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Watch Dr. Jilbert Answer the Question
Want to hear it directly from Dr. Jilbert?
We asked him to name three things dentists don’t do that they often see patients doing, and he broke it down in our latest Instagram Reel.
Watch the full video on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/
3 Things Dentists Don’t Do, But See Patients Doing All the Time
Dentists spend their days looking at teeth, treating dental problems, and seeing what happens when certain habits catch up with us.
So we asked Dr. Jilbert from Clove Dental a different kind of question:
What are three things dentists don’t do that they see patients doing?
His answers were simple:
- Avoiding dental checkups
- Excessive whitening at home
- Using your teeth as a tool
Some of these may sound harmless, especially if your teeth feel fine right now. Here is why your dentist sees them differently.
1. Avoiding Dental Checkups Because Nothing Hurts
One of the easiest dental appointments to postpone is the one you do not feel like you need.
No toothache. No swelling. Nothing feels loose. So why go?
The problem is that pain is not always the first sign of a dental issue.
Cavities, gum problems, worn dental work, and other changes can develop before you notice anything yourself. Regular dental visits give your dentist a chance to examine your teeth and gums and watch for changes over time.
That is why Dr. Jilbert would not recommend waiting until something hurts before seeing your dentist.
Think of a dental checkup as maintenance rather than an emergency visit.
Your dentist can also determine how often you actually need to come in. There is no single schedule that works for everyone. Your oral health, previous dental work, gum health, cavity risk, and other factors can affect how frequently you should be seen.
What to do instead
Keep up with the dental checkup schedule recommended for you, even when your mouth feels completely normal.
And if it has been a while since your last visit, you do not need to wait for a problem to make an appointment.
2. Excessive Whitening at Home
Wanting whiter teeth is common. The problem starts when whitening turns into something you keep doing because the result never feels white enough.
Whitening strips, gels, trays, whitening toothpastes, and other at-home products are widely available. When appropriate products are used according to their directions, at-home whitening can be an option for many people.
More whitening, however, does not automatically mean better results.
Whitening products commonly contain peroxide-based ingredients. Using whitening products too frequently, leaving them on longer than directed, using concentrations that are inappropriate for you, or combining different whitening methods can increase the chance of tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.
If your teeth start becoming increasingly sensitive while whitening, that is not a sign that you need to push through and keep going.
There is another issue people sometimes overlook: not every type of discoloration responds to whitening in the same way.
Crowns, veneers, and tooth-colored restorations do not whiten like natural teeth. Some stains also respond differently depending on what caused the discoloration.
That means repeatedly whitening at home may not solve the reason a tooth still looks darker.
What to do instead
Follow the instructions that come with your whitening product and avoid exceeding the recommended frequency or application time.
If you are whitening frequently, experiencing sensitivity, or are not getting the result you expected, ask your dentist before continuing.
Your dentist can look at the type of staining you have and help determine which whitening approach makes sense for your teeth.
Sometimes the answer is not stronger whitening. It is figuring out what is causing the discoloration first.
3. Using Your Teeth as a Tool
Your package will not open.The tag on your new shirt will not tear.The bottle cap is stuck.Your hands are full and you need to hold something for just a second.And suddenly, your teeth have a second job.It may feel convenient, but Dr. Jilbert's third habit to avoid is using your teeth as tools.Teeth are designed to bite and chew food. Using them to tear packaging, cut things, open containers, loosen caps, or hold hard objects puts pressure on them in ways they were not designed to handle.Sometimes nothing happens.Until one time, something does.Using your teeth this way can increase the risk of chipping or cracking a tooth. It can also damage existing dental work or injure your mouth.A tiny convenience is rarely worth turning something that needed scissors into a dental appointment.What to do instead
Use the actual tool.Scissors for packages. A bottle opener for bottles. Your hands for holding things.Your teeth already have a full-time job.
Which One Are You Guilty Of?
That was the question behind our conversation with Dr. Jilbert.These three habits are different, but they have something in common. They can be easy to dismiss because the consequences are not always immediate.Skipping one checkup may feel harmless.Doing another round of whitening may feel harmless.Opening one package with your teeth may feel harmless.But oral health is influenced by the habits we repeat over time.The goal is not to worry about every little thing you do with your teeth. It is to recognize which habits are worth changing before they turn into a problem.The Dentist Version
If we had to simplify Dr. Jilbert’s advice:Don’t wait for pain to see your dentist.Don’t treat whitening like something you can do endlessly.And please, let the scissors open the package.Your teeth will appreciate it.See More From Dr. Jilbert
This blog was inspired by our recent Clove Dental Instagram Reel where we asked Dr. Jilbert:“What are three things dentists don’t do that they see patients doing?”Watch the original Reel on the Clove Dental Instagram page to hear his answers directly.Have another question you have always wanted to ask a dentist? Follow Clove Dental on social media. We regularly ask our dentists the questions patients are actually curious about.Ready for Your Next Dental Checkup?
If you have been putting off your dental visit, have questions about whitening your teeth, or want to check on something that does not feel quite right, the Clove Dental team is here to help.Schedule an appointment with Clove Dental and let’s take a look before a small concern becomes a bigger one.