The question of whether to get regular dental check ups or not is commonly encountered by experienced dentists. The most common reason encountered for this by dental services is the cost. And although trying to limit household expenses is entirely understandable, the perceived saving of not scheduling a regular check up and clean is a false economy. Why? Because keeping that appointment is critical if you want to avoid developing dental problems before they become more serious.
These problems if left unchecked will ultimately end up needing more complex treatment options, which in turn cost a whole lot more than any number of regular check ups ever would. The check up and clean itself helps stop common problems like built up plaque and even worse, tartar build up causing gum disease. For many patients, the perceived risk to overall oral health might seem minimal. Any experienced dentist however, knows the dangers of avoiding regular appointments with your dentist.
The benefits of regular check ups
There are numerous benefits to keeping to the six monthly check ups recommended by most dentists, too many to list.
So, we’ve outlined what we think are five of the top benefits.
You save money
Even though the cost of keeping scheduled dental check ups is often given as the reason for not going to the dentist, it should actually be the reason for keeping your visits regular.
With a long list of dental issues potentially arising from not having your dentist check your dental health and getting that professional cleaning done, you could be up for a much bigger bill if problems are left undetected for many months, or even years.
Avoid gum disease and cavities
Built up plaque can cause tooth decay. When plaque builds up over time it becomes tartar which sticks to your teeth causing bad breath and gum disease.
Bacteria from plaque build up is also often responsible for cavities and gum disease.
Professional teeth cleaning by your dentist helps to remove plaque and tartar that cannot be effectively removed by regular brushing techniques and flossing.
Avoiding the build up in the first place means the risk of cavities or gum disease is greatly reduced.
Great smile, fresh breath
Teeth cleaning at the dentist polishes your teeth and can remove stains and bacteria.
Professional cleaning gets to those places normal cleaning and flossing just can’t reach.
This means your smile is at its brightest, and as an added bonus your breath is at its freshest!
Avoid tooth loss
Many people don’t realise the seriousness of not maintaining oral health.
Beyond tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease, plaque if left unchecked can move past your teeth into your jaw bone, causing periodontitis (loss of jaw bone).
Now that’s a great reason for getting a regular dental check up.
Better oral health = better overall health
When it comes to our teeth and gums it can be easy to think of them as separate to the rest of our body. But, the fact is they’re an organ and intrinsically linked to the rest of our body and thus our general health. Gum disease has been linked to serious health conditions such as stroke and heart disease.
So, if a routine dental check up and clean can help lessen the chance of developing these types of problems that makes it even more worthwhile.
