As you get older, you may have dentures or dental implants. These dentures and implants need to be checked by your dentist. If you take medicine that makes your mouth dry, or makes your gums grow, you need to have a dentist take a close look.

A check up can include some or all of these procedures:

• Examination and Treatment
• Cleaning
• Advice
• Maintenance

Examination and Treatment

Everybody needs regular dental check ups. The reason is simple: even if you brush and floss every day, you cannot see all the parts of your own mouth.Your dentist looks for gum disease, cavities, loose fillings, broken teeth, infection, cancer and signs of other problems that could affect your general health. Many small problems can be caught before they get big. Many small problems can be treated right away.

Cleaning

There are two parts to cleaning. First, your dentist (or the dental hygienist) scrapes away tartar that could cause gum disease. Then, a member of the dental team polishes your teeth.

Advice

When your dentist is finished the check up, you will be able to ask questions and seek advice. Tell your dentist:

• If you smoke.
• About any health problem or medical condition you are being treated for.
• About any changes in your general health.
• About any allergies you have.
• About any medicine you are taking.
• About any changes in medicine since your last visit.
• About any fears you have about going to the dentist.
• About any dental or mouth problems you have.
• About any way the dental office could make it easier for you to get around (if you have a cane, a wheelchair, or a walker).
• About stress in your life, because stress can affect your oral health.

Maintenance

If you have a bridge, denture, or implant, a check up is a good opportunity to ask your dentist to make sure it’s in good shape.

Check ups may seem expensive, particularly if you are on a fixed income. However, many dental practices offer convenient payment plans. If you are covered by a dental benefit plan, your dentist can help you determine the extent of your coverage before you start treatment.

Many dental practices are able to transmit dental claims an electronic claims processing system that speeds up the reimbursement process. Depending on your plan, you may receive your cheque in less than a week. Ask whether your dentist.

Regular preventive dental care and maintenance are always less expensive than treatment. A regular check up, along with daily brushing and flossing, is the most important thing you can do to preserve your dental health.

Here is a quick guide to common dental problems. You should visit your dentist if you have these warning signs.

A balanced and nutritious diet is good for your general health and your dental health. Without the right nutrients, your teeth and gums can become more susceptible to decay and gum disease.

Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems. The average Canadian eats the equivalent of 40 kg of sugar each year. Here are a few ways to cut down:

• Try to choose sugar-free snacks – see the snacks listed below.
• Add less sugar to coffee or tea (or use sugar substitutes).
• Avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
• Look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar.
• Read lists of ingredients when you’re grocery shopping. Honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar, glucose, and fructose are all types of sugar.
• When you do eat sweets, avoid sticky sweets. They cling to teeth and are harder to brush away. Eat sweets with a meal, not as a snack. The increased flow of saliva during a meal helps to wash away and dilute sugar.
• Carry a travel-size toothbrush and use it after eating sweets. If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth with water or eat a fibrous fruit or raw vegetables. Or chew a piece of sugarless gum.

Some great-tasting snacks that won’t harm your teeth:

• Plain milk and buttermilk
• Fruit and raw vegetables
• Plain yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese
• Hard boiled or devilled eggs
• Nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• Melba toast
• Salad