Visiting the dentist: fresh breath, pills, what else to remember

A visit to the dentist is an exciting event for many, especially if it is forced and associated with acute pain. At the appointment, the doctor asks a number of questions, sometimes unexpected, and always finds out about taking pills, diet, illnesses and the last meal. What is important to tell the dentist before treatment and why you should not freshen your breath? MedAboutme will tell you how to properly prepare for your appointment.

Fresh breath makes it easier to understand

A famous phrase that has become winged with the light hand of marketers. But if we talk about a visit to the dentist, then it does not make any sense, on the contrary. Bad breath masked by mints or chewing gum does not make it easier to understand the cause of halitosis — bad breath, and the dentist may even miss this symptom.

Of course, brush your teeth before taking it is necessary. But it is not only not necessary to additionally take care of the freshness of breath, but it is even forbidden. Smell is a diagnostic criterion, and many patients have noticed that after cleaning the root canal, dentists evaluate the smell of the removed tissues, which makes it possible to confirm the diagnosis and avoid some complications.

In addition, the dentist cannot be frightened by an unpleasant odor in the oral cavity. By the nature of their activity, these doctors saw a lot and smelled such a variety of smells that only doctors from purulent surgery can “boast” about.

Bad breath is a symptom of many oral conditions that can affect the teeth and gums. But it can also be a signal of diseases of the internal organs, and an experienced dentist after an examination can give appropriate recommendations.

Patients should remember that bad breath and bleeding gums are the first symptom of inflammation. And in this case, a consultation with a dentist is mandatory and as soon as possible. In the early stages of the development of inflammation, it is much easier to eliminate it, but in the later stages it is not always possible to completely cure the patient, you can only restrain the progression of the pathology.

Taking pills

Before the start of treatment and during the examination of the patient, the dentist finds out the features of the state of health: existing diseases of the internal organs, metabolic disorders, heredity, if a woman is at the appointment, she is interested in the menstrual cycle, the date of the last menstruation (especially at a surgical appointment) or the onset of menopause. Especially carefully, the dentist finds out the issues of taking pills: which ones are prescribed, the duration of their intake, and more.

It would seem, why would a dentist need to know about this and how is taking pills, for example, oral contraceptives, and the state of the oral cavity, and even more so treatment, connected? Each of the drugs has its own effect on the body and a number of side effects. In some cases, dentists are recommended to refuse to take them, in others — not only follow the prescribed schedule, but also take them with you to the appointment.

Painkillers

If the reason for going to the dentist was acute pain, then a few hours before the visit, taking painkillers is prohibited. Pain response is diagnostically significant. Its severity, intensity, speed of appearance under the action of stimuli are assessed, and tablets can interfere with this process.

It is for these reasons that in some cases dentists begin treatment without anesthesia, and only after achieving the necessary pain reaction, making sure of the diagnosis, continue treatment under anesthesia.

Blood thinners

Entering the office of a dentist-surgeon, immediately after the words «Hello» you need to say about taking such pills. Otherwise, there is a high probability of bleeding and other complications. In some cases, if surgery is delayed, patients may be recommended a temporary break in taking the pills.

Pressure pills

And increasing and decreasing pressure in the dentist’s chair during treatment is dangerous, so it is necessary to prevent such complications. Patients who constantly take pills need to tell more about their condition and always have them with them. Often such patients are recommended premedication.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Menopause is associated with osteoporosis — a decrease in bone density. For the treatment and prevention of the disease and its complications, women are recommended hormone replacement therapy, which allows to stabilize the level of hormones and prevent complications.

Recent studies have shown that taking some of the drugs prescribed as part of such therapy can adversely affect the long-term outcome of dental implantation.

Eat before your appointment or not?

In some cases, it is recommended to have breakfast or lunch before treatment in the dentist’s chair, in others it is strictly forbidden. How to deal with the situation?

If the treatment takes place under anesthesia, then it is necessary to have a snack and this can be explained by several reasons:

• Less saliva production

For high-quality restoration and treatment, in many cases it is necessary to isolate the tooth from saliva. It is especially important to maintain complete dryness during filling, in some cases — for the diagnosis of the disease. A hungry patient produces much more saliva, which increases the associated risks. Of course, many dentists use saliva ejectors, cofferdams, but not all of them.

• After treatment

Everyone knows the recommendations that after dental treatment you can not eat and drink for a certain time — 1-2 hours or more. And if there was also no breakfast, and the treatment lasted several hours, then it will be possible to fully eat only in the evening. And such a condition threatens with hypoglycemia, loss of efficiency and bad mood.

It is not recommended to eat before taking, breakfast or lunch should be light. Otherwise, the likelihood of nausea and even vomiting is high, especially in patients with a sensitive reflex.

There are situations when eating before taking is strictly prohibited — when it comes to treatment under anesthesia. But the dentist and anesthesiologist additionally inform about the rules for preparing for such treatment.