Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
Contents    |   Next     |   Previous

 Spring Clean Mouth

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, May 24, 2004

STORY:  SPRING CLEAN
SCRIPT #558  SHOOT:  5/6/04
AIRDATE:  Monday,  May 24, 2004
DHC Master #19  Timecode:   29:39 

Women are more likely than men to brush after every meal or twice a day. That's according to a new public opinion poll by the American Dental Association. Overall, Americans report that they are taking better care of their teeth when compared to surveys of the last decade. Dr. Linda Niessen suggests spring cleaning your mouth in today's segment of Dental Health Check. When was the last time you had a dental check-up? If you can't remember, your mouth may need spring cleaning along with your house.

"And you certainly need a professional to look at them every once in a while just to let you know where you stand." For Mike Ward, a loose tooth prompted him to see a dentist sooner instead of later. "I do have Type 2 diabetes and that might very well be part of the problem with the bone degeneration that has created the loose tooth," said Mike. Diabetes increases the risk of a dental infection.

"It feels great to have your teeth cleaned," said one patient.

"Often I ask them first off how long it has been since they had the oil changed on their car. And most people tend to take care of their automobiles better than they take care of their mouths," said Dental Hygienist Marylou Gutman. "When patients need to come in for a check-up and they tell me it's been a year, or two years, or five years, then I pose the question about the automobile and compare it to maintaining their car as well as maintaining their mouth."

Dental Hygienist Marylou Gutmann says many people wait until they have symptoms before making a dental appointment. "You don't have any problems until its too late and you've got a severe case of gum disease."

Most people need a professional cleaning every six months. Patients say, "You've got a clean mouth and you almost hate to eat."

Dental infections almost never get better without treatment. So if you have dental pain right now, don't delay a trip to the dentist. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Additional information: To make the most of a check-up, give your dentist a complete medical history. List all medications including vitamins. Let you dentist know if you suffer from dry mouth, problems with taste, or mouth sores.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

Contents    |   Next     |   Previous