The American Dental Association or the ADA recommends that patients see their dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and a dental check-up. Although your dentist will be there to mostly check for abnormalities, if you are experiencing a few different issues, then now is the time to talk to them. But, as a helpful tip, just make sure that you wait until your dentist's hand is out of your mouth so that they can really listen to your questions. This article will discuss three things that you may want to talk to your dentist about. Read on to learn a little bit more. 

1. Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are tricky because the first thing that you may think is, "Oh no! I am just like those old guys on TV, and I have gingivitis!" But even though bleeding gums are a sign of gingivitis, they can actually be caused by a variety of other things including hormone changes and even stress. Before your dentist starts the exam, mention to them that your gums have been bleeding more often and they will try to get to the root of the problem. 

2. Bad Breath

If you have noticed that your breath is a little more than bad even after you haven't eaten a garlic burger, then this is also something to talk to your dentist about. Sometimes, bad breath can be caused by an oral infection, dry mouth, or some other issues. Even though you won't want to scare your dentist away with your bad breath, it's definitely something that you should bring to their attention while you're chatting. 

3. Sore Jaw

If you wake up with a sore jaw or if you notice that your jaw is sore when you are stressed, then talk to your dentist about it because it may be caused by a condition like TMJ or Bruxism. TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition in which the joint in the jaw becomes irritated and inflamed. While bruxism is a condition in which a patient grinds their teeth. Often, patients suffer from both of these conditions, and both of them also cause jaw pain. 

Having the perfect smile is about more than just making sure your teeth look good; it's also about taking better care of your mouth. To learn more, contact dental care services near you today and schedule an appointment with them.