It is considered a good rule of thumb to visit the dentist twice a year. The exact frequency of visits will depend on a person’s oral health and whether or not they suffer from any oral problems.
Generally, there are two parts to a dental visit. First, the dentist will examine a patient’s entire oral condition. Second, they will provide a cleaning using various tools.
In this blog post, your expert team at Iron City Dentistry will highlight 5 benefits of regular dental checkups. These include dealing with current issues, preventing future issues, learning about proper dental hygiene, and more. Let’s get started.
1. Solve Existing Oral Issues
More than 25% of adults aged between 20 and 44 in the United States years have untreated dental cavities. Regular dental checkups and cleanings help to prevent cavities, tartar, plaque, and tooth decay.
Even if a person is strict with their at-home oral hygiene practices, it can be difficult to clean some of the hard-to-reach places in the mouth. That’s why professional cleaning is recommended, approximately every six months.
2. Prevent Future Oral Issues
It is said that a person’s oral health is a window to their overall health. Without proper oral hygiene, the bacteria in a person’s mouth can build up and result in oral infections such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Taking steps today, such as following a proper at-home routine and scheduling regular dental checkups, will help to avoid the need for more extensive dental procedures in the future (which will also save you time and money in the long run).
3. Education on Proper Dental Hygiene
Educating yourself about the best practices in oral hygiene is useful at any age. Depending on a person’s specific oral health, their dentist may recommend particular at-home cleaning steps, such as a specific toothbrush or mouthwash.
Proper flossing methods and advice on which foods and drinks to avoid will also help to maintain oral health and hygiene in the long run.
4. Detect Health Issues
An oral cancer screening is an important part of a routine dental checkup. Oral cancer can affect the tongue, cheek, throat, hard and soft palate, lips, and floor of the mouth. The sooner a serious issue such as cancer is discovered, the sooner it can be treated.
During an oral screening, the dentist will look for any sores, lumps, or irregular tissue changes. A person may be referred to an oral surgeon in case anything suspicious is noted.
5. Treat Bad Breath
Halitosis is an oral health problem and its main symptom is bad-smelling breath. It can occur as a result of poor oral hygiene habits. During a checkup, a dentist will be able to pinpoint the cause of the odor and advice on how you can treat it.
Benefits of Regular Dental Checkups
Caring for your teeth involves both at-home steps and routine dental checkups. The above information highlights just how important it is to pay regular visits to a dentist.