To most people, going to the dentist is not necessarily on the top of the lists of things they want to do. Actually, the amount of people who say they avoid visits due to dental anxiety and fear is around 9% to 15%.
The dentist can seem like a scary place, but there are certainly a good number of advantages that should make you want to jump up and schedule an appointment right away. Keep reading to check out this list of 7 benefits of regular dental visits that will save you and your teeth.
What Happens At A Dental Visit
There are essentially two parts to a dental visit. Firstly, the dentist will examine your entire oral condition, including teeth, gums, and tongue as a routine checkup. They will take x-rays to help get a better idea of what is going on inside of your mouth.
After this, the dentist will provide a cleaning using various tools, such as scrapers and small mirrors, for a basic dental cleanse of any plaque or tartar buildup. The dentist will provide a follow-up plan and have you schedule appointments for any further work that may be needed, such as a root canal or filling.
1. Prevent Future Issues
You may think that a dentist just works on your teeth, but there are other parts of dental health to consider. One of the benefits of regular dental visits is that the dentist is able to spot concerns that could turn into larger issues later on down the road. For instance, if they seem a small cavity developing or notice that your gums aren’t in good shape, you can be provided treatment immediately.
Many people experience plaque buildup and gum diseases that go unnoticed because they didn’t make it in to see an expert soon enough. A dentist can also screen for any early signs of oral cancer or other major illnesses.
2. Save Your Teeth
Sometimes we get to a point where a tooth is so decayed and rotten that it has to be pulled out. You only have one adult set of teeth so losing any permanently can be detrimental to the overall condition of your oral health.
When you lose teeth, different occurrences could happen in your mouth, including your teeth shifting on their own. This could cause some discomfort and completely change your smile as you know it. Saving your teeth is one of the best benefits of regular dental visits because it prevents something that is irreversible.
3. Education On Proper Dental Hygiene
There are a lot of people who aren’t informed on proper ways to handle their dental hygiene. Most people brush their teeth once per day and never floss. This may not sound like a big deal, but it can lead to bigger issues in the long run.
Habits as small as brushing your teeth after meals and making sure to floss at least once per day can help to fight bacteria in your mouth and promote overall healthier teeth. If you need more of a personalized dental hygiene routine, then you may want to keep up with your dental checkups so that you have professionals monitoring your oral health.
4. Help With Related Issues
There are some issues that are related to your dental health that you may not have even considered, like having concerns with sleeping or headaches from grinding your teeth. Being able to target and treat these issues is another one of the benefits of regular dentist visits.
Even if the dentist is not able to give you something to completely stop the issue, they will be able to refer you to the appropriate specialist.
5. Treat Bad Breath
Having chronic bad breath is not just a case of morning breath or eating too many onions. A condition called halitosis can occur after repeatedly practicing poor oral hygiene habits. This is not an issue to ignore or try to treat on your own.
Make sure you go to the dentist so that you can pinpoint what exactly is causing the odor and how you can fix it. Sometimes it may be a medical condition that needs to be attended to immediately.
6. Give You Peace of Mind
Having dental pain or concerns with your oral health could literally keep you up at night. There are issues that could potentially lead to very serious consequences if untreated, such as leaving a decayed tooth in your mouth for too long. This is why you should regularly visit your dentist.
A dentist will be able to keep up with what’s going on in your mouth, aid with pain and discomfort and then give you a plan for a follow-up. All of these components help you to live with more peace of mind and less worrying over how bad a problem could be.
