Dental Anxiety: Top Reasons Why You New Regular Dental Checkup

Have you been having issues with your teeth or gum lately? You may be due for a dentist appointment soon. For pristine oral health, it’s a must to visit your local dentist every six months. For example, if you’re in the state of Michigan, Ann Arbor Dentist should be your stop every 6 months. From dental checkups to emergency dental care, they have everything you need.

Now, it’s understandable that visiting a dentist every half year is not an appointment that everyone looks forward to but bear in mind that it’s one of the most important appointments to keep. If you have been wondering that when you brush your teeth twice a day and maintain good oral hygiene, what’s the point of visiting a dentist is, we have got some food for thought for you. 

Usually, individuals skimp on dentist visits because of time restrictions, cost, or dental anxiety. However, consider this. The cost of not visiting your dentist routinely might run higher than what you may save with skipping the dentist visit. Here are some of the critical reasons why you should see your dentist regularly.

Prevention of Oral Cancer

One of the most critical reasons to see your dentist regularly is oral cancer. Oral cancer is one of the most serious diseases that presents itself in various ways. Without regular checkups, the signs of early onset of oral cancer are not detected resulting in it progressing and quickly becoming life-threatening. Fortunately, if detected early, it’s easily treatable.

A dentist is trained to detect these early-onset signs and symptoms of oral cancer, and with regular checkups, it will be possible for them to catch oral cancer in its early stage. Recognizing oral cancer in the early stages is the first step in treating it successfully and while you may not be able to detect the signs yourself, your dentist definitely will.

Usually, your dentist will perform a VELscope cancer test, which is a non-invasive test and lasts only a couple of minutes at max. It can detect dead tissues caused by tumors by shining a special light inside the mouth. It’s best to keep up with your oral checkup to keep oral cancer at bay. 

Prevention of Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities

It need not be said, even with diligent daily brushing and flossing, you cannot possibly reach all areas of your mouth. One of the most common issues is plaque, which if not taken care of, solidifies into tartar. Tartar is extremely difficult to get rid of and requires professional help. Regular dental cleaning prevents plaque from building up and creating tartar.

Tartar can erode your pearly whites and even create holes in them, which is how cavities are formed. Cavities are rarely detected and announce their presence with a small toothache once the tooth has already decayed. 

A report has revealed that among adolescents aged 12-19, 57 percent have had a cavity in their permanent teeth. This is an astonishing number, which would not have been this high if regular dental visits were normalized. 

Issues like plaque, tartar, and cavities can easily be avoided with regular cleaning, which takes care of plaque and tartar before it becomes dangerous and destructive. Cleaning is more affordable than filling, therefore if money is an issue, you must keep up with your dental cleanings.

Prevention of Gum Disease

Plaque and tartar will not only erode your teeth but also erode your gums. One of the most common and serious diseases is gingivitis, where tartar buildup causes infection of gum connected to the tooth. 

This infection makes the gum pull away from the tooth causing swelling and bleeding and also causing the breakdown of the bone that holds teeth in place. Needless to say, it’s an extremely painful disease where your tooth starts falling one by one.

This gum disease requires drastic treatments by a dentist. Depending on the severity of gingivitis, the treatment will likely include extremely deep cleaning, medication, and even surgery at times. This means more appointments and more expenses in medication and procedures. To avoid these, regular cleanings are recommended to catch and address gingivitis before it gets out of hand.

Keeping Bad Habits in Check

There are several bad habits that need to be kept in check. If not, they can negatively affect your oral health. Some of these bad habits are so normal that many don’t even realize that it’s causing damage to their dental health. Some of these habits include brushing teeth too hard, clenching jaws, grinding teeth, chewing ice, biting nails, drinking alcohol or coffee, and of course smoking. 

 Going for regular dentist visits and checkups will allow your dentist to catch and inform you about any oral damage caused by such bad habits. Without a dentist visit, you may not notice these ill effects and cause long-term harm to your teeth. Knowing what habits you may have and the destructive effects it has will help you alter your lifestyle choice to prevent any further damage. 

The bottom line here is that dentists and dental professionals are not just there to fix your teeth when an issue arises. Just like regular medical checkups, regular dental checkups ensure that your teeth and gums remain clean, healthy, and free of any abnormalities. These may otherwise go unnoticed and cause severe life-threatening diseases. By keeping on top of your dental checkups, you’re saving yourself from more severe issues in the long run.