Your teeth are a window to your overall health. If you take care of them properly, they can last a lifetime. But if your oral health is poor, not only will your oral health suffer, but so too will your overall health. It’s vital that you ensure that your oral routine (brushing, flossing, using mouthwash), and diet, are at their very best so that your teeth are preserved in tip top condition. One other aspect of good oral care is regular dental visits. In this article, I’ll explain just why they are so important.
Experts recommend that you visit your dentist every 6 months. Your dentist may suggest more or less frequent visits, so take this as a rule of thumb unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
A regular dental visit is composed of two parts. There’s the examination, or check up and then there’s cleaning or what is known as oral prophylaxis.
Checkup
In the check up, the dentist will check your teeth for any cavities. He may even take an X-ray of your teeth to see if there are any cavities between your teeth. Your dentist will also check your teeth for any plaque or tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that is constantly being formed on your teeth. If your oral hygiene is poor, it can harden and turn into tartar. Tartar cannot be removed with regular oral care routines. The buildup of plaque and tartar leads to a variety of oral diseases.
Your dentist will also check to see if you have any signs of gum disease. This is done by using a tool that checks the depth of the gap between gums and teeth. If your gums are healthy, then the gaps will be shallow. If your gums are not healthy, then you will have deeper gaps.
The checkup will conclude with an examination of your throat, tongue, face, neck and head. This is done to see if there are any other signs of emerging oral problems.
Cleaning
The second part of your dental visit begins. As we said above, it’s impossible to remove tartar at home using brushing and flossing. Tartar can only be removed by a dentist using various dental tools. This process is known as scaling.
Once your teeth have been scaled, they will have to be polished. Dentists typically use a gritty toothpaste to do this. This toothpaste is used to remove any residual stains on your teeth’s surface.
When your dentist is done polishing your teeth, the next step is flossing. This is done to ensure that your mouth has been thoroughly cleaned.
Conclusion
Visiting the dentist regularly is important because there are things that we are simply not equipped to do at home. Regular visits to the dentist should form part of your oral care plan, alongside having a good diet and having good oral care routines. You need to brush your teeth twice a day. You have to use a fluoride toothpaste. You should floss at least once a day. You need to use mouthwash after you’ve brushed your teeth. After all this, you may still have cosmetic problems like crooked teeth. In that case, you need to get Invisalign. Crooked teeth make it harder to properly care for your teeth. You need to make sure that your teeth get the best care possible.