Here’s Why You Should Make Your Dentist Visit a Routine
The city’s top dentists including Seattle’s best of 2019 still echo the age-old reminder: Do not skip your regular dental checkups. Despite the advancements in dental medicine in terms of knowledge and technology, the twice-a-year dental checkups are still necessary. Some hold the mistaken belief that the dental visits can be skipped, especially if they don’t feel anything wrong with their teeth and gums. However, visits to the dentists are essential for a number of reasons. Here are some of them.
- It Catches Early Stages of Tooth Decay
One of the most obvious reasons why you should schedule a visit to the dentist every six months is that it helps prevent and nip the onset of tooth decay before it becomes worse. Tooth decay may not seem to be too bad at first and are largely ignored by most. Dentists can easily recognize even the smallest signs of tooth decay and cavities. Addressing this problem early on will go a long way in keeping your teeth healthy and strong.
- It Helps Prevent Periodontal Disease
Studies show that gum or periodontal disease occurs in nearly half of the American population who are over the age of 30. Gum disease is characterized by an inflammation of the gums due to bacterial infection. If left untreated, this dental condition may lead to irreversible degradation of gum tissue and tooth loss.
One study in Finland also strongly suggest that periodontal disease can lead to some types of gastrointestinal cancer. The study revealed that, Treponema denticola, which is the bacteria responsible for gum disease shares the same enzyme as the bacteria that is responsible for pancreatic cancer. The researchers observed that the Treponema denticola also has properties that triggers carcinogenesis.
- Teeth Cleaning
No matter how much you brush or floss, plaque eventually builds up along the base of your teeth. The buildup of dental plaque can lead to a variety of oral health problems such as bad breath, tooth decay, inflamed salivary glands, etc. Your twice-a-year dental checkups include teeth cleaning and the removal of tartar and dental plaque.
- Screening for Major Dental Diseases
Every year, statistics from the National Institutes of Health reveal that more than 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. As with any other types of cancer, however, oral cancer is manageable and curable if it is diagnosed early. If the cancer is not diagnosed early, however, it can spread very quickly. Your dentist routinely conducts oral cancer screening during your twice-a-year visits.
- Preventive Dentistry
Visiting your dentist every six months is part of what is often called “preventive dentistry,” which is the practice of keeping your teeth healthy with proper care. Apart from the usual brushing and dental cleanings, your dentist may also prescribe other oral care that may be specific to your needs to ensure that your teeth remain strong and clean.
Maintaining a healthy dental care routine, which includes your regular visits to your dentist, has benefits that extend beyond oral health. Poor dental health and hygiene has been linked to a number of seemingly unrelated diseases including diabetes, heart and lung problems, bone disease and premature birth.
