The Importance Of Regular Dental Exams And Cleanings

Visiting a dentist for a cleaning and exam might seem like a waste of time if you don’t have any problems with your teeth. A lot of people avoid regular visits to the dentist because they think they are healthy enough or for a number of other different reasons, but visiting a dentist for a cleaning and examination is a necessity if you want to have a healthy mouth and beautiful smile.

Here are several reasons why it is so important to visit a dentist regularly.

DENTAL EXAMINATIONS LOCATE SMALL PROBLEMS

When you go to a dental checkup, the dentist will examine your teeth and mouth. This examination will include a physical examination of each tooth, your gums, and other areas of your mouth, and it will typically include x-rays of your teeth.

X-rays are extremely helpful in locating problems that are too small for the dentist to see with his or her eyes. X-rays can help dentists locate cavities, problems with tooth roots, and gum issues.

When they find small problems, dentists can fix small issues relatively easily because small problems cost less to fix and are usually less time-consuming. Small problems also cause less damage to teeth than large problems. Even if you think your teeth are healthy, you should visit your dentist regularly to ensure that everything stays that way.

During the examination, your dentist will also perform a cancer screening. The cancer screening involves looking inside your gums and cheeks, as well as looking under your tongue and feeling your lymph nodes. If the dentist finds any suspicious growths or sees anything abnormal, he or she might refer you to an oral cancer specialist.

DENTAL CLEANINGS PREVENT CAVITIES AND OTHER ORAL PROBLEMS

Secondly, getting your teeth cleaned every six months is one of the best ways to prevent cavities and other oral problems. During professional teeth-cleaning services, the hygienist who is performing the cleaning will complete several key steps that will make your teeth cleaner.

The first step is scraping the plaque off your teeth. You can remove some plaque by brushing and flossing, but there is always a good chance that some of the plaque will remain on your teeth even after doing these things.

When plaque remains on your teeth for a long time, it hardens and turns into a substance called tartar. Tartar is hard to remove from teeth, and it damages teeth. Plaque tends to develop around the gum lines of teeth and in between teeth, and when left on the gum lines, plaque can lead to gum disease. Gum disease causes recession of the gums and can eventually cause you to lose your teeth.

Next, the hygienist will polish your teeth, floss them, and provide you with a fluoride treatment. Each of these steps is crucial for healthy teeth, and each will help your teeth become cleaner.

ORAL HEALTH AFFECTS OVERALL HEALTH

You should also consider visiting a dentist to stay on top of your overall health. Problems in your mouth can cause problems in the rest of your body, which is something that most people do not realize.

If you have an infection in your mouth from gum disease, for example, the bacteria from the infection can enter your bloodstream. The bacteria then travels throughout your body, and it can even end up in the heart causing heart issues.

If it has been longer than six months since you visited a dentist for a cleaning and exam, you should schedule an appointment with Affordable Dental today. We offer convenient hours to accommodate busy schedules, and we accept most types of insurance plans.