Good oral health is something we often don’t appreciate until it’s gone.
Thankfully, going to the dentist every six months can help your dentist catch small oral health issues before they compromise your smile. A clean mouth not only reduces cavities, but can also greatly improve the health of your entire body.
Our Grandville dentists believe that routine dental exams are the best way to prevent cavities from happening. Here are five reasons you should schedule your next dental exam as soon as possible:
- Check for cavities
- Save money with preventive dentistry
- Get your teeth cleaned
- Prevent gum disease
- Promote your overall health
1. Check for Cavities
Don’t wait until you’re in unbearable pain before seeing the dentist. Your next dental exam appointment is the perfect opportunity for your dentist to detect cavities in their early stages.
If left untreated, cavities can cause health complications like abscesses or even dangerous infections in your bloodstream.
We recommend all of our patients see us at least twice a year so we can check for cavities and help you maintain good oral health.
2. Save Money with Preventive Dentistry
The idea of preventive dentistry is to stop tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues from happening in the first place.
Dental exams provide regular opportunities for our dentists to check your teeth for signs of tooth decay. That way, we can start treatment sooner to save your tooth. Preventive dentistry costs less because less work has to be done to repair teeth.
The recommends that most people visit the dentist at least once every six months. However, your dentist may recommend you visit more often if you have teeth or gum issues that need monitoring. It’s much cheaper to pay for a routine dental exam to prevent oral health issues than to treat the issues themselves.
3. Get Your Teeth Cleaned
The that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to remove dental plaque from your teeth. However, you’ll still need to have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months.
A dental hygienist can remove plaque and tartar hidden between teeth or along the gum line. If plaque has hardened into tartar, only a dental professional will be able to remove it from your smile using special tools.
Teeth cleanings and dental exams go hand in hand at our office. If you schedule an appointment with us every six months as recommended, we’ll be sure to give your teeth a thorough cleaning while we also check on your oral health.
4. Prevent Gum Disease
Not getting your teeth cleaned puts you at risk for gum disease such as gingivitis or the more serious periodontitis.
If left untreated, gum disease can irritate or inflame your gums, often resulting in bleeding and swelling. Our dentists should treat your gingivitis as soon as possible to prevent more advanced gum disease.
Periodontitis is irreversible, so catching gum disease in its early stages is key to a full recovery. By seeing our dentists regularly, we can monitor the health of your gums and help you adopt good oral hygiene habits to protect you from gum disease.
5. Promote Your Overall Health
Did you know that your family dentist can detect early signs of diabetes, heart disease, and other health conditions?
The health of your mouth is connected to your overall health. For example, people with diabetes are more likely to have cavities and gum disease due to high blood sugar. During your routine dental exam, our dentists can also check for oral cancer.
Schedule Your Next Dental Exam Today
Our Grandville, MI, family dentists are dedicated to helping you achieve your best smile. Call Sarah Palmer DDS at (616) 534-0080, or contact us online to schedule your next dental exam.
This blog post has been updated.