Did you know that good oral health has been linked to your body’s overall health? Most mineral deficiencies and diseases are usually complemented by oral symptoms. The value of dental visits can’t be emphasized enough as they help you maintain your overall oral health.
Why Visiting Your Dentist Regularly is Beneficial
In order to maintain good dental health, it is important that you visit your dentist on a regular basis. Neglecting routine dental checkups can lead to larger oral problems like cavities, gingivitis and tooth decay, all of which affect your overall health.
Good oral health can give your mind, body and wallet a lot of peace. Here are six reasons why you should take preventive dental care:
1. Detection of Oral Problems Early On
When you maintain regular visits, it’s easier for your dentist to detect any dental issues that you yourself may be completely unaware of such as cavities, oral cancer and gum disease. Many diseases and other problems only become visible after they reach their advanced stages.
An experienced dentist will:
Examine Your Gums
Did you know that more than 50% of people in America that are over age 30 suffer from gum disease? Your gums indicate the condition of your overall health. Your dentist will carefully examine if there are any large gaps between your teeth and gums, a strong indicator of periodontal disease which can further spread to the vital organs in your body.
Check for Cavities
Chances are you may have cavities that you don’t even know of. Detecting cavities early on allows for faster and easier treatment and can save your teeth before the decay progresses. Once the decay has infiltrated your tooth enamel, it can infect the spongy pulp of your teeth and the infection can further spread to the root and into your bloodstream.
Check for a Buildup of Plaque and Tartar
A buildup of plaque can lead to the formation of tartar which is difficult to remove simply by brushing and flossing alone and can cause gum disease or cavities. Your dentist is able to clean your teeth from tartar with special tools, along with other hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.
Examine Your Neck, Throat, Tongue and Face
This examination enables your dentist to identify any symptoms of potential problems such as cancer.
2. Diagnosis of Sleep Related Problems
Sleep apnea is a common condition whereby an individual stops breathing in between small intervals while asleep. This is harmful to overall health, as it can lead to daytime drowsiness as well as increasing your chances of suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease or a stroke. Anyone suffering from sleep apnea is normally prescribed a custom-made mouth guard to keep their airway open while asleep.
3. Monitor Bad Oral Habits and Maintain Good Overall Health
Some habits can have a damaging effect on your oral health. Examples of these bad habits are biting your nails, chewing ice, teeth grinding and brushing your teeth with too much pressure. Your dentist will identify bad habits and the resulting damage caused by them and will advise you on how to best rectify them.
4. Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Detection
Each and every dental checkup that occurs in the U.S. screens for oral cancer. Detecting the symptoms of oral cancer early on increases survival rates. Unfortunately, the truth is that most oral cancers are usually not discovered until the later stages.
5. Digital X-Rays See the Invisible
An important aspect of your dental visits is having your jawbone and teeth x-rayed. These x-ray images allow your dentist to view what is going on below the surface of your mouth and detect any problems that are invisible to the naked eye. Any damage to your teeth or jaw can be pinpointed with absolute accuracy, along with any cysts, tumors or bone decay—all of which are impossible to see without x-rays.
6. Children Develop a Friendly Relationship with Your Dentist
Following good dental routines as parents sets a positive example for your children, displaying it as a normal part of oral care.
Make poor oral health a thing of the past with general dentistry and take the necessary preventive care by scheduling regular dental appointments with your family dentist.