You’re not fooling us!

We’re all guilty of it. We look at the calendar, realize tomorrow is our dentist appointment, and immediately begin brushing and flossing. Well, we’re here to let you in on a little secret. Your dentist can tell and he or she knows if you’ve been doing it regularly or you’re just trying to do a little pre-appointment prep. Here are a few other clues your mouth gives away during your regular checkup.

  1. You grind your teeth or bite your nails. Biting your nails and grinding your teeth wears down your teeth and can lead to fractured or broken teeth. In the case of grinding, you may be prescribed a night guard to wear while you sleep. And in the case of biting your nails, we’re going to tell you to quit doing it!
  2. Your bad breath could be the sign of something bigger. Certain smells mean certain things and dentists are trained to know that. So while we appreciate you brushing right before you come and hope you continue to, it is helpful for us to smell your breath.
  3. You have other medical issues such as diabetes, a sinus infection or a vitamin deficiency.
  4. You’re a sugar addict. Sugars found in soda and other beverages will over time cause damage to your teeth. If you have weakened teeth and experience a lot of chipping of your teeth, that is usually a sign that you consume a lot of sugar.

While it may not seem like it at the time, the fact that our mouth reveals so much is a good thing. Regularly scheduled dental appointments can serve as an additional health check-up every six months and can help with early detection of issues before they become big problems. Make sure your next appointment is scheduled by calling Jackson Dental today at 573-243-5200.