Have you asked yourself when your last dental check-up was? If you were like most people, the answer would probably be more than a year ago. Studies show that more and more people today tend to neglect to visit the dentist regularly every six months for a variety of reasons. It can be lack of money, having no medical and dental insurance, busy schedules or even fear of the dentist. Although this is understandable, it is definitely important to change that bad habit as regular dental visits are not just for oral care but for overall health as well.
Brushing and flossing may not be enough
You may be brushing your teeth twice a day or even every after meal, and flossing between them but these alone do not guarantee impeccable oral care. A visit to the dentist will help you deal with cavity problems before they become painful and require more serious interventions like filling or tooth extraction. This is because, even as you brush and floss your teeth, some food debris may be left behind in corners.
Lodged food may tear down tooth enamel into cavity and tooth carries, which are not only painful but can cause infection and tooth loss as well. Having regular cleaning reduces the risks of having to deal with problem later on.
Benefits to overall health
Apart from teeth whitening, dental professional Hillfield Pediatric & Family Dentistry shares that the family dentist will also check the health of old fillings and restorations you may have had in the past to make sure that they are still in good condition. Furthermore, they will do a cursory examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. This is to look for early signs of diseases that may be apparent through physical signs in those areas such as diabetes, cancer, throat infection or other such diseases.
It is important to remember that dental problems are usually hard to identify until you feel pain. By then, the problem has progressed already to the point that it will require filling, extraction or replacement. Prevention is always more important than cure and a visit to your family dentist today is a start to having good oral care.