For some individuals, the dentist can certainly seem like a scary place. White walls, chairs, and metal tools may look daunting, but it’s important to remember they are there to help us.
Just like optometrists, doctors, and audiologists, dentists play a role in managing our health and wellbeing. Taking care of our gums and teeth is extremely important and can even predict hidden health conditions.
6 Reasons to Visit Your Dentist Often
In this article, we are going to discuss the six reasons why you should visit the dentist regularly. Let’s get started!
Cavities
When you’re sitting in the dental chair, the first thing you may feel is your dentist prodding around at your teeth. This is generally to check for cavities, which are holes that form on the hard surface of your teeth. Cavities (tooth decay) are commonly caused by inadequate oral hygiene, alongside sugar and bacteria.
Your dentist can identify these cavities and notify you of the next best decision. In most cases, they will fill the hole to prolong the life of your tooth, but they may remove it if the damage is too extensive.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a severe problem that can have detrimental effects on one’s health. It usually presents itself in a mild form first, called gingivitis. You may experience bad breath, sore gums, and mild bleeding. When not treated, it can turn into periodontitis, which can destroy the bone supporting your teeth. Much like cavities, it is usually the result of poor oral hygiene.
By going to the dentist, you can detect the condition early and get regular cleanings to decrease your chance of further infection.
Oral Cancer
Those with oral cancer may start to experience white/red patches on their mouth, sore lips, and even lose teeth. While its cause isn’t exactly known, researchers think it may have something to do with tobacco use, sun exposure, and HPV. A dentist can identify this cancer in its earliest stages so that you can get treatment by a professional as soon as possible.
Hidden Teeth Problems
Sometimes, we may suffer from tooth pain but can’t identify the cause. These hidden problems can cause a lot of pain and even ruin the alignment of our teeth. The most common cause of hidden pain is wisdom teeth that become impacted. A dentist can help find the cause of your problem and work on a way to relieve the pain.
Jaw Pain
Dentists don’t just take care of our teeth; they also assist with jaw pain as well. Sometimes our bite can become misaligned, which can cause us to struggle when eating. A dentist will be able to identify this misalignment and recommend you to an orthodontist if it needs to be corrected.
Brighter Smile
Finally, one of the best reasons to visit your dentist is to work your way to a brighter smile. With regular cleaning and whitening, you can become more confident within yourself. You may even look into getting braces to help straighten your teeth if it is becoming an issue.
And that’s it! There were six different reasons why you should visit the dentist regularly. So book your appointment and make sure to get checked out. You won’t regret it!