If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. There are four keys to good oral health: brushing twice a day; flossing daily; attending dental checkups twice a year; and having your teeth cleaned annually. By now maybe you take it for granted, but have you ever asked why? Why is attending dental checkups in Mahogany regularly important?
Now, if you already visit a dentist near you twice a year, we may be preaching to the choir. But if attending dental checkups near you twice a near is not something you’ve prioritized to date, let’s answer that all-important question, Why should you? You should attend dental checkups in Copperfield regularly because…
… it’ll increase the chance oral cancer will be detected early
Oral cancers kill thousands of Canadians every year. If not detected until it has spread beyond your mouth, oral cancer is very difficult to treat. When detected early, though, there are more treatment options available and five-year survival rates are much higher. A dentist near you will screen you for early indications of oral cancer, including by using a VELscope screening device to illuminate irregular tissues that may indicate the presence of cancer. If irregular tissues are disclosed, your dentist will support you in obtaining appropriate medical advice and treatment. In addition to screening for signs of oral cancer, your dentist will screen you for indications of TMJ dysfunction and examine your neck and lymph nodes for any swelling, lumps, and irregularities.
… it’ll help eliminate the need for fillings
Brushing and flossing removes a lot of plaque from your teeth and gums, but there is often plaque left behind in hard to reach areas. Over time, that accumulating plaque turns to tartar which is impossible to remove without specialized dental tools. Unless removed, that tartar will contribute to erosion of your teeth and the formation of holes in your enamel — in a word, cavities, that will need to be filled with fillings. To avoid the accumulation of plaque, development of tartar, and emergence of cavities requiring fillings, attend dental checkups regularly.
… it’ll protect you from gum disease
Cavities aren’t the only consequence of plaque and tartar buildup in your mouth. Gum disease in the form of gingivitis and periodontitis are two more serious complications that can arise. Periodontitis causes the breakdown of gum tissue and the bones that hold your teeth in place. In addition to bleeding, swelling, and pain affecting your teeth, advanced gum disease can cause loose and even lost teeth.
… your dentist will spot damage caused by any bad habits
Many of us have bad habits that we don’t know — or would prefer not to know — can have serious consequences for the health of our teeth and gums. Some habits that can affect the health of your teeth even occur without you knowing them. Unless you see your dentist every six months for regular checkups, you may have no idea that you are damaging your teeth by clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, chewing ice and biting your fingernails, eating certain snacks, brushing too vigorously, smoking, and drinking certain beverages.
… your dentist will be able to look beneath the surface
At twice annual checkups, your dentist may take dental x-rays and images to reveal what is happening within your jaw. There are several dental health conditions that can develop — unseen beneath your gums and within your jaw — that can only be seen in x-rays until they have become much more advanced and potentially require complex, invasive and expensive treatment. X-rays taken at regular dental checkups can reveal early indications of impacted wisdom teeth, bone decay, swelling, tumours, and cysts.
Attending regular dental checkups is essential to the health of your teeth and gums, but that’s not all. Seeing your dentist regularly is also an excellent way to preserve your general health and to reduce the need for potentially invasive and expensive treatment.