Did you know, visiting your La Crete dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and Dental Exams can save your life? In addition, it can also save you more time and money in the future. Wondering how? Continue reading to learn the six reasons why you should see your dentist regularly:
1. Oral Cancer Detection
This extremely serious and life-threatening disease manifests itself in different ways. Did you know early diagnosis is key to treating oral cancer successfully? Even if you don’t notice oral abnormalities, your dentist will. When you visit your La Crete dental clinic every six months it increases your likelihood of detecting oral cancer in its earliest stages
How is oral cancer detected?
A VELscope Cancer exam uses a special light to detect invisible signs of dead tissue caused by tumors. It is non-invasive, painless, fast and can save your life.
2. Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities
Visit your La Crete dental clinic biannually, as this prevents cavities and tartar from eroding your teeth. When a cavity forms on your tooth it rarely gives any warning signs, asides from a slight ache. Once your tooth is decayed and the damage has been done, you will require a filling. The good news is, this can all be avoided with a simple dental cleaning.
Even when you are brushing twice a day and flossing regularly, hard to reach areas in your mouth are neglected. When plaque accumulates, it solidifies and turns into tartar which is almost impossible to remove without the help of your La Crete dentist.
3. Gum disease
Did you know gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss? Common signs and symptoms include swelling, bleeding, and soreness in your mouth.
Periodontitis occurs when tartar buildup causes an infection of your gums and supporting structures of your teeth. This causes your gum tissues to erode and pull away from your teeth and you will likely require treatment from a specialist. The treatment of gum disease will depend on the severity of it and can include, surgery, deep cleaning, and medication. Not only is this a huge inconvenience but you will be looking to spend hundreds of dollars on treatment.
Visiting your La Crete dentist for regular dental cleanings and check-ups is essential. He or she can detect and address gingivitis before it gets out of hand.
4. Keep Your Habits in Check and do Regular Dental Exams
Whether your bad habits are intentional or not, they can negatively impact your oral health.
The following are a few examples of habits you should avoid at all costs:
- Smoking
- Brushing your teeth too hard
- Clenching your jaw
- Grinding your teeth
- Drinking coffee or red wine
- Eating sticky or hard candy and sweets
- Biting your fingernails
- Chewing on ice
When you visit your La Crete dentist they will be able to detect the cause of your tooth damage and treat it accordingly. They can also provide you with some suggestions and resources on how to quit your destructive habits.
5. Detect Oral Problems Using X-Rays
X-Rays examine what is happening beneath the surfaces of your mouth. They detect issues that are invisible to the human eye, for example, impacted teeth, bone decay, cysts, and tumors. Visiting your La Crete dentist for a bi-annual checkup is critical, it will detect oral issues early on so that you can receive the proper treatment.
6. Head, Neck and Lymph Node Checks
Did you know, it only takes your dentist in La Crete one minute to identify a serious disease? During your check-up, they will examine your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes for swelling, lumps or other abnormalities. These abnormalities may be a sign of a life-threatening disease such as cancer, which requires immediate attention.