Have you booked your next dental checkup yet? If not, you should. There is a good reason that your dentist recommends you visit them for a checkup every six months. These appointments give them the chance to perform many critical tasks that keep your teeth and gums in good shape. Our list of 8 things your
family dentist in Mississauga does during each checkup will help you understand why these biannual trips are so important.

8 Things Your Dentist in Mississauga Does During Checkups

X-Rays

Taking x-rays is the first thing your dentist will do during any checkup. X-rays give dentists valuable insight into how the soft and hard tissues of your mouth are faring in areas they cannot see first-hand. X-ray imaging can identify tooth decay, bone loss, tumours, impacted teeth, and other serious problems. Getting regular checkups is key to catching these issues early and mitigating their destructive potential.

Comprehensive Visual Exam

Once your x-rays are done, your dentist will look at the inside of your mouth. Using their trained professional eye, they will look for damaged dental work, gum disease, visible signs of tooth decay, and other red flags that may indicate an oral health problem. They may also measure the depth of your gum pockets with a special probe to determine the severity of any gum disease.

Bite Evaluation

The way your teeth meet when you close your mouth is called your bite. Your dentist will check your bite to make sure that none of your teeth are under too much pressure during normal speaking and eating. They will also look for evidence of a shifting bite that might become a problem soon. If they find any issues, they may recommend orthodontic treatment to address them.

Salivary Gland Inspection

Adequate saliva production is critical to good oral health, so dentists look at your salivary glands as part of the checkup process. They examine the glands for signs of problems, such as swelling or abnormal coloration. They also gauge how much saliva your glands can produce. If they are not satisfied with the results, they may order further tests or offer advice on how to stimulate those glands and boost their productivity.

Tongue Evaluation

The condition of your tongue can tell your dentist a lot about your oral health and even your general health. Your dentist will check its colour, texture, and size during your checkup to see if anything is amiss. If they observe signs that point to possible health conditions like diabetes or vitamin B12 deficiency, they will let you know so you can see your doctor for treatment.

Early Detection

Dentists are trained to care for a wide variety of oral health issues, and they use checkups as an opportunity to keep on top of these things. Your dentist will look for indications of severe problems like oral cancer, nerve damage, and impacted wisdom teeth, as well as cavities and gum disease. They will also evaluate how well attached your teeth are to your gums and bone. If any are loose, they may be able to initiate treatment that will reattach it and avoid irreversible tooth loss.

Oral Cancer Screening

One of the most important duties a dentist has is to check their patients for oral cancer. This cancer can develop anywhere along the lips, gums, tongue, the insides of your cheeks and throat, and the roof and floor of your mouth.

Your dentist will look for telltale signs of the condition, such as white patches and abnormal growths, but you should let them know if you have experienced any problems like tenderness in your mouth or lips, sores that are slow to heal, or a feeling like something is stuck in your throat. The survival rate for this type of cancer is higher the earlier it is caught, so it is important not to overlook this aspect of dental checkups.

Building Rapport

Just like a doctor, a good dentist takes the time to get to know their patients. During your checkups, your dentist will chat with you to learn more about your personality and oral health habits.

Are you a nervous person who needs a gentler approach? Does your oral hygiene need some work, and if so, which challenges are getting in your way? Do you have a family history of oral health conditions like amelogenesis imperfecta? All of these things are important for your dentist to know and can help inform the way they provide your care. This is one of the reasons why it is beneficial to keep seeing the same dentist for many years. Over time, they will come to know all of your quirks and traits, and you will feel more comfortable with them as a result.

Book a Dental Exam with the Best Family Dentist in Mississauga

Dental checkups are extremely important opportunities to evaluate your oral health. They should never be skipped, and your dentist should never rush the process. At Trillium Smile Dentistry, we put your oral health first. We are a leading family and emergency dentist in Mississauga with staff who are trusted by countless patients. Contact us today to book your next dental checkup – when you visit us, you can be sure that you are in good hands.

Teeth whitening treatments are one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures around. While do-it-yourself options like whitening kits exist, professional-grade whitening treatments like Zoom whitening are by far the superior option for your teeth whitening needs. Our list of 10 reasons to get your teeth whitening done by a dentist will show you why.

10 Benefits of Getting Teeth Whitening from a Dentist

Improve Your Appearance

White teeth are a key sign of attractiveness. People with a brilliant white smile are perceived as friendly, trustworthy, and intelligent, giving them a massive advantage in social situations.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits can only whiten your teeth by a few shades. Luckily, professional-grade whitening treatments are strong enough to get rid of those stubborn surface stains and give you a truly radiant white smile.

