom-made athletic mouth guard that can protect your teeth from such painful oral trauma and save you from big dental bills.
Diagnose more than dental problems.
A professional and experienced dentist can diagnose various underlying medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. Here’s how dentists can detect such diseases.
- Heart disease: Some oral bacteria infections and inflammation can be signs of stroke, heart disease, and clogged arteries. Moreover, pain in the jaw can be a sign of an oncoming heart attack. Your dentist can take these signs into cognizance and refer you to specialists for better treatment.
- Diabetes: Your dentist may look for bleeding gums, sore mouth, bad breath, and swollen gums to diagnose diabetes. All these can be signs of diabetes, as diabetic people are highly prone to gum infections.
- Cancer: Mouth sores, red and white patches, or unexplained pain in your gums, cheeks, tongue, and neck can also be signs of cancer.
- Osteoporosis: If you experience loss of bone in the jaw and around the teeth or poor fitting of old dentures, then you may have osteoporosis.
Final thoughts
In addition to healthier gums and teeth, a regular visit to your dentist can help you with several other health benefits. They can also run X-rays or other diagnostic tests to ensure that your teeth, gums, and jawbone are in excellent condition and that you are not facing any other health issues.