You may not think dental check-ups are necessary if you regularly brush and floss your teeth. However, there are several reasons why you should make time to visit the dentist. Despite your best brushing efforts, tooth decay, cavities, and other oral health concerns can creep up on you. Find out more about the benefits of dentist visits and get inspired to make your next appointment.
Preventing Decay
Even with the most diligent of brushing habits, you may miss spots while cleaning your teeth. Crowded teeth can make it difficult to reach the whole tooth with your brush. It’s not uncommon to miss crevices while you floss, too. And while mouth rinses can help reach those hard-to-reach areas, it’s still likely that you’re missing certain areas of your mouth with your cleaning efforts.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for decay to begin. By the time you start feeling twinges of pain in your gums or teeth or experience bleeding gums, the damage has already been done. Regular dental check-ups will ensure proper cleaning in those tough areas, helping to also identify the decay early before too much damage occurs.
Avoiding an Abscess
Some tooth damage can be subtle or even unnoticeable. In some cases, tooth abscesses can begin to form. Ignoring or not noticing tooth decay or damage for too long will likely result in an extremely painful abscess. By the time you address the abscess, you will need to have a root canal treatment. Visiting your dentist for routine cleanings twice each year can ensure you stay ahead of any potential abscesses.
Identifying Jawbone Density Problems with Dental Check-ups
As we age, many of us experience a reduction in jawbone density. Often an inherited trait, this can be a severe problem. In the worst cases, people lose many teeth. They may even have to face the loss of all their teeth.
A thorough scaling and cleaning procedure by the dentist should highlight any looseness in your teeth during dental check-ups. A slight give of a tooth in the gums can be the first sign of this distressing condition. Identifying the problem as early as possible is essential so you and your dentist can devise a plan of action.
Staving Off Periodontal Disease
Plaque is a bacterial film that coats our teeth as we eat. Acids in the plaque attack and destroy tooth enamel. The result is tooth decay. Plaque can also make its way under gums, attacking the roots of teeth and causing deterioration in the jawbone.
Where plaque is left untreated for some time, it will cause a condition called Gingivitis. This gum disease inflames the area around your teeth and can progress into severe periodontal disease. Regular visits with the dentist will help you stave off any onset of periodontal disease.
Are You Experiencing Dental Pain?
Has it been months or years since you last visited your dentist? At Crosspointe Dental and Orthodontics, we recommend six-monthly dental check-ups. Get in touch or book online to schedule your next appointment!
