Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is important because these visits help to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This is why dentists recommend that you visit your family dentist twice a year or every six months.
The Dental Visit
When you visit the dentist for a checkup, there are two different parts of the visit. The first part of the visit involves the actual checkup; the second part involves the cleaning.
During the checkup, the dentist will inspect your teeth and gums for cavities, plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky substance that constantly grows on the teeth. If the plaque is not effectively removed from the teeth, it will become hard. Harden plaque is known as tartar.
Once tartar is on the teeth, it cannot be removed by simply brushing and flossing the teeth. The tartar will need to be professionally removed by a dentist or it can lead to further dental issues.
The gums will then be checked. Shallow spaces in the gums between the teeth are an indication of healthy gums. Deeper spaces indicate possible gum disease. During the checkup, the throat, tongue, neck and face should be inspected for issues such as swelling.
The teeth are then cleaned, and the dentist will scale the teeth if tartar is found on the teeth. After they have been scaled, the teeth will be polished to remove superficial stains on the teeth. The final step of the cleaning process is flossing.
The Benefits Of Regular Visits
Regular dental visits are the key to preventing health issues later on. Although it is normal to have some levels of good bacteria in the mouth, an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the mouth can cause issues. Fortunately, the bad bacteria can be removed through regular visits with the dentist.
If not treated, the infection the bad bacteria can bring has the potential to spread to other areas of the body. This can become a problem especially for older people, pregnant women and other groups considered high risk. Gum disease can spread very quickly when the teeth are not checked on a regular basis by a dentist.
Dental visits can also uncover other possible health issues including nutritional deficiencies, oral cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.
The dental industry continues to evolve, and as new technology continues to be used, dentists will learn new techniques to prevent teeth, gum and health issues. Schedule a regular visit with your dentist to prevent health complications.