Have you been avoiding going to the dentist for your preventive checkup and cleaning because your teeth and gums look and feel fine? While it’s great that you’re not aware of any oral health problems, the truth is that sometimes dangerous dental issues can be hard to detect on your own. Here’s what can happen if you skip your regular dental visits, and why it’s so important to go every six months, even if everything seems okay on the surface!
Internal Issues
Although your teeth may look and feel fine on the outside, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re faring so well internally. In fact, interproximal cavities (the ones that occur between the teeth) can be very hard to detect on your own, as can those on the back sides of the teeth. By visiting your dentist regularly, he can keep an eye on weak spots and treat any decay that has already begun forming before it has a chance to get worse!
Periodontal Problems
The first stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. With early detection, it can often be completely reversed. However, if the condition has a chance to advance, it can become much more difficult to treat, and more expensive, too. Worse yet, if not caught soon enough, it could eventually cost you your teeth!
By visiting your dentist every six months, he can keep an eye out for potentially painful periodontal problems, helping you to either reverse early stages of gum disease, or treat later stages so your smile stays intact for as long as possible.
Oral Cancer Alerts
Each year approximately 54,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the United States, and about 80 percent of those are initially spotted by a dentist during a routine oral cancer screening. This means that not only can your regular dental checkups save your teeth and gums, but they could also save your life!
Shining, Happy People
Finally, nothing says a healthy smile like bright, white teeth. Your 6-month checkup includes a professional dental cleaning, where your hygienist will remove hardened deposits of plaque that could lead to cavities, tooth decay, and even gum disease. That means you’ll leave your appointment with a squeaky-clean mouth, and improved odds for having a stunning smile that lasts a lifetime!
Remember, even if you already do your best to care for your teeth and gums at home by brushing twice a day and flossing daily, no oral hygiene routine is complete without biannual visits to the dentist for checkups and cleanings. Don’t skip this important step and put your mouth at risk for cavities and periodontal problems! Schedule your checkup and cleaning today!
About Dr. Chenet
A native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dr. Cedric Chenet earned his bachelor’s degree at Averett College in Virginia and his DDS degree from Howard University in Washington, DC. After serving for many years in the US Air Force as a dental officer, he opened his own practice in 2002 and has been saving smiles in Melbourne ever since! To schedule an exam and cleaning, visit our website or call 321-253-3136 today!