It’s easy to forget that your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body and it requires constant care. The state of a person’s oral health can tell a lot about their overall health and well-being. That said; maintaining healthy teeth and gums should be a top priority for everyone.
Not only does this mean brushing and flossing as recommended; it also means scheduling in regular appointments to see your dentist. Without doing the latter, you’ll be missing out on the benefits of getting a regular professional clean as well as any preventative and maintenance care that you may need.
So what’s all the fuss about visiting the dentist and why is the dentist so important??
Most people feel that a dental visit is just about getting their teeth cleaned and polished but the dentist knows more about an individual’s oral and general health in a few minutes of history taking and clinical evaluation. At this juncture, it’s important to state that majority of serious dental problems don’t become apparent or become painful until they’re in their advanced stages so it’s so important to catch them in their early stages.
Having to visit the dentist every six months may not be the appointment that everyone looks forward to, but it is one of the most important ones to keep. If you have found yourself wondering what the point of having regular dental checkups and cleanings really is, we’ve got something for you to think about.
If you are considering skipping a dental checkup because of cost or another factor like time or dental anxiety, make sure to consider all the risks. What you might end up paying in the long run for not visiting your dentist will likely be much higher, both for your wallet and your peace of mind. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should see your dentist regularly:
- Plaque, calculus, gum diseases and Cavities detection and eradication
No matter how effective your tooth brushing is you would still need to visit the hygienist because there are still areas in the mouth that would be missed during brushing and flossing. Accumulation of plaque or calculus could predispose an individual to gingivitis and in advanced stages called periodontitis. This can be prevented by regular dental cleaning by professionals at the dental clinic. Cavities rarely give any warning signs as they form, only resulting in sensitivity and toothache. Once the tooth is already decayed. Once the damage has been done, you will have to go back to the dentist to have cavities and other tooth problems filled and fixed.
- Oral Cancer Detection
“Had I known about oral cancer or its symptoms, I would have visited the dentist early”. This is often the tale of an oral cancer patient when he or she presents at the clinic at a late stage of the disease. Oral cancer is a serious disease which progresses quickly and could become life threatening but with an early visit to the dental clinic, early diagnosis is possible and oral cancer becomes treatable and beatable
- X-Ray examinations
A crucial part of visiting your dentist every six months is getting your teeth and jaw bone x-rayed. X-ray images allow dental professionals to see what is happening beneath the surfaces of your mouth, and can find and diagnose issues that may be invisible to the naked eye. Especially with destructive diseases that show little to no symptoms but progress quickly, up-to-date x-rays and bi-annual checkups are the best way to keep on top of your health.
- Head and neck examinations are also carried out effectively by the dentist and results would be discussed with you in detail
So you would agree with me that dental evaluations are not only for dental cleaning or whitening the teeth but for revealing crucial problems and giving you a bird’s eye view of your general health status. Skipping dental appointments may not seem like a big deal, but oral issues can develop and progress extremely quickly whether or not you notice it. By keeping on top of your dental cleanings and checkups you’re doing yourself a big favor in the long run.