Dental Radiographs, Dental X-rays

How Important Are Dental X-rays for My Oral Health?

X-rays detect some conditions not visible through a normal visual exam. They can reveal the presence of small cavities between teeth, infections in the bone, periodontal disease, some types of tumors, cysts, abscesses, and other abnormalities. They also show the position of impacted teeth or any that have yet to erupt.

Your oral health could be threatened if these conditions are left undetected and untreated. Treating dental problems early can save you time, money, and discomfort.

What Are the Different Types of Dental X-rays?

Bitewing and Periapical: Patients bite down on a small piece of plastic containing X-ray film. Bitewing X-rays are used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone caused by gum disease. Periapical X-rays, performed in the same manner, show root structure, bone levels, and any abnormalities. These show a very detailed image of a small area.

Panoramic X-rays: These allow your dentist to see all of your upper and lower teeth and parts of your jaw, giving a comprehensive view of your whole mouth on a single film.

How Often Should X-rays Be Taken?

If you are a new patient, your dentist may suggest X-rays to assess your oral health status. Generally, new patients require a full set of X-rays for current evaluation and are used for future comparison. Based on your individual needs, your dentist will decide how often X-rays are appropriate. Children may require X-rays more often because of their developing teeth and jaws and their greater risk of having cavities.

Are Dental X-rays Safe?

With state-of-the-art technology in X-ray equipment and by following procedures, dental radiographs emit only a small amount of radiation. Additionally, a lead apron or thyroid shield is used to protect against exposure.

Advances in technology are putting digital, computerized X-rays on the horizon. They emit even less radiation and for certain procedures, such as root canals, give more precise diagnostic images. In the future, they will add to the ability to diagnose.

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a signal that something is not right inside your mouth. It may be as simple as the need to pay more attention to your daily oral hygiene, or it may indicate tooth decay, gum disease, or another medical problem. Whichever it is, bad breath is a red flag: take another look at your mouth!

Bad breath is a social problem; if you have bad breath, you may notice that people actually back away as you talk to them. Mouth odors are embarrassing, and they tell other people that you aren't taking care of yourself. Sometimes people are not aware that their breath smells bad; be alert to how other people react when they're close to you, and be grateful if a friend or family member lets you know about the problem.

Commercial products claim they will make your breath fresher, but the only way to make sure your breath permanently fresh is to practice good oral hygiene. In fact, too many breath mints and hard candies with sugar will lead to tooth decay. If you are constantly using breath mints, breath sprays, or mouthrinses in an effort to cover up your bad breath, realize that you may have a dental or medical problem that needs addressing.

There are a number of reasons you may experience a bad taste in your mouth, and even be able to smell your own breath. Food may be lodged between your teeth if you are not brushing at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Food particles can be very tiny and can wedge themselves between teeth and below the gum line; brushing after meals is important and flossing is imperative to get at the particles that the brush can't reach. Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. As odd as it will feel at first, bacteria collects on the tongue and can contribute to bad breath. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before you wear them again.

If you neglect your daily hygiene over time, bad breath can become a symptom of more serious dental problems. Teeth that are not cleaned properly become a place for bacteria to reside as food particles stay in your mouth and decay. Bacteria attack your teeth and gums and cause cavities and gum disease. If this is happening, gum disease will cause an unpleasant odor.

Perhaps you believe that you are brushing and flossing on a regular basis, but are still experiencing bad breath. If you have teeth that are crooked or crowded, it may be hard for you to clean between them. If you wear dentures that are not fit properly, they may be trapping food or irritating your mouth. Or perhaps your bad breath is caused by another medical problem: drainage from your sinuses, gastrointestinal problems, kidney or liver problems, or other medical conditions.

Here's what you can do to "investigate" on your own. Write down what you're eating and notice whether your breath smells bad because of certain foods. Garlic and onions actually cause odor, but the odor is coming from your lungs as you breathe, not from your mouth itself. The odor from these foods is temporary, and will be gone once the food is out of your bloodstream.

Are you dieting? Hunger can contribute to bad breath, because of the chemical changes as your body turns fat and protein into the energy it needs. Taking prescription or over-the-counter medications? Add these to the record of what you're eating to see whether there's a relationship between your medications and your bad breath. And don't forget to tell your dentist if there's been a change in your overall health since your last visit.

Suffering from dry mouth? Saliva provides constant rinsing in our mouths and washes away food particles. Your dentist may recommend more liquids, sugarless candy to stimulate natural saliva, and perhaps some of the commercial products that are available to combat dry mouth.

If bad breath continues after you have done your best job of regular brushing and flossing, start with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether the odor is caused by an oral problem; if it is not, then your dentist will suggest you see your doctor for a physical check-up.