Summit Dental Group
Menu
Summit Dental Group Logo
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Dentists
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Veneers
    • Invisalign
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Dental X-Rays
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Night Guards
    • Dental Extractions
    • Dental Implants
    • Sports Guards
    • Root Canals
    • Periodontal Disease Therapy
    • Dental Crowns
    • Dental Bridges
  • Patient Info
    • Online Payments
    • Patient forms, Cancellation Policy, Medical records transfer
    • FAQs
    • Dental Membership Plan
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Request An Appointment

New Patients: (208) 314-2275

Existing Patients: (208) 345-8962

Summit Dental Group - Blog

07

Oct

A Dental Self-Examination: What To Look For

  • Dr. Amy Leberman
  • Uncategorized
Little Girl Touching Her Mouth

Image via Flickr by Holtsman

While no replacement for a semiannual Boise dentist check up, you can also give yourself a self-exam to make sure that your teeth are in good health with these five steps:

1. Missed Plaque

The most important thing you can do is make sure that you are properly brushing your teeth and removing plaque. You can do this by purchasing a disclosing tablet or solution, which stains the plaque on your teeth and can reveal where you are not reaching with your brush. The process is simple:

  1. Brush your teeth carefully.
  2. Use the disclosing solution as directed.
  3. Check in a mirror to see where the solution has shown up.
  4. Brush again, more carefully, to see if you can remove all the areas of plaque

2. Hot/Cold Sensitivity

If your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold, you may have a cavity, root canal, or other problem that our Boise dentists should know about. It could also mean that you have sensitive or soft teeth, in which case our Boise dentists may suggest that you use special toothpaste. The test for hot and cold sensitivity is even simpler:

  1. Drink a mouthful of cold water and hold it in your mouth for several seconds. Take note of any areas that are sensitive to this.
  2. Take a sip of a hot liquid and swish it around your mouth. A sensitivity to hot things is less common and tends to be caused by more serious problems, so the pain from this should be very noticeable.

3. Bite Sensitivity

Bite sensitivity could be a sign of several dental issues including teeth grinding, cavities, or an abscess. To check for this, bite lightly but firmly onto the handle of your toothbrush to see if this causes pain. You can also lightly tap each of your teeth, keeping track of any teeth that react poorly to this. If you experience pain, come in for a Boise dentist check up and see if you need a Boise night guard.

4. Loose Teeth

Yet another sign of teeth grinding and also a warning of a root canal, abscess, or similar problem, you can easily check this by seeing if you can wiggle any of your teeth. If you can, immediately schedule an appointment with our Boise dentists to see what is wrong.

5. Red or Bleeding Gums

While you can have the same about of redness or bleeding around all of your teeth, you can also only have redness and swelling in certain areas. For instance, you may find your gums look unhealthy in hard-to-reach areas that you have difficulty brushing, or you may find that the gums around dental hardware (like a retainer) is especially inflamed. Take care to carefully brush and floss the areas to see if you can restore the gums. If not, come or an appointment for a Boise dentist teeth cleaning.

By looking into these five steps for a dental self-examination, you can further help keep your teeth healthy and happy every day of the year, not just the days you have a Boise dentist check up.

Have you ever given yourself a dental self-exam? What did you discover?

For more information, see:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/self-examination-for-dental-plaque

Back to Uncategorized Page

Recent Posts

  • Our Boise Dentists Will Suggest Boise Dental X-rays When….
  • Great Children’s Books on Dental Health
  • A Boise Dentists Guide to Dental Insurance
  • A Boise Dentist Guide to Improving Gum Health
  • What is a Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010

Categories

  • Blog
  • Uncategorized

Success Stories

Read More Stories
782 S Americana Blvd, Boise, ID 83702
New Patients: (208) 314-2275
Existing Patients: (208) 345-8962

Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
© 2023 Summit Dental Group. All Rights Reserved. Powered by www.ekwa.com
  • Call
  • Appointment
  • Treatments
  • Find us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Dentists
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Veneers
    • Invisalign
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Dental X-Rays
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Night Guards
    • Dental Extractions
    • Dental Implants
    • Sports Guards
    • Root Canals
    • Periodontal Disease Therapy
    • Dental Crowns
    • Dental Bridges
  • Patient Info
    • Online Payments
    • Patient forms, Cancellation Policy, Medical records transfer
    • FAQs
    • Dental Membership Plan
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Veneers
  • Invisalign
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Dental X-Rays
  • Teeth Cleaning
  • Night Guards
  • Dental Extractions
  • Dental Implants
  • Sports Guards
  • Root Canals
  • Periodontal Disease Therapy
  • Dental Crowns
  • Dental Bridges
  • New Patients:
  • Existing Patients: