Regular Dental Checkups — Why They’re Important and Why You Should Have One Every Six Months

Many people have themselves convinced that the last thing they want to do is go to the dentist, which makes putting off scheduling regular dental checkups easy. As a result, they see a dentist only when toothaches or other issues can no longer be ignored — but those issues might not even have happened if they’d been scheduling regular checkups with their dentist. Many adverse dental health issues can be circumvented or even reversed by the proper treatment, but by the time you’ve got a toothache, it’s most likely too late to save the affected dental tissues. Here’s why you should see your dentist every six months:

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the number one leading cause of toothache, and it’s usually the result of a buildup of bacteria on the surface of the tooth. Although brushing and flossing at least two times per day is a highly effective way to keep tooth decay from occurring, it nonetheless doesn’t remove all of the plaque buildup, which is why having professional teeth cleaning session every six months is recommended. Your dentist will also be able to identify any tooth decay currently in the initial stages and treat it before it becomes serious enough to damage tissues and cause a toothache.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease and is characterized by bleeding gums during or after brushing your teeth, swollen gums, tenderness, and in some cases, actual pain. However, some patients experience no symptoms whatsoever. Gingivitis is reversible in the early stages, but if it isn’t caught in time, it will go onto to develop into full-fledged gum disease, which is known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can cause tooth loss as well as contribute to cardiovascular disease and other systemic health issues.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer screenings are also a part of a regular dental checkup. This involves checking for abnormalities such as certain types of lesions, swelling, pain with an unknown source, and discoloration. This is particularly important when patients are in a high-risk group, such as those who use tobacco products or have a family history of oral cancer.

Please don’t hesitate to contact our office today If you’ve got questions or concerns about your dental health or would like to schedule an appointment for a checkup.