Dental anxiety is an incredibly common experience for many individuals. Thorough preparation is one of the ideal ways to alleviate concerns and fears regarding your upcoming dental visit. Going through this checklist can go a long way toward ensuring that you make the most of your next visit with us. If you are ever concerned regarding your upcoming dental visit, feel free to contact our office to receive information and advice to help eliminate any concerns you may have. At Leavitt Family Dentistry, we care about your oral health and ensuring that you have the best experience possible with us. From periodontal treatment to cosmetic dentistry, we offer a multitude of services to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful. Here are some important components of a dental visit checklist to ensure superior preparation and minimal anxiety.

Make a List

Though there are likely many considerations you have to think of when it comes to your health, a list can make it far less difficult to remember every factor. It is highly recommended to make a list of all of your questions, issues, and concerns prior to your appointment. This will help you to remember every question you intended to ask while you’re at your appointment, rather than remembering something after the fact. Many people turn to WebMD when it comes to their oral health, but it can be far more useful to consult with an expert. A present professional that is familiar with your specific situation will be able to provide far more effective treatment and answers.

Our experienced and professional team is capable of answering any questions or addressing any concerns you may have. During your appointment, you may wish to ask us regarding recommended products to protect the health of your teeth. Ensure that you compile a list regarding any existing concerns you may have with your oral health. Note the location of any pain, as well as any other issues you may currently be experiencing. This is an ideal time to ask us regarding cosmetic dentistry services that may enhance your smile or sedation dentistry tactics that can alleviate your anxiety. A thorough list will allow us to create an effective care plan to address the concerns that you are experiencing with your oral health. This can also be incredibly useful if you are experiencing multiple issues with your oral health.

Verify your Appointment

Verifying your appointment can go a long way toward alleviating your concerns. If you are unsure what time or date your appointment is, don’t hesitate to contact our office. On the date of your appointment, make sure to arrive on time. With appropriate planning, you can arrive with ample time and alleviate any negative feelings prior to the appointment. This is also a helpful step if it is your first visit with us to ensure that you know precisely where our office is located. Our team will ensure that you know what to bring with you to your appointment. You may also consult with our team regarding any concerns you may have regarding your upcoming appointment when you call to verify. Though problems are infrequent, verifying your appointment can help to ensure that there is no miscommunication regarding the time and date of your appointment. Ensure that you arrive with enough time to complete any necessary paperwork prior to your appointment time!

Notify us about Health Changes

There is a close link between your oral health and your overall health. Due to this, it is important to inform us whenever there are changes to your health or the medications that you take. This helps provide us with the information necessary to craft the superior care plan for your smile. Certain conditions can significantly impact the health of your teeth. We will be able to plan for these eventualities when we know about the issue, which can help us to provide the best possible protection for your teeth.

Alternatively, many medications can cause the mouth to dry out. This will require additional care and consideration to ensure that your teeth remain healthy. It can be incredibly useful to provide us with a list of your medications so that we can ensure that no problems occur. Always feel free to communicate with us whenever you have any concerns or fears regarding how your oral health and general health impact each other.

Gather Required Documents

Gathering required documents in advance of your appointment can significantly minimize the likelihood of forgetting them. There are multiple things that can be extremely helpful to bring on the day of your appointment. Ensure that you bring any relevant insurance cards to the appointment. Similarly, you should ensure that you bring your method of payment with you to the dental appointment. A photo ID and list of medications may be similarly helpful to ensure that the appointment goes as smoothly and effectively as possible. Bring any oral devices, such as night guards or retainers, with you to your appointment. This will allow us to examine the device and ensure that it is continuing to function appropriately. Double check with our professional team if you are unsure what documents will be required at the time of your appointment.

Contact our Experts

There are a multitude of benefits to visiting us on a regular basis to protect the health and enhance the appearance of your smile. Here at Leavitt Family Dentistry, we are passionate about your oral health. We offer a multitude of services to ensure that your teeth remain in optimal condition. Whether you require more preventative services or a root canal, we offer a multitude of treatments and services to protect your smile. Our professional, experienced team is here to offer you guidance and support to ensure that you have a positive, effective visit with us. To thoroughly prepare for your upcoming appointment, follow the recommendations we have outlined in this checklist. If you have any lingering concerns regarding your appointment, discuss it with our staff to alleviate these concerns.

