The word ‘busy’ is synonymous with the modern lifestyle. Whether you are a working adult, stay at home parent or student, you never seem to have enough time. When you’re not dealing with endless work and family commitments, you are playing catch-up with social activities and household chores. A major problem with our increasingly time-starved society is that people often neglect to do one of the most important things – look after their health. This is especially true when it comes to dental health.
Many people find themselves making excuses for skipping their twice-yearly routine dental check and professional clean. We are only given one set of permanent teeth. Failure to look after them can have irreparable consequences. The thing is, it really doesn’t take that much time to keep them in good repair.
If you can make time to go shopping, catch the latest movie or watch your favourite Netflix program, are you really too busy to see your dentist for that important check-up?
It is all about setting priorities, in the list of which your dental health should always sit near the top. Just like you know when it’s time to send your car to the local mechanic for a regular service, you should always keep track of your next regular dental appointment.
Here are some of the reasons why visiting the dentist is so important:
Deep cleaning
Twice daily brushing and daily flossing, while major components of your oral health care routine, are ordinarily not sufficient to keep your teeth and gums completely free from plaque and bacteria. Indeed, professional cleaning by a dentist is essential if you wish to remove the hardened plaque that accumulates in the tight spaces between your teeth and/or below the gum line. Performed on a six monthly basis, this goes a long way to maintaining your dental health.
Prevention is better than cure
Depending on the state of your dental health, you will also need to schedule a dental check-up. This can usually be completed at the same appointment as your professional dental clean on a six monthly basis.
A comprehensive oral examination, together with diagnostic x-rays, can help identify whether there are any surface problems or underlying issues with your dental health. When a dental concern is detected early, the dentist is more likely to be able to use minimally invasive methods to treat the problem. If not detected and addressed while the concern is small, some minor problems can develop into more complex or serious conditions, such as chronic gum disease and even oral cancer.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) is the inflammation of the gums and supporting bone surrounding the teeth. Regular dental check-ups combined with good home care offer the best-known preventive methods against the development of gum disease. Gum disease often develops painlessly, until it becomes more severe. Your dentist can detect signs of the disease early while the condition may still be reversible. Left untreated, the disease can progress into Chronic Periodontal Disease, the advanced stage of gum disease that can lead to severe bone loss and eventually, tooth loss.
Looking for a trusted dentist to help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile? Pacific Smiles Dental has made it easy for you to book an appointment instantly with one of our dentists.