3 Reasons To Schedule Regular Dental Cleaning Appointments
Posted on: 15 January 2020
If you're someone who only books a dental appointment when you know you have a problem, such as a toothache or jaw pain, you're missing out on the many benefits that come with having regular dental cleaning appointments. During a dental cleaning, your dentist will remove plaque and surface stains from your teeth, which will enhance the appearance of your smile, but cleaning your teeth also gives the dentist the opportunity to thoroughly examine your mouth. Here are three reasons to schedule regular dental cleaning appointments:
Early Detection Of Oral Cancer
When oral cancer is detected early, it tends to be curable and damage to your mouth is minimised. However, when patients don't have regular dental appointments, they can have signs of oral cancer for some time that they do not notice themselves. During a dental cleaning appointment, your dentist will look for signs of oral cancer, such as lumps or ulcers on the soft tissue inside the mouth, jaw stiffness or discolouration of the tongue or gums. If necessary, they can swab your mouth and have the tissues' cells analysed.
Prevention Of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious oral health condition that can lead to painful infections and tooth loss. A build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth leaves you at an increased risk of developing gum disease, as it damages the delicate gum tissue that surrounds your teeth and causes it to recede. This can allow bacteria to enter the tooth socket and damage the roots. Having plaque and tarter removed regularly protects your gums and makes your mouth a less hospitable environment for bacteria.
Early Detection Of Dental Problems
Dental problems often start a while before you're aware something is wrong. For example, you can have a cavity and not experience a toothache until the cavity has grown large enough to cause you to feel nerve pain when eating or drinking. Or maybe one of your molars is chipped, but you can't see it yourself when looking in a mirror. Having your teeth professionally cleaned will allow your dentist to spot a problem and address it before it turns into a bigger issue.
If you've been putting off scheduling a dental appointment because your teeth feel fine, consider how you'll feel if you develop a problem that's either painful or expensive to treat. Be proactive with your oral health and book cleaning appointments regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
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