Four Reasons to Book a Regular Dentist Visit

The importance of regular trips to the dentist cannot be understated, even for those with pristinely healthy teeth. Checkups serve a number of important purposes that will be outlined in this blog post, from the benefits of receiving expert advice to the early identification of tooth decay, gum disease and other potentially harmful oral diseases,  the positives by far outweigh the negatives when it comes to looking after one of the most important aspects of your overall health. Here are four great reasons to visit the dentist regularly – along with