When It's Time To See The Dentist

The basic rule of thumb is that you should go in to see the dentist a couple of times a year. During these visits, they will examine your teeth and gums to make sure there are no changes that need to be addressed. They will normally also give you a professional cleaning that will remove any plaque that developed despite your regular teeth brushing and flossing. Aside from your regular visits, there are other times when you should go in to see the dentist. Here are examples of times when you should go to the dentist: 

You keep having bad breath

If you have bad breath, then the first thing you should ask yourself is what foods you have recently eaten. If you ate something like garlic or onions, then the food is likely the reason for your bad breath. Certain drinks can also cause bad breath, such as alcohol for example. Smoking is another thing that can leave your breath smelling bad. However, if you regularly have bad breath that isn't because of one of these things, then you should go see the dentist. You may have something going on with your mouth or teeth that's causing the problem. Things like cavities or periodontal disease will cause bad breath and these are things you need to see the dentist for. 

You see pink or red saliva when you brush your teeth

If you see tinges of pink or red in your saliva when you are brushing your teeth, then this means that your gums are bleeding. There are a number of things that can cause your gums to bleed, and you should see the dentist to determine what the issue is and to seek treatment for the problem. The problem could be something like periodontal disease or an infection in a tooth that you will need antibiotics to clear up. 

You have a toothache

If you have a very bad toothache that is causing you to be in serious pain, then the chances are good that this would send you to the dentist even if only out of desperation to get rid of the pain. However, even if you just have a minor toothache, you should still get in to see the dentist. The toothache can be caused by something like the development of a cavity, an abscessed tooth, a filling that is damaged, a tooth that is fractured or broken, or something else. The dentist can determine the cause, treat it, and help put the pain in your past.