College is a great time for learning, fun, and adventure. You’re away from home and on your own when it comes to deciding what to do and when to do it. That’s great most of the time, but sometimes you forget about the basics — like taking the best care of your teeth.

You may have been enjoying all the pizza and Chinese takeout so much you didn’t notice the problems occurring in your mouth. Little problems might have cropped up that were simply easier to ignore than to find time to address during your busy class and social schedule.

Unfortunately, if you let those little problems go unaddressed for too long, they can turn into big problems. You can end up with tooth pain, missing teeth, lost class time, and big dental bills. Avoid all of those dental problems and set up an appointment with your dentist this summer so you can restore your sunny smile and not have to worry when you head back to class. Let’s discuss some of the dental problems you may be facing in more detail.

DISCOLORATION OR YELLOWING

Stained or yellow teeth can lead to cavities and bleeding gums and are simply not visually appealing. After an oral hygiene check-up, we suggest custom take-home bleaching trays, in-office power whitening, or prescription-level bleaching strips to help you achieve a brighter, more radiant smile.

DISCOLORATION OR YELLOWING

Stained or yellow teeth can lead to cavities and bleeding gums and are simply not visually appealing. After an oral hygiene check-up, we suggest custom take-home bleaching trays, in-office power whitening, or prescription-level bleaching strips to help you achieve a brighter, more radiant smile.

CRACKED OR CHIPPED TEETH

Did you trip and fall, bite down too hard on something, or get involved in a sports collision that resulted in a cracked or chipped tooth? Dental implants, dental crowns, or tooth-colored fillings are three dental procedures that can give you back that beautiful smile.

CAVITIES

Taking care of cavities in a timely manner is important, so they don’t turn into an abscess at the worst possible time. The good news is that our Charlotte dentist, Dr. Coambs, offers tooth-colored fillings, which provide good durability and resistance to fracture and make the perfect choice for a more natural appearance.

BLEEDING GUMS

You might not even know you have it, but gum disease is a very common condition. It is an infection of the pink gum tissues that support your teeth. It can become a cause of tooth loss if left unaddressed. Your gums might bleed, or your breath could have a bad odor. We can provide in-office treatments, along with medications that will help get your gums back to their perfect pink status.

TOOTH MISALIGNMENT

Even at your age, your teeth can still be realigning themselves in your mouth. You might have had your wisdom teeth removed or lost a tooth due to an injury or crack. It could also finally be time to straighten out those crooked teeth so you will look good in job interviews. In any case, ClearCorrect Invisible Braces could be the perfect solution for you.

JAW JOINT PAIN

College can cause a lot of stress, which can lead to clenching or grinding your teeth. If you have noticed that your jaw clicks or pops when you move your head or mouth in a certain way, you could have a condition called TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Fortunately for you, our Charlotte dentist, Dr. Ann Coambs has advanced training to help assess and treat this exact kind of problem.

Don’t let the summer go by without setting up your appointment to take care of your dental problems before going back to school. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment at our dental office, contact us today. We would love to help you get your smile back in tip-top shape before next semester.