Top 3 Reasons to Visit Your Dentist Regularly
To be able to maintain good dental health, it’s a no-brainer that we have to make regular visits to our dentist at least once per year. You already know that your oral health is in your hands, yet many of us skip our dental check-ups because we no longer find it necessary or because we’re too busy with our everyday schedules. However, what we don’t realize is that avoiding the dentist may result in some serious health complications in the long run. You may want to consider visiting your dentist regularly to avoid the following:
1. Dental diseases like oral cancer
Over 30,000 Americans suffer from oral cancer each year, as reported by the National Institute of Health. The key to reducing the number of those affected by this severe dental disease is early detection. Early detection may prevent possible dental health complications. Early diagnosis of severe dental maladies like oral cancer can only be achieved if patients see their dentist regularly. Through regular dental check-ups and proactive screening tests, oral cancer can more easily be managed and treated.
LEARN MORE: 10 Things Your Dentist Knows Just By Looking at Your Mouth
2. Cavities and plaque build-up
Even those who religiously comply with their dental health regimen still find some areas of their mouths to be out of reach. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on our teeth within minutes after we eat, and it notoriously collects bacteria like a web. If plaque builds up through time, solidifies and becomes tartar, it can be difficult to remove. Regular visits to the dentist allow you to receive dental cleanings which will help get rid of tartar, one of the primary causes of cavities. The bacteria in tartar can wear down your teeth and produces holes in them, which we know as cavities. Visiting your dentist every six months will help prevent and detect cavities.
3. Gum and bone disease
Plaque build-up and tartar do not only cause cavities but they may also wear away the bone and gum tissues of the mouth. This occurs when plaque forms on your teeth, builds up, and calcifies into tartar. The longer that plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more they irritate the gingiva (the gum tissue around the base of your teeth) which causes inflammation. As a result, your gums begin to swell and bleed, leading to a dental disease called gingivitis. Gingivitis can worsen and and lead to periodontitis, the loss of supporting bone around the teeth. Too much bone loss eventually leads to tooth loss.
Remember that regular visits to your dentist can help prevent diseases and give you a healthier and whiter smile.
Still want to skip your next dental visit? We think not.