Every six months is a good time to visit the dentist. If you’ve ever wondered why you need frequent dental checks, consider this.
Consider the hazards before skipping a dental appointment due to expense, time, or dental phobia. Long-term, skipping the dentist could cost you more money and peace of mind. Here are some reasons to visit the New Image Dental dentist Los Angeles regularly:
- Detecting Oral Cancer
Oral cancer has many symptoms. Without early detection, mouth cancer can swiftly become life-threatening. Early-stage oral cancer is treatable, thankfully.
Your dentist is trained to detect these symptoms, and with regular dental checks every six months, oral cancer is more likely to be caught early. If you don’t notice oral irregularities, your dentist will.
- Plaque, Tartar, Cavities
Even the most diligent brushers and flossers miss little places in the mouth. Plaque hardens into tartar, which is difficult to eliminate without professional aid.
Regular cleanings prevent tartar from damaging teeth and causing cavities. Cavities rarely cause warning symptoms before causing a toothache. Once the harm is done, holes and other tooth problems must be filled and corrected. Regular cleanings remove plaque and tartar before they do damage.
If money is tight, you should prioritize cleanings over fillings.
- Periodontitis
Plaque and tartar promote tooth decay and destroy gums. When tartar produces an infection at the gum-to-tooth junction, the gum pulls away. Gingivitis breaks down gum tissue as it advances.
Only at this moment will there be swelling, bleeding, or pain in the mouth. Gum disease also causes bone loss, which loosens teeth. Teeth loosen or fall out at this stage, and a dentist must take extreme measures.
Gum disease therapy might include surgery, extensive cleaning, and medication, depending on severity. Regular dental cleanings are vital for recognizing and treating gingivitis early.
- Bad Habits
Some poor behaviors may not even be affecting your dental health. Chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating sticky or hard sweets, brushing too hard, drinking coffee and red wine, and smoking are all bad habits.
Your dentist can check for mouth damage from these and other habits during routine visits. Knowing about detrimental habits helps you adapt your lifestyle to prevent additional damage. Visiting the dentist fixes damage and improves dental health.
- X-Rays Reveal Hidden Problems
Getting your teeth and jawbone x-rayed every six months is vital. X-rays allow dentists to see abnormalities that are unseen by the human eye. Impacted teeth, frequently wisdom teeth, are growing teeth that are stopped from pushing through the gum line.
Jawbone damage, bone deterioration, swelling, cysts, and tumors cannot be seen without x-ray imaging. Finding these and other severe oral disorders early is crucial for treatment.
Up-to-date x-rays and bi-annual exams are the greatest technique to monitor deadly diseases with few or no symptoms.
- Check Head, Neck, And Lymph Nodes
Your dentist will also inspect your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes below your jawline for swelling, lumps, or other abnormalities. If an irregularity is identified, your dentist will notify you and recommend you to a doctor.
Swollen lymph nodes may not hurt or look out of the ordinary, but they may be a sign of cancer or other disorders that require rapid attention. Lack of dental visits reduces neck and thyroid gland checks. Your dentist only needs a minute to search for irregularities, but it might mean catching a dangerous condition early.
Do Dental Checkups Pay Off?
Dentists don’t just fix teeth. They clean your teeth, ensure your teeth and gums are healthy, and look for anomalies that could otherwise go undiscovered. Dental specialists provide healthy bones and assist address habits that sabotage oral health.
Skipping dentist appointments may seem harmless, but oral problems can develop quickly. Keeping up with dental cleanings and checkups will benefit you long-term.