Dentists come across all kinds of strange oral requests for tooth, gum, and breath care. That said, you should never feel too uncomfortable when asking about what you think is strange and unusual in your mouth. Your dentist has probably seen and heard it all, so go ahead and ask. Just to make you feel a little more comfortable, here are a few different services your dentist can provide.

Removing Tonsilloliths

Tonsilloliths are semi-hard, pasty bits of bacteria, dried mucus, and bits of food that have become concentrated inside the flesh pockets covering your tonsils. When they are left there for some time, they rot and stink. They contribute heavily to foul breath, which dentists refer to as halitosis. If your dentist knows that you have tonsillolith problems, he or she can help flush these nasty particles safely from your tonsils, thereby restoring fresher breath. He or she can also teach you to "express" your tonsils to remove the stones yourself so that you do not have to meet with him or her every time you detect a foul stench from the back of your throat.

Finding and Removing the Source of Gum Inflammation and Swelling

The whole point of using dental floss is to clear your gums of food particles that can get stuck and potentially rot, inflaming your gums and making them swell. If you floss a lot but you still seem to have an issue with some gum tissue in your mouth, see your dentist. Sometimes a popcorn kernel skin or a bit of stringy beef gets stuck way down deep inside the gum. Then it becomes impossible for you to remove it on your own. Some of the tools your hygienist uses to get into the gum pockets to clean them can find and retrieve the food particle that is causing this annoying problem. A plaque scraper can get deep into the gum pocket where floss might not ordinarily reach, and then you can get that really annoying bit of food out.

Dental Dams

Dental dams are for sex. There is just no other way to say that. And yes, you may be able to purchase them from your dentist. They are meant for patients who have multiple partners or who have oral health concerns about viruses like herpes, which can be transferred to sex partners. Bleeding gums and gum disease can also transfer blood-borne diseases to a sex partner through direct oral contact. Hence, the dental dam allows people to provide oral pleasure while preventing the spread of diseases that can create oral problems and/or genital health issues.