When you effectively care for your teeth, you minimize the likelihood of dental issues occurring. Teeth that aren’t appropriately cared for will allow a buildup of plaque, which will eventually harden into a substance called tartar. This tartar is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which can lead to escalated oral health issues. By following the right steps to protect your teeth, you can keep them in much better condition. At Leavitt Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we strive to provide all of the services necessary to optimize the health of your teeth. Here are a few components of oral health to help you effectively care for your teeth and prevent decay and other issues from occurring.

Why It is Important to Brush your Teeth Everyday

Plaque and bacteria buildup on the surface of the teeth on a daily basis. Not only can the bacteria do damage to your teeth, but when plaque is allowed to build, it hardens into tartar. Tartar is much more difficult to remove and creates an environment where bacteria thrives. It is important to brush your teeth twice a day. Brushing at night is important because it helps to remove the bacteria and plaque that have grown throughout the day. Your toothbrush should be the last thing to contact your teeth prior to going to bed. Bacteria grows at an escalated rate throughout the night, because you aren’t producing saliva or otherwise removing bacteria from your mouth. It is similarly important to brush in the morning to remove the bacteria that has built-up throughout the night. Brushing twice daily is important to minimize the amount of damage that plaque and bacteria can do to your teeth.

How to Brush your Teeth

The method in which you brush your teeth is just as important as the frequency of brushing your teeth. Make sure that you replace your toothbrush regularly to ensure that it is able to continue to effectively clean your teeth. Brush in small circles and use short back and forth strokes to remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque from the teeth. Hold the toothbrush at a 45˚ angle to ensure that it can most effectively remove harmful bacteria from your mouth. Make sure that you brush the surface of your tongue while you are brushing your teeth. Plaque and bacteria can also buildup on the tongue, so it is important to remove these particles to protect your oral health. Ensure that your toothbrush is the last thing to touch your teeth before bed. If you are uncertain regarding the best ways to brush your teeth, consult with your dentist to obtain tips on the most effective methods.

Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums

There are many things that you can do to help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Your oral hygiene routine is one of the most important things you can do to protect your oral health. Not only is it important to brush regularly and effectively, but it is also important to floss every day. Floss will reach the places between your teeth that your toothbrush isn’t able to access. There are alternative methods for flossing if dexterity is an issue, like water flossers. You may also want to consider adding mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine, as it can help remove more food particles and provide other benefits to the teeth, depending on the active ingredients.

It is incredibly important to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Prevention is the superior approach to take when it comes to your oral health. Plaque can harden onto the teeth, becoming a substance called tartar. A dental cleaning is one of the most effective ways to remove tartar from the surface of the teeth. In addition to the extensive benefits of dental cleanings, dental visits will also allow your dentist to catch any problems in the early stages. These problems are often less painful and expensive to fix when they are caught early on. Your dentist may also be able to provide services that can help protect your teeth, such as fluoride treatments or dental sealants. Chewing sugar-free gum between meals can also help to increase saliva production, flush out food particles, and protect the teeth.

Food for Healthy Gums and Teeth

Many people are aware that sugary foods and beverages can significantly harm your teeth. Regular consumption of sugary products allows bacteria to create acids that are particularly harmful to your teeth. By reducing your sugar consumption, you can minimize the amount of damage that can be done to your teeth. However, there are also foods that can actually help to improve the health of your gums and teeth. Adding these foods to your diet can go a long way toward protecting your teeth.

Dairy products are particularly valuable additions to a diet, as they provide multiple benefits to the health of the teeth. These products provide high levels of calcium that are great methods for strengthening the teeth, bones, and improving the health of the gums. They also are particularly effective at neutralizing acids in the mouth. This helps to regulate the pH levels within the mouth, which can help to protect the teeth. Onions can help to neutralize bacteria, while green tea contains antioxidants that can reduce inflammation in the mouth. Leafy green vegetables provide many different vitamins and nutrients, while simultaneously stimulating the production of saliva in the mouth.

Schedule your Dental Visit Today!

There are many components that are involved in maximizing the health of your teeth. When you effectively care for your teeth, you can prevent decay and other issues from occurring. It is similarly vital to regularly see your dentist, as this will allow them to find and resolve issues before they are allowed to escalate. Understanding how to care for your teeth is only half the battle; you need to implement these processes regularly to ensure that they effectively protect your teeth. Contact us at Leavitt Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today to schedule your dental visit with us!