We all know that, in theory, we should be visiting our dentist regularly. In practice, however, many people fail to schedule or keep their regular dental appointments. As long as their teeth look white and they are not experiencing any pain, some patients will forgo their appointments, mistakenly believing that their oral health is fine. These patients may even get lucky for a number of months or even years. However, eventually, you will run into an oral health problem that could have been caught earlier and treated by your dentist. Your dental professional plays a vital role in your oral health, and keeping your regularly scheduled appointments is important for maintaining your dental health.
During your routine appointment, your dental professional will conduct a thorough visual examination as well as a detailed examination through the use of x-rays and other imaging technologies. This examination may reveal oral and dental health problems that you were unaware of. For example, dental examinations often uncover small cavities, ulcers in the mouth, and the beginning signs of periodontal disease, even before the patient begins experiencing symptoms.
Catching dental and oral health problems early is important, because these problems are often relatively easy to treat in the early stages. For example, small cavities require less drilling and less filling material than large cavities. Catching a cavity early improves your chances for eliminating the tooth decay, and minimal drilling is less likely to compromise the structure of the tooth. Extensive tooth decay may necessitate a larger filling that is more likely to crack the tooth or fall out over time, or may even require a crown to preserve the structure of the tooth and protect it from further damage.
Aside from helping to diagnose and treat problems early, your dental professional examines your teeth to make sure that you are brushing and flossing correctly. Proper and frequent brushing and flossing is your best defense against dental and oral health problems. If you show signs of oral care problems, your dental professional can advise you about how to correct the problem before dental health problems have the opportunity to develop.
Your dental professional also performs routine dental cleanings that can reduce your chances of developing periodontal disease or tooth decay later on. They can remove hard, built up tartar from hard to reach areas, preventing the bacteria in the tartar from causing tooth decay or irritating the gum line and starting periodontal disease.
Your dental professional can also teach you and your family about healthy habits, such as eating right. Avoiding sugary foods and beverages is important, but it is not the only thing you should be doing to safeguard your oral and dental health. You should eat a balanced diet that is high in calcium, and vitamins A, B, and C to prevent tooth and gum problems. If you are unsure of how to eat right for your oral health, your dental professional can offer advice for improving your diet…
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