Common dental wisdom is that you should visit the dentist twice a year. These visits are more than just a chance to let your dentist fret over your teeth. Those dental checkups are a way to maintain clean and healthy teeth and gums. The more likely you visit the dentist, the easier it is to look after your oral health and the less likely you are to develop any issues with your teeth and gums. Some major reasons those bi-annual visits to the dentist are so important include:
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Dental deep cleaning
Dental hygiene plays an integral role in your oral health. However good you might be at cleaning your teeth, your dentist can always offer a helping hand. There are always hard-to-reach areas in your mouth you may not always be able to clean properly, and sometimes plaque deposits can build up. In those cases, it’s a good idea to let your dentist take a look and offer a professional cleaning for your teeth. That plaque and germs remain a threat, one your dentist can help you deal with. In fact, strong plaque deposits can only be removed by your dentist, so take the opportunity to get your teeth cleaned before that plaque develops into something else.
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Opportunity to whiten your teeth
Aside from health-related assistance, your dentist also offers help with cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening. Tooth whitening has become increasingly popular over the years, and now that’s it’s become vogue, it pays to get an expert opinion. There are a great many myths about what is and isn’t safe or popular, so getting your dentist’s two cents can help you find out if teeth whitening and other procedures are for you. These procedures aren’t always optimal for everyone, so your dentist is uniquely placed to tell you if it’s a good idea. Besides, your dentist is the only place to get your teeth whitened safely and legally, so you were going to end up there anyway.
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Prevention of oral health problems
It’s very possible to miss spots on your teeth, regardless of how careful and thorough you’ve been in your brushing. One notorious culprit is the back molars, which are infamous for the difficulty involved in cleaning them. Visiting your dentist gives you a chance to examine those hard-to-reach areas and determine if your teeth have taken any damage over time. With their tools and training, your dentist is in a good position to tell you what’s up and what you can do about it. In case of any issues, your dentist can then provide advice and prescribe medication to address the problem before it gets worse.
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Keeping gum disease at bay
It’s not just your teeth you need to look out for. Maintaining good oral hygiene also involves taking proper care of your gums. The early stages of gum disease often exhibit no symptoms, so it can be difficult to determine if you have a problem on your own. Luckily, your dentist knows what to look for. As part of your routine checkup, your dentist will check your gums to see if they’re firm. Other warning signs can include swelling, receding gums, and deep gum pockets. If your dentist finds those signs, they can then start addressing the underlying cause of your gum problems. If caught early, gum disease can be treated by adjusting your oral habits. Again, your dentist can offer some steps you can take to reverse any damage.
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Cost-effective solutions to your problems
A dental appointment is a very cost-effective means of looking after your health. Indeed, up to one-quarter of Canadians fail to visit the dentist twice a year, due to the cost. However, the checkup itself is inexpensive, and more cost-effective than not dealing with any issues. Your dentist knows how to detect any oral health problems and offer professional advice to help you deal with them early. One issue with many oral health problems is that they can be costly to address. By visiting your dentist regularly, they can detect signs of bad habits and oral health problems, and offer advice to adjust your lifestyle without necessarily resorting to costly procedures. Think of those checkups as a way to avoid any inconvenience, financial or otherwise.
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Routine maintenance of overall health
The dental checkup doesn’t limit itself to inspecting your teeth. Your dentist may also decide to perform a head and neck exam. Specifically, your dentist will examine your lymph nodes, neck, and jaws for signs of swelling, lumps, deformities, or other signs of illness. Oral health is closely linked to general health, and your dentist is well-placed to detect those signs and inform you. Once your dentist determines there is a problem, they can refer you to a specialist to learn more.
In general, a trip to the dentist is more than just a checkup. It’s also a chance for your dentist to help you take care of your teeth in particular and your overall health in general. Above all, it’s a chance to offer you some concrete steps you can perform to take better care of your oral health. Always keep in mind, your dentist is on your teeth’s side, and everything they say and do is to help you. There’s nothing to be scared of, and maybe it’s time to get your teeth looked at, if only to make sure you’re still healthy.
When you need a dentist to look after your teeth, consider Dr. Mark Rhody. We offer a wide range of dental services and compassionate care to help you look after your oral health without fear. Give us a call at (416) 231-4281 to make an appointment and start taking better care of your teeth.