Most of us are habitual to going for regular body checkups to stay away from many diseases, so why sideline oral health? Going for dental checkups every 6 to 7 months might sound tiring, but it is essential for your oral health in the long run.
Avoiding dental checkups due to dental anxiety or cost is a risky decision as it may lead to long-term consequences, not only for your health but also for your bank account. Almost 9-15% of people avoid dental checkups due to anxiety issues, but Santa Maria is home to many dental clinics that provide the best consultations at the fairest prices.
Here are a few reasons why regular dental checkups are essential for you to stay healthy in the long run:
Prevention of Plaque, Tartar & Cavities
Certain kinds of small spaces in your mouth can be vulnerable to damage even if you brush and floss regularly. This leads to the formation of a substance known as plaque in your gums, which turns into a hard substance known as tartar. Tartar is difficult to remove from your gums without the help of a professional.
However, you can prevent such conditions by booking an appointment with the Top dentist in Santa Maria for cleaning and scaling. This procedure prevents the tartar from building up around your gums or forming holes in your teeth, leading to cavities.
Cavities are difficult to diagnose but can be prevented with the help of dental cleaning. Excessive damage can lead to the need to get fillings, which are much more expensive than dental cleanings, so you should opt for dental cleanings as a precaution.
Detection of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a severe disease whose symptoms can vary a lot from person to person. It is often difficult to diagnose at the early stages and can become lethal, but it is treatable if diagnosed at the right time.
Regular dental checkup is the key to detecting oral cancers in their early stages. It causes slight changes in your mouth that you might not be able to notice, but your dentist surely will.
The detection, most of the time, takes place through the VELscope Cancer exam, a painless process that only takes somewhere around 2 minutes. It checks for signs of dead tissue in your mouth that may occur due to the formation of a tumor by shining a special light inside your oral cavity.
Prevention of Gum Disease
One of the significant reasons why regular dental checkups should be a priority is the prevention of gum disease, which is also caused by plaque buildup. Plaque can cause an infection in the area where the gums are attached to your teeth, thus causing your gums to pull away from your teeth.
This condition is known as gingivitis and damages the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth.
Gingivitis causes your gums to become red, painful, and swollen. The symptoms occur after the condition has significantly escalated and worsened. The disease also causes severe damage to the bone that holds your teeth in place, thus resulting in loosening as well as falling out of your teeth.
However, an appointment with a lincoln park dentist can help you diagnose the disease before severe progression and problems occur.
This also helps you save a lot of money since treating gingivitis in advanced stages might be a lot more expensive than regular dental checkups.
Consultation to Bring About Changes in Your Lifestyle
We all have certain habits that are causing severe damage to our oral health without us even knowing about it. These could be grinding your teeth, chewing ice, brushing too vigorously, consuming too much caffeine, drinking too much wine, and smoking.
A dental checkup will help your dentist figure out the damage being caused specifically by such kinds of habits, which can help you keep your bad habits in check. He will give you instructions to add certain habits to your daily routine, such as flossing, to keep your teeth clean and free from infection.
Your dentist can also clarify if your health conditions are causing damage to your oral health; for example, heart issues and diabetes can also significantly impact your gum health.
Your dentist may ask you to bring about some minor changes in your routine as a person with diabetes, which can suit your oral health as well.
X-ray Detection
The use of X-rays to detect disease that is invisible to the naked eye is a significant part of routine dental checkups. Some problems may go unnoticed, such as bone decay, formation of a tumor, swelling, or impacted wisdom teeth, which can only be detected with an x-ray.
Dental X-rays are usually done at the start of the appointment by putting a sensor in your mouth to take a complete picture of your mouth from many different angles.
These conditions progress fast and do not have any kinds of prominent symptoms in the beginning, so they often go unnoticed. However, they can be detected and treated early with biannual checkups to keep you safe and healthy.
Head, Neck, and Lymph Node Checks
Cancer does not only start from your cheek or tongue but also the neck and lymph nodes. Your dentist will also check for any kinds of cysts or swelling in these body parts to spot anything that looks abnormal. Your dentist will direct you to the right professional to get yourself checked if he finds something to be dangerous.
Swollen lymph nodes or throats do not seem to be abnormal or hurt in any way but can be a sign of a serious disease, such as cancer. They can be treated in an unproblematic way only if detected at the right time.
Your dentist can also detect some other different kinds of conditions before they progress, such as thyroid disorders and cancers, which have become increasingly common these days.
Conclusion
Going to the dentist for checkups every 6 to 7 months saves you a lot of money and protects you from many health conditions that become untreatable once they progress. Most importantly, these checkups help you smile with more confidence and live a more carefree life since dental issues can be uncomfortable at times.
You can make your life a lot easier by taking out an hour or so for dental checkups and staying free from problems and diseases for your whole life!