Nearly everybody likes it when their teeth are clean and looking great. Therefore, the importance of routine dental checkups should be clear to everybody.
Regular dental checkups play a vital role because they help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy. They also allow you to detect issues at a young age and end them before they worsen. Therefore, you should visit your dentist at least once every six months.
What is the importance of routine dental checkups?
- They prevent plaque, tartar, cavities, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.
Some parts of the mouth, such as the molars, can be tricky to clean with dental floss or a toothbrush. Thus, plaque and tartar may build upon these areas. This build-up will eventually cause oral diseases such as cavities and gingivitis. Tooth cavities may grow to tooth decay and lead to loss of teeth.
- They help to detect mouth cancer.
At every checkup, your dentist will examine for signs of oral cancer. He will check for any lumps on your neck or head. They will also check for any patches in your mouth. These tests may find nothing unusual, but they can save your life.
- Keep bad habits away.
Habits such as ice chewing, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and smoking can potentially harm your teeth. During the dental visits, your dentist will gently discuss these habits with you then offer preventive treatments if any of those habits have affected your teeth.
What you should expect when you visit your dental professional
Now that the importance of routine dental checkups is clear to you, you should be accustomed to what you should expect during the visit.
There are two phases of a dental checkup- the examination part and oral prophylaxis. In the examination phase, the dentist will check for cavities. He may take X-rays to detect cavities on your teeth. The dentist will also check for plaque and tartar between your teeth. You should note that you cannot remove tartar with a toothbrush or dental floss.
In the prophylaxis phase, the dentist will check your gums. He will measure the depth of the spaces between your gums and teeth. If those spaces are shallow, then your gums are healthy.
At your visit, the dentist will also clean your teeth. Cleaning involves the removal of tartar in a process called scaling.
There are numerous health benefits of observing the importance of routine dental checkups.
Keep your smile great by regularly visiting your dentist. Your dentist will help you keep oral problems at bay. Also, ensure that you do the follow-up activities after your visit.
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