According to a recent Gallup poll, only about 66% of Americans regularly visit the dentist. All too often, dental health is synonymous with “take care of it when it hurts.” By ignoring your dental health until you have a painful problem, however, you could be doing lasting damage to your teeth. Here are 4 top benefits of seeing your dentist on a regular basis.
Do you find yourself doing your best to give a close-lipped smile in photographs? About a quarter of people agree they’d rather not smile if it means showing their teeth. Regular visits to the dentist can help you attain the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Dentists can do everything from fixing chipped teeth, to whitening up yellowed and gray enamel surfaces.
Believe it or not, extreme pain and missing teeth don’t need to be a part of your dental future. Regular visits are important because dentists can identify small problems before they become big, unavoidable hassles. Regular dental checkups and cleaning can take care of plaque that, left unchecked, can lead to cavities, and gum disease which, once it progresses, can loosen teeth and cause foul breath.
Your mouth is an integral part of your body. Over the past several decades, medical professionals have discovered possible links between heart disease, diabetes, and oral health. Many dentists have been able to alert their patients to odd bumps and sores in their mouths, which turn out to be cancers caught in an early stage of development. Eat all the kale and take as many pilates classes as you like, but if you’re avoiding routine dental visits you’re not being healthy—period.
People who brush their teeth twice a day and make sure to floss are often surprised when their dentist reviews recommended techniques. Oral health is complicated, and it’s easy to make mistakes. Some patients may be using a floss that’s too thin to properly clean between their teeth; others may be advised to switch to an electric toothbrush if they’re at risk of developing damaging plaque. It’s even possible you’ve damaged one of your fillings without realizing it—and this is a problem your dentist can quickly address and correct.
When was the last time you visited a dentist? Schedule a check-up with the dental professionals at All Star Dental today, and start making good oral hygiene a part of your routine. If you have any questions, contact us on our website, or to see our locations.
