Updating Your Health History May Help Save Your Teeth

Although you may think of general health and dental health as two completely unrelated categories, they are much more connected than the average person suspects. Just as the information you share with your general practitioner assists them in keeping you healthy, your Abilene dentists, Dr. Webb & Dr. Awtrey at Abilene Family Dentistry, depend on your input for optimal dental health. 

When it comes to overall health, your dentist needs to see the big picture to best assist you with keeping your teeth vital. Most patients might not think to inform their dentist about their general physical health, but would be surprised at the potential impact that information can have on their oral care. The Abilene Family Dentistry team likes to go above and beyond for our patients, but we depend on your participation to make sure you get the quality dental care you deserve. Here are a few reasons why:

Diabetes & Dental Health

750,000 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, but few diabetes sufferers realize the full extent of the disorder’s effect on your teeth. If you have diabetes, you are much more likely to develop:

• Tooth decay
• Advanced gum disease
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)
• Oral ulcers
• Fungal infections

TMD/TMJ

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD/TMJ) results from improper workings of your jaw joint. Unfortunately, the symptoms of TMJ/TMD are so diverse that most people would never think to tell Abilene Family Dentistry about them. However, we at Abilene Family Dentistry can treat your TMJ/TMD. Here are a few common symptoms and signs:

• Abnormally sensitive teeth
• Painful chewing
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Neck pain and/or stiffness
• Earaches
• Ringing in the ears
• Face pain
• Jaw aches
• Popping, clicking, or grinding of the jaw
• Frequent dislocation or locking of the jaw
• Difficulty or pain in opening the mouth wide

Physical Impairments to Brushing & Flossing

If you have recently injured your hands, fingers, arms, shoulders, or suffer from any type of arthritis or physical disability, you may not be able to brush and floss as well as you should. There are ways to help Abilene residents improve their dental health beyond brushing and flossing, but please inform Abilene Family Dentistry about any physical impairments so they may advise you about the oral hygiene treatment that would provide you with the most benefit.

Side Effects & Dental Health

Did you know more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medications cause dry mouth or harm teeth in other ways? It is estimated that 40% of the population takes at least one medication that can cause potential harm to their teeth. Provide your dental team with a complete detailed list of your medications at every dental visit.

Dental health and general health go hand in hand, so the next time you visit Abilene Family Dentistry and our team ask how you are—TELL US! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abilene Family Dentistry today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.