In order to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy, you should be visiting your dentist for a routine check-up once every six months. Why do you need to see your dentist regularly though?
1. To Prevent and Treat Cavities
The superior cleaning you get at your dental checkup can help keep cavities from ever developing in your beautiful pearly whites. Additionally, the inspection part of your checkup may reveal a cavity in its earliest stage. Cavities that go untreated continue to grow and can ultimately affect the deeper layers of your teeth, which can lead to infections and even tooth loss. It’s good to remember that cleaning appointments are much less costly than getting a filling.
2. To Prevent and Treat Gum Disease
Your dentist will look at the spacing between your teeth and your gums. The deeper the spacing, the more likely gum disease is developing or is already present. Healthy gums have shallow spaces between your gum line and your teeth. If your dentist discoveries you’re at the early stage of gum disease known as gingivitis, your doctor may be able to stop the disease in its tracks with a simple deep cleaning. On the other hand, if left undiagnosed, gum disease can ultimately result in the need for surgery.
3. To Get X-rays
X-rays can detect cavities between your teeth that your dentist would not be otherwise able to see with the naked eye. They allow dentists to see what’s happening beneath the surface of your mouth. An example of this is the development of wisdom teeth, which can potentially push the rest of your teeth out of line resulting in all sorts of problems for your oral health. X-rays additionally let your doctor determine if you have a healthy jawbone. Ultimately X-rays protect and prevent any major oral issues or dental destruction.
4. To Receive a Proper Extensive Cleaning
Dental hygienists clear away any buildup of plaque you may have developed on your teeth. While you may practice regular dental hygiene at home, there are blind spots you might be missing. Hygienists can better clean between your teeth and at your gum line especially if you have crooked or tightly spaced teeth. Even the best brushers and regular flossers may still have plaque and tartar that can only be removed at the dental office. Plaque is a form of bacteria, which if left untreated can lead to cavities, gum disease, and so many other oral diseases.
5. To Ward Off or Diagnose Any Serious Oral Health Issues
Oral cancer is often discovered at regular dental checkups. An early stage detection of oral cancer is typically easy to treat, but without regular visits to the dentist, it may be too late to stop the potentially deadly disease in its tracks. The only way to know for sure that your mouth is cancer free is a checkup to your favorite oral health professional. Your dentist may also be able to diagnose diabetes or vitamin deficiencies.
6. To Determine That Your Teeth Are Developing Properly
Who’s the first person to realize you need braces, have an overbite or underbite, need a tooth pulled, or are getting your wisdom teeth? Your dentist, and these types of discoveries happen during regular dental visits. The dentist also looks for things like proper spacing between your teeth and any discoloration. At the end of the day, you want your smile straight and your teeth perfectly white, and the best way to achieve this goal is to make regular trips to your dentist.
7. To Address Any Questions or Concerns You May Have
Though you may feel like your dentist appointments come quickly, half a year is a long time for your teeth. Over those six months, you may develop questions or concerns. Is this normal? Are my teeth developing properly? What toothbrush do you recommend? Any tips for better flossing my back teeth? All sorts of questions may be floating around in your brain and your semi-annual checkup is the perfect time to have your dentist check these things out and answer your question to make sure your perfect smile is right on track.
Your oral health is dependent on these semi-annual checkups with your dentist. In the long run, oral health checkups save you pain, discomfort, and money that are associated with the pricey procedures necessary to treat an unhealthy mouth. If your child is due for a dental checkup, contact our dental office to schedule an appointment today!