Absolutely no one gets excited over going to the doctor, but the even more dreaded appointment is the annual or semi-annual dental appointment that you have to go to in order to keep your teeth and mouth well taken care of and sparkly white all year long. However, there are more reasons than just a nice smile to see your dentist on a regular basis. Skipping your dental appointment can end up costing you your oral health and can end up with you needing more dental work than you would if you went to your regularly scheduled appointment, costing you more money in the end. To save your wallet and your mouth, it is important to see your dentist on a regular basis. Below are a few other reasons why it is so important to go to your annual dentist appointment.
Your Dentist Checks for Oral Cancer
The first thing your dentist will check for is a very serious disease known as oral cancer. Oral cancer will present itself in a few different ways and in some cases can go undetected unless it is diagnosed by a professional. This is a dangerous form of cancer because it can spread incredibly quickly and become life-threatening very fast. However, going to your dentist on a regular basis will increase the chances that symptoms can get caught quickly so that it can easily be treated.
Your dentist goes through strenuous training so that he or she is able to detect early signs and symptoms of oral cancer. When you stick to your annual or semi-annual appointments, the possibility of early detection of oral cancer and successful treatment increases dramatically.
Gets Rid of Built-Up Plaque and Tarter
Even if you brush your teeth three times a day for two minutes per brush as dentists recommend, it is just impossible to reach every area of your mouth every single time you brush. This means that there are going to be spots in your mouth that get missed when you brush and floss which will lead to plaque building up on your teeth.
The more plaque that is allowed to build up, the harder it becomes to brush away and get rid of it. When it becomes this hard, it turns into tartar which cannot be taken off your teeth without the help of your dentist.
When tartar builds up on your teeth, it will begin to eat away at it and cause cavities to appear. All of this can be completely avoided if you go to your regularly scheduled cleanings and get the plaque and tartar removed before it becomes a serious oral health problem.
Gum Disease
Not only can a build-up of plaque and tartar cause cavities to appear in your mouth, but it can also cause the gum tissues to begin breaking down and eroding. When this happens, the gum becomes infected right where it connects to the tooth. This infection is known as gingivitis. If left untreated gum disease can erode teeth, gum tissue, and even jaw bone. At this point, you will need a specialist who can fix the problem which can put a huge blow to your wallet.
Going to your regular dental cleaning appointments can save you money, keep your mouth healthy, and save you from a lot of oral issues. Going to your dentist is just as important as brushing your teeth!
More Insight from Your Dentist in San Marcos TX
If you’re interested in learning more about why dentist visits are so important, we’d recommend our previous post on the importance of dental X-rays. If you’re still having trouble finding that motivation to go to the dentist, you may benefit from our post on managing dental anxiety. When you’re ready to get your next visit to the dentist taken care of, come stop by our dental office in San Marcos TX!
Tags: dental care, dental health