You have likely heard that you need to go to the general dentist every six months for a dental checkup, but you might not know why. Why is it so important to go to the dentist twice a year? Once you get the details, you will make a point to keep all your dental appointments.
A family dentist removes the plaque and tartar that lead to decay. Brushing and flossing are helpful in reducing the amount of plaque and tartar, but people cannot adequately reach all the areas of their mouths. Going to the dentist twice a year significantly reduces the risk of tooth decay.
Dentists can also prevent gum disease. When plaque and tartar are left unattended for too long, it erodes gum tissue and causes gingivitis. Eventually, the tissue breaks down completely, and people end up with gum disease. Regular cleanings make it much more difficult for tartar and plaque to burrow under the gums.
Failing to prevent gum disease or catch it early can be a costly and painful decision. Treatment can be quite expensive and might involve surgery.
People can see their teeth, but they cannot see what is happening under the surface. Fortunately, a family dentist uses X-ray equipment to detect possible issues.
Potential issues include impacted teeth, bone decay, cysts and damage to the jawbone. Finding these issues early improves the outcome of the treatment.
Dentists do not just examine the teeth. They also look at the rest of the mouth, searching for signs of oral cancer. If oral cancer is detected early, it is often treatable. However, failure to detect it early could lead to serious complications, including death.
It is hard for a layman to detect oral cancer because it typically manifests with subtle changes. These changes go undetected for most people, but dentists are trained to spot them.
A family dentist also checks for signs of bad habits such as smoking, chewing on ice and bruxism. Dentists look for changes caused by these habits and help people commit to lifestyle changes.
People often fail to realize how damaging bad habits are to the teeth. For instance, smoking discolors the teeth and can lead to gum disease, while chewing on ice and biting nails can crack the teeth.
By catching the damage early, dentists help people make smarter decisions to protect their teeth.
Going to the dentist twice a year will help you avoid cavities, prevent gum disease, find issues located under the surface, detect oral cancer and break bad habits. Keep regularly scheduled appointments, so your dentist can help protect your oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistofvisalia.com or call Visalia Care Dental at (559) 975-1213 for an appointment in our Visalia office.
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