You’ve been told your whole life that you need to see a dentist twice a year for a teeth cleaning, but you already brush and floss every day. Isn’t that enough? Unfortunately, at-home oral hygiene is only half the battle. To maintain oral health in the long run, you also need to attend a dental checkup and cleaning every six months. If you don’t, then health problems could develop. Here are three things that can happen if you neglect to see your dentist on a regular basis.
Plaque Builds Up
Even if you brush and floss twice daily, plaque can still accumulate on and between your teeth and along your gumline. When plaque goes for a mere 12 hours without being cleared away, it starts hardening into tartar. At that point, it becomes almost impossible to remove without the help of a dental professional. Tartar is chock full of bacteria that can cause numerous problems for your oral health. At your biannual checkups, a dental hygienist can use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar and keep your mouth fresh.
You Could Get Gum Disease
Gum disease, which affects half of Americans over age 30, develops when bacteria in plaque produce acids that irritate the gums. By seeing a dentist at regular intervals, you can get gum disease diagnosed early enough that treatment is still relatively easy, and no serious damage has been done.
If you have gum disease and it doesn’t get treated in a timely manner, it could have dire consequences. In its advanced stages, gum disease weakens the structures holding your teeth in place, causing your teeth to loosen. Eventually, they may even fall out! Fortunately, regular checkups can save your teeth.
You Might Get Painful Cavities
The same acids that cause gum disease can erode tooth enamel and create cavities. At first, you might not notice a cavity, but over time, the decay can reach the inner layers of the tooth, resulting in sensitivity and then painful toothaches. If the decay reaches the nerve in the center of the tooth, you’ll have to undergo root canal therapy to remove the nerve and save the tooth from needing an extraction. Dental checkups are a great way to diagnose cavities early enough that all you’ll need is a simple filling.
Seeing a dentist regularly is definitely worth it. It may not seem like a great use of your time in the moment, but it can save you so much time, pain, and money that you might otherwise spend on invasive treatments. By taking the time to visit your dental team twice a year, you can enjoy the benefits of having a healthy, clean smile for years to come.
About the Practice
At Capron Park Dental, our team of four dentists is famous for their dedication to excellent care and service to the members of the Attleboro, MA community. Over the years, they have received numerous accreditations and awards for their amazing service. If you would like to learn more about why you should see a dentist every six months, visit our website or call 508-222-5950.