When you have the right dentist, your dental treatments and regular checkups will be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. More importantly, these visits will be a great opportunity to take control of your dental health and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Your entire dental team, dental assistants, hygienist, and your dentist has valuable advice to offer. So make sure you’re maximizing your time in the dentist’s chair by asking lots of questions.
If you’re not sure where to start or what to ask, this article will help! We’ve compiled a list of all the best questions our dental team regularly hears, as well as a few things we wish more patients would ask.
Here are 8 questions to ask at your next dentist appointment.

1. How is My Overall Dental Health?
It’s your dentist’s responsibility to accurately explain any severe dental issues. However, you should also aim to learn about the less urgent things going on in your mouth and what that means for your dental health.
Asking your dentist to give you a summary of your overall dental health will help you better manage your day-to-day dental care. Here’s what you should aim to learn from this overview:
- Whether or not you’re brushing and flossing correctly
- How your gums look
- If there are any areas you need to keep an eye on (like weak teeth,
potential for cavities, etc.)
Your goal should be to walk away from your appointment knowing the exact state of your dental health and what you need to focus on in the coming months.
2. How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?
Did you know that as many as 64.7 million American adults (47.2%) have mild, moderate, or severe gum disease? Gum disease is a serious issue affecting your gum tissue and the bone supporting your teeth. Left untreated, this disease can lead to tooth loss and have negative effects on your overall wellbeing.
Taking time to talk to your dentist about how to prevent gum disease is important. Not only can your dentist
It’s important to know what you’re up against so you can be prepared to catch any problems before they turn into larger, health-threatening issues.

3. What Does This Pain, Sensation, or Discoloration Mean?
4. What Type of Toothbrush and Toothpaste Should I Be Using?
5. What Foods Are Bad for My Teeth?

6. Should I Use a Mouthwash?
7. What’s the Best Way to Whiten My Teeth?
Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits can cause tooth sensitivity and damage to the roots of your teeth. So if you are interested in whitening your teeth, or are currently using an over-the-counter treatment, make sure to bring it up with your dentist.
Your dentist can provide information about how to keep your teeth white and outline the best teeth whitening treatment options.
8. Is There Anything I Should Discuss with My Family Doctor?

Make the Most of Your Next Dentist Appointment
Asking questions during your dentist appointments will help you stay in control of your dental health. When you make practicing good dental hygiene a priority, you set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy, beautiful teeth.
At Radiance Dental, we offer world-class dental care right here in Camas and East Vancouver. We are always accepting new patients and allow plenty of time during your visit for questions. Your dental health goals are our priority and we want to make sure you leave our office with the answers and information you need to maintain your beautiful smile.