For you to keep your teeth and gums healthy, a regular dental check-up may be necessary. But how often is regular? You may have to visit your dentist twice a year or once every six months, depending on your dentist’s instructions. Despite this, most people tend to neglect preventive health care regardless of the medical specialization and only visit them when things are already bad.
Neglecting preventive health care may be dangerous, especially for oral health, since we eat every day of our lives. As we eat, our teeth and gums become exposed to numerous organisms such as bacteria. This can lead to tooth decay, especially if food becomes stuck in our mouth or between our teeth. It’s good to be informed about the benefits of having regular dental check-ups, as well as the risks of missing your dental visits, as this could lead to you paying more to correct or treat if ever your teeth or gums become damaged.
With that said, below are some of the benefits of having regular dental check-ups.
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What Happens at Your Dental Visit?
Before we delve deeper, you should be refreshed with what happens during a dental examination. A dental visit is usually divided into two parts: the actual check-up itself and dental prophylaxis.
During the first part of your visit, your dentist will start by examining your teeth and gums’ overall status. It usually involves checking for cavities, plaque (a transparent, mucoid bacterial layer on the surface of your teeth), and tartar (the hardened version of plaque). Your dentist may also perform x-rays to evaluate your teeth thoroughly.
After checking your teeth, your gums are next. When checking your gums, your dentist will note the color of your gums and any visible signs of damage. The spaces between the gums and teeth are also measured since healthy gums have shallow areas in them. A diseased gum has deeper spaces.
Aside from your teeth and gums, your dentist will check the other organs present in your mouth. These organs include your tongue, cheeks, palate, and throat. Sometimes, they will also assess your neck and face for swelling or inflammation. Some of the signs which may indicate infection or inflammation include redness, swelling, and pain.
For the second part of your dental visit, your dentist will now do appropriate treatment depending on their assessment. For the most part, they will clean your teeth to remove tartar and plaque using a unique technique called scaling, which involves several tools such as a dental scaler or a mirror.
Once the clean-up is done, your dentist may apply a special paste to polish your teeth. This is done to remove any stains to keep your teeth white. Flossing is also done for that finishing touch, ensuring that the spaces between your teeth are clean to prevent tooth decay.
Benefits of Dental Check-Ups
Now that you’ve been refreshed, here’s why every one of us should plan a regular dental visit:
Remove Any Plaque and Tartar Build-up
As mentioned, you cannot remove plaque and tartar easily by brushing alone. Your dentist needs to assess your teeth thoroughly for signs of tooth decay and tartar build-up. If these are present, your dentist will then clean your teeth to remove tartar and treat cavities and tooth decay by applying dental fillings and fluoride, respectively.
Prevent the Development of Gum Disease
Gum diseases can be challenging to identify by an average person since there may be no symptoms during its early phase. Lucky for us, dentists have the knowledge and experience to identify such diseases, regardless if it’s on their early-onset or have entirely developed.
A dentist will assess whether the gums have damage or not and note some of the signs such as swelling, pockets of the gums, receding gums, and overall gum damage. The dentist will then proceed with the appropriate treatment if the patient is exhibiting gum disease.
Detect and Prevent Developing Dental Issues
Dental problems can be complex, even for the toughest of people. Often, we can’t bear the pain in our mouths, especially when we eat the food we love. This can be such a hassle and, when neglected, can be life-threatening since sepsis may develop.
Luckily, you can prevent dental diseases. Brushing your teeth regularly and thoroughly is a good practice, but as mentioned, it may not be enough. Your dentist can help in preventing these diseases from happening through thorough diagnosis and proper treatment. For more advice about dental issues, you can read more here.
Keep Bad Oral Habits at Bay
Some of our bad habits can be dangerous for our overall oral health. We may not realize this quickly, and it may be too late. Some of these habits include teeth grinding, nail-biting, smoking, and excessive consumption of sweets.
Your dentist will give you the best treatment and diagnosis for your oral health. They may also quickly identify these bad habits by simply looking at the insides of your mouth, help you diagnose these issues, and assist in preventing these bad habits that can ruin your oral health.
Receive Tailor-Made Advice
Dentists have trained and devoted their whole lives to perfect their craft. They will not give you quack advice and flawed treatment procedures. It’s best to check in with your dentist to provide you with sound advice in keeping your teeth and gums nice and strong. You can check this site for more dental advice.
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Final Thoughts
Your dentist will always be there for you, providing you with the proper treatment and recommendations to keep your oral health in perfect condition. If you get regular dental check-ups, you will prevent diseases from developing and cut down costs for treatment if your oral health declines due to neglect. For more information, you can check out this website.