Why You Should Visit Your Dentist Regularly
It’s a given that regular dentist check-ups are important, but why? Is it just a box to check off in your list of yearly to-dos, or is there a greater significance?
The professional consensus on how often to go to the dentist is once every six months. Dental visits shouldn’t be seen as a chore; they’re essential to maintaining a healthy set of teeth and preventing more serious diseases down the road.
So why should you visit your dentist regularly?
To Get a Deep Clean
We clean our teeth as best we can at home, but it’s sort of like giving yourself a massage. It’s always better to have someone do it for you.
Dentists have trained eyes that can see exactly where plaque and tartar are building up and perform a process called scaling to remove it. They can also spot gum inflammation and give recommendations as to whether you should floss more (you should probably be flossing more).
After removing the worst of plaque and tartar build-up, a dentist may polish your teeth with a special polishing paste. Unlike regular toothpaste, the polishing paste is gritty and rather tasteless. It can break down stubborn built-up particles on your teeth, leaving them with a smooth finish.
By not going to the dentist, you’re missing out on a more thorough, necessary cleaning. Daily life can be hard on teeth; between the coffee and sugary foods, forgetting to brush properly and convenient amnesia when it comes to flossing, our teeth often receive less care than they deserve. Dentist visits are important to keep your teeth white, clean, and healthy year-round.
Examining for Issues
A dentist doesn’t just clean your teeth; they have an excellent vantage point to spot any issues that may be cropping up. Our mouths are a portal to our overall health and dentists are trained to determine if it’s looking good or not.
Diabetes? Heart disease? Osteoporosis? Your dentist often knows before you do. Researchers have found that approximately 90% of systemic diseases give clues in the mouth. This means a dentist can spot if your health is going awry before it’s too late.
Some diseases dentists can spot are:
- Diabetes
- Leukemia
- Oral cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as persistent bad breath no matter how much you brush, or you have an aching jaw for seemingly no reason, it’s a good idea to see your dentist for an insightful opinion as to whether there’s anything to worry about.
You Stay Motivated
One of the best things about regular dental appointments is they deliver the important reminder to stay engaged in your own oral health. There’s nothing like a professional peering into your mouth on a biannual basis to keep you motivated to floss.
Children who are raised with good dental hygiene and regular dentist appointments have better established dental habits which translate into adulthood. Adults who make the dentist a part of their lives have dental hygiene at the forefront of their minds, rather than letting it become a secondary priority. Going to the dentist reminds you to clean your teeth well, and also reminds you to take pride in your beautiful, healthy smile. A good dentist’s passion for teeth will inspire you to look at dental hygiene as more than a thing to do on the way to the shower. You’ll be reminded to appreciate your teeth and take your oral health seriously.
Nip Problems in the Bud
Everyone has issues with their teeth at some point in time, but whether they spiral into life-halting issues depends on how early they’re identified and treated. Dentists can spot cavities, gum disease, or other minor oral issues that become increasingly complicated the longer they’re left untreated. Fixing them early means less money spent and less stress for you.
There are so many great reasons to visit the dentist regularly, so don’t delay making your next appointment. If you’re anxious about visiting the dentist, consider sedation dentistry. The important thing is that your mouth gets examined.
Dentists give your teeth a deep clean, spot oncoming issues, and fix dental problems before they have a chance to wreak havoc on your mouth. Once every six months is the recommended time frame to schedule dental appointments. Doing so will pay off in a glowing white smile, and confidence that your oral health is secure.
Dawson Dental began with one location in Guelph and has grown to include twenty locations across Ontario. For a personalized smile at any age call us at 1-855-965-1443 or visit our contact page here.