Top 10 Reasons to See a Dentist

While most people probably visit a doctor on a regular basis, some may find it surprising that it is just as important to visit a dentist on the same regular basis as they would see a doctor. The fact is, oral health is a very important part of overall health. If oral health issues are left untreated, they can lead to many other problems throughout the body. With regular visits, you can help ensure that your teeth, mouth, and the rest of your body, are in good shape.

Here are the top ten reasons to see your dentist on a regular basis to help ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth:

Overall Health

As noted above, oral health is a component of overall health. The mouth and structures within need to be healthy in order to help feed and nourish the rest of the body. As well, if gum disease is left untreated, it can cause the body’s immune system to weaken, which will put you at risk of many other conditions. A quick visit to one of our Vancouver dentists for a cleaning and you can stay on top of your dental and oral health!

Prevention

Seeing your dentist on a regular basis will help prevent existing issues from becoming worse, and will also help prevent future issues. Your dentist will be able to treat oral health conditions to prevent them from becoming worse. And any signs of future issues can also be addressed.

Detection

As with any other health condition, often a thorough visual examination, along with any symptoms the patient is experiencing, is the first step to detecting a problem. There are many dental and oral conditions that you may not be able to see yourself, even though you may have symptoms. A dentist is specially trained to be able to detect these things.

Some of the common things a dentist can help detect including the following:

• Oral cancers
• Throat infections
• Tonsillitis
• Jaw problems such as TMJ
• Chemical imbalances that can lead to staining and discoloration of the teeth

Correction

Good dental health isn’t just about having clean teeth. Many dental problems are caused by bite issues, crooked teeth, problems with molar teeth etc. Seeing your dentist regularly will ensure that a proper treatment plan is in place to correct any of these types of issues.

Maintenance

All the brushing and flossing in the world isn’t going to help your teeth if they aren’t regularly checked by a dentist. Cavities and plaque are generally invisible to the patient, so regular checkups that include cleanings and X-rays will help maintain the results all of your good oral hygiene habits.

Pain Relief

People who suffer from dental issues very often experience significant pain. And while some people are scared away from the dentist because of pain, it’s always better to see a dentist to address what is causing the pain. The benefits of treating the issues far outweigh any initial discomfort you may experience.

Having a healthy pain free mouth is vital to our ability to nourish ourselves. If you can’t properly chew and swallow your food, you run the risk of developing other nutrition-related illnesses.

Clean Teeth

One of the best ways to prevent oral health issues, is to ensure your teeth are clean and free of plaque and tartar. And while you can practice good oral hygiene habits at home, such as brushing and flossing, a full cleaning, performed by a dental professional, is integral to maintaining the results of your good habits.

Fresh Breath

Everyone has bad breath from time to time, and in most cases, it is caused by what we eat, and how diligent we are about brushing, flossing and rinsing. However, persistent or chronic bad breath, called halitosis, can be indicative of other health problems that can be detecting and very often treated by a dentist.

A High Watt Smile

Along with keeping your teeth clean and treating any conditions that may be affecting your teeth and gums, having regular dental whitening sessions can turn your smile to a high wattage smile! Dentists have special tools and processes that can provide hundred times more tooth whitening than products available for home use. And with regular treatments, you can have a Hollywood smile!

Save Money in the Long run

Throughout your lifetime, you will most likely experience several of the most common types of dental issues. The key to keeping them at a minimum and saving you money through your life, is to stay on top of your dental health so nothing slips through the cracks. Unfortunately if even a small dental issue is left untreated, the consequences could be huge. So save yourself some money by having your teeth checked regularly.

As you can see, there are lots of reasons why you should have regular visits with your dentist. Your teeth are vital to your overall health.

Here are some other reasons why you should see a dentist as soon as possible;

• Sudden sharp pain
• Loose, cracked or dislodged teeth
• Injury to the face including mouth, teeth or jaw
• Bleeding gums
• Sores on the inside of your mouth or on your tongue
• A bad taste and smell emanating from your mouth
• Loose or missing fillings, caps or crowns
• Damage to other dental work such as bridges, retainers, spacers or braces
• Chronic dry mouth

Less critical reasons, but still important, include having a thorough checkup before becoming pregnant, or having any type of surgery that involves the structures within the mouth. Good preventive treatment and maintenance can ensure that your other procedures go smoothly.

One final note about why you should see your dentist on a regular basis – looks! As superficial as it sounds, how a person looks can indicate their overall health. If a person has poor oral or dental hygiene, broken or missing teeth and chronic bad breath, that person is less likely to be perceived as ‘unhealthy’. So let a healthy smile lead the way to a healthy life!

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