For many people, visiting the dentist can be difficult. Around 5-10% of people suffer from a phobia of the dentist’s chair in the USA.
It’s a fear that means lots of people only show up to the dentist when it’s absolutely necessary. An issue has become so painful that they can’t ignore it, and treatment is desperately needed.
It’s important to visit the dentist for routine care as much as it is when there’s an emergency. Although it can be daunting, it’s essential to overcome it, because routine dental care can improve your life and health in so many ways.
Here’s every reason you should visit the dentist for routine check-ups, and not just when it becomes apparent that something is wrong.
Good Physical Health Comes From Routine Dental Care
Routine dental care benefits aren’t just limited to the mouth. Gum disease — one of the most common dental problems—has been linked to poor cardiovascular health, as well as numerous other serious problems.
Gum disease can initially seem minor, with red, swollen gums being a nuisance, but not dire. However, if you’ve noticed the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease, it’s important to see a dentist.
Gum disease can be prevented by having regular cleanings and your dentist often looking for the signs and symptoms.
It Prevents Larger Problems From Appearing
While cavities are all too common, they’re something that you want to avoid if possible—and it usually is.
Most cavities come from teeth that haven’t been taken care of. Flossing and brushing have been neglected, and routine dental cleanings have been missed. If you’ve neglected your teeth at home, regular cleaning by your dentist will solve the issue—but if you don’t get those either, your tooth is going to decay.
It could be a minor cavity, or it could be something much deeper that requires a more serious procedure but either way, decay in the teeth is best avoided.
It Can Save Your Teeth
If you’re still wondering why you should invest in routine dental care, the main reason is that you presumably want to keep your teeth.
If the decay gets so bad, it can mean the removal of your teeth.
Sometimes they’re beyond saving, which can lead to a drop in confidence because of missing teeth or even other health issues as there’s less support for the jaw.
It Will Give You Confidence in Your Smile
Missing teeth can make you feel bad about your smile, but so can numerous other things when it comes to dental issues. Teeth can get stained if not cleaned properly on a regular basis and bacteria can build up between them.
If it gets to the point of decay, you might even start seeing black spots.
Although your health is more important, it can also cause you to become insecure about your appearance. Some people cover their mouths when they laugh because they aren’t confident about their teeth.
You can prevent this from ever happening by taking care of your teeth, and ensuring they always look their best!
Routine Dental Care Helps Bad Breath
Bad breath is another common symptom that teeth aren’t being looked after. Although other things can be causing this, such as a stomach ulcer, the problem is much more likely to be oral hygiene.
Brushing and flossing at home is important, but after a while, bacteria will still build up in places your brush can’t reach.
Regular cleanings by a dentist will ensure that all of the bacteria is caught and removed from your mouth so it doesn’t get a chance to linger and cause bad breath.
It’ll Keep Oral Cancer at Bay
In 2020, over 50,000 people will get oral cancer—and so many will be dangerously unaware at first.
There are many signs you can keep a lookout for on your own:
- Persistent mouth sores
- Pain in the mouth
- A sore throat
- Difficulty eating
- Lumps in the inside of the cheeks
Although these symptoms can be caught by you, they’re common of many things and you may not think of oral cancer. Your dentist, however, will be specifically trained to look for symptoms of oral cancer and regular cleanings will give them the chance to look.
Oral cancer is a disease no one wants, but it should be caught and treated early rather than ignored to ensure the best possible outcome. One of the benefits of routine dental care is the chance for that outcome.
It Might Help With Sensitivity and Other Uncomfortable Issues
It may not be pain that alerts to an issue. Some people experience sensitivity or other discomforts in their mouth.
While some people have naturally sensitive teeth and thus can’t be helped, others can find a solution.
Even if this does occur naturally, a dentist will be able to look at your mouth and recommend products that may improve your life. Some toothpaste is specifically designed for sensitive teeth and while you can research these online, it’s always best to have the word of a professional.
Regardless of the issue you’re having, it’s something a dentist can likely advise you on during routine cleaning.
Routine Dental Care Is Worth It!
So is routine dental care worth it? The answer is a resounding yes!
Not only is it going to keep you healthy and keep gum disease (and therefore, other health issues) at bay, it’s going to keep you confident and smiling. Even if you have a fear of the dentist, it’s important to face it long before there’s an emergency.
Frequent visits to the dentist for routine cleaning might even desensitize you to that fear over time, making you all the more trusting when you do have a problem that needs to be solved.
For more dental health tips, check out the rest of our blog!
