Does the Dentist Judge You by Your Teeth?

Do you start feeling a little self-conscious just before your dental appointments? Do you feel as though every dentist in St. Charles wants to run away screaming from the sight of your teeth? Well, take a deep breath and try to relax! When it comes to the condition of your teeth, the dental office is a judgement-free zone.

When the dentist looks at your teeth, the ideas of bad versus good are not a concern. However, the condition of your teeth can provide the dentist with some very important clues about you, and these clues help the doctor to make sure that you’re receiving the very best dental care.

So, what do your teeth tell the dentist about you?

• Your age. Younger dental patients tend to have rectangular-shaped front teeth with rounded corners. As you age, your teeth are likely to appear shorter and feature square-shaped corners.
• Your stress level. 70% of all tooth grinding problems are related to stress or anxiety, and the tips of the teeth typically look flatter.
• Nail-biting. This bad habit can create small chips and cracks on the edges of the teeth, making the tips of the teeth uneven.
• Thumbsucking. The front teeth tend to protrude or flare out, the bite pattern becomes uneven, and speech problems can develop if thumb sucking continues beyond the age of 5.
• Vitamin deficiency. Weak enamel, mouth sores, and changes in the texture of the tongue can indicate a severe deficiency of the B vitamins, Vitamin A, C, and also D.
• Diabetes. New cavities, bleeding gums, and loose teeth could be a sign of this chronic health condition.
• Sinus infection. Pain in the upper teeth, where there are no signs of any dental problem could indicate that there is inflammation in the sinus which is located just above the tooth roots.

What would your teeth say if they could talk? Contact a St. Charles dentist today to find out!