Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA
Many Americans dislike something about the appearance of their smile, yet often put off doing anything about it. While it may be something you can live with, you might want to rethink that philosophy. Honestly, when it comes to your smile, beauty and health are linked. Generally speaking, a more attractive smile means a healthier smile, but on the other hand, cosmetic issues could be signs of a more serious oral health problem. Dentists in Bloomsburg, Drs. David and Joel Hamilton, want to share some insight with you on when cosmetic concerns could point to something more serious.
Discolored Teeth
Dingy, discolored teeth happen to most of us at some point or another. Many of us consume foods and beverages that are to blame for our not so pearly whites. While teeth whitening treatments can usually fix this problem, you shouldn’t ignore a single discolored tooth. If you have just one outlier that is significantly discolored compared to your other teeth, this could be a sign of a problem. An injured tooth or a tooth that becomes infected can tend to have a gray shade due to a damaged nerve inside the tooth. Only professional dental treatment can fix this type of dental concern.
Chipped Teeth
A tooth can become chipped due to an injury, and while it can be made smooth again or even permanently covered with dental bonding or a crown, there could be an underlying issue at hand. Teeth grinding and clenching, referred to as bruxism, often occurs while sleeping and can do serious damage to your teeth. So, if you suddenly have a chipped tooth and aren’t sure how it happened, it’s time to get an evaluation by the dentist to rule out bruxism.
Long Teeth
A century-old saying, “long in the tooth,” was once used to refer to older, wiser folks. However, if you actually start noticing your teeth seem longer, trust us when we say your teeth aren’t growing! What could be to blame is gum disease, a serious, ongoing gum infection that causes red, swollen, bleeding gums, and eventually gum recession that leads to tooth loss. Gum disease is usually a direct result of not taking good care of your teeth, but its effects can be stomped out with proper oral care and professional dental treatments. Don’t ignore this problem if it happens to you because gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. And, if you are pregnant, your baby could be at risk of preterm birth or low birth weight if you ignore your gum disease.
Get your cosmetic dental flaws checked
You may think that your cosmetic dental flaws are no big deal, but it’s worth having a dentist check things out just to be sure. As you can see, some aesthetic issues have health consequences that you probably want no part of. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, please contact Hamilton Dental Care by calling (570) 387-0533. We welcome patients of Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg.
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