Boost Your Confidence

Many people with darker teeth are self-conscious about the discolouration. You might hesitate to smile or laugh to avoid showing people your yellow teeth, holding you back from fully experiencing all of the joys of life.

Again, pharmacy whitening solutions will not provide the same bright white results that professional treatments can offer. With professionally whitened teeth, you will not only feel comfortable smiling – you will be excited to show the world your beautiful teeth.

Look Younger

Teeth naturally yellow with age, so people with darker teeth tend to look older. Older people have also had more time for surface stains to build up on their teeth, further compounding the problem.

Professional whitening treatments can loosen up those old stains and get your teeth looking bright and youthful. You will be amazed at how many years this simple change can take off your appearance.

Faster Results

Over-the-counter whitening treatments require many applications to see real results. By the time you have managed to lighten your teeth enough for the difference to be noticeable, you will have spent many hours with uncomfortable whitening strips or trays resting against your teeth.

In-office whitening treatments work much more quickly. You could see dramatic results in as little as one hour. With such a short treatment time, you will have no trouble getting your teeth to your desired shade in time for that big date, job interview, or any other occasion on your calendar.

Dazzle At Special Events

Speaking of which, getting your teeth professionally whitened for a special occasion is a great way to make the event even more memorable. This is especially true if the event involves lots of pictures, like a wedding or graduation. With so many chances for your smile to be captured forever on film, you will want to look your best!

Enhance Newly Straightened Teeth

When you first finish orthodontic treatment, you will likely be eager to show off your teeth. Professional whitening treatments can make the new, straighter smile you have worked for all the more impressive. Teeth whitening costs are minimal compared to the cost of orthodontic treatment, so for a relatively small additional investment, you can brighten up your teeth and make sure everyone notices the improvements you have made.

Safer Whitening

Teeth whitening is not safe for people with untreated cavities, cracks in their teeth, and other structural problems. Unfortunately, you may not know that these problems exist before you start using at-home whitening treatments, leading to disastrous results.

In-office whitening is always done under the supervision of a dentist and is only offered after a thorough exam. If there are any problems in your mouth, your dentist will recommend that you fix those first so you can undergo your whitening treatment safely.

Less Gum Irritation

Drug store whitening strips and gels contain harsh bleaches that penetrate your tooth enamel to create a whitening effect. The problem is that these bleaches can easily irritate your gums if they make contact with them, causing unnecessary pain.

Dentists use tools like buffer gels and bite blocks when conducting in-office whitening treatments. These tools make the treatment more precise and help keep your delicate oral tissues out of harm’s way.

Custom Treatment Application

Over-the-counter whitening treatments are imprecise by nature. It is difficult for users to apply the gel evenly to each tooth, leading to mismatched shades of white in the final result.

In-office teeth whitening treatments are carefully applied by your dentist to produce a pleasing, uniform result. Your teeth will be exactly the right shade by the end of the process. Your dentist will even take the colour of your fillings, veneers, or other dental work into account to make sure that your natural teeth match these prosthetics.

Less Sensitivity

Whitening strips and trays are notorious for causing temporary tooth sensitivity after application. While this problem will go away after a while, it can make hot and cold food and drink difficult to consume in the meantime.

Professional whitening treatments are formulated to cause less sensitivity than over-the-counter treatments. Your dentist can also apply a fluoride gel after your whitening treatment to help counteract any damaging effects from the bleach.

4 Natural Teeth Whitening Methods

Still want to work on whitening your teeth at home? Try these four natural whitening treatments.

Charcoal

Charcoal may be black, but it’s also a natural abrasive that can help lift some of those surface stains that are causing your teeth to look yellow. Carefully rub ground charcoal onto your teeth for about a minute, then brush away the residue.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an ingredient in many toothpastes, and it works great on its own too. Mix some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together into a paste, then brush your teeth with that paste. Brush your teeth again after you are done.

Fruit

Some fruits contain natural acids that can help whiten teeth. Rub the peels from citrus fruits like oranges or lemons onto your teeth or crush some strawberries into a paste and apply it to your teeth. Keep doing this for at least one week, and make sure you brush your teeth each time to avoid damaging your enamel with the acids.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling may not have much evidence to back it up yet, but it can help naturally whiten your teeth. Swish some coconut oil around in your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes, then brush your teeth afterwards.

Get Professional Teeth Whitening in Mississauga Today

You could get the brilliant white smile you have always wanted in just one hour with professional whitening at Trillium Smile Dentistry. In-office Zoom whitening is one of our most popular treatments and produces incredible results in just one office visit. Contact us today to book an appointment and see the difference it can make for yourself – you will be shocked at how easy it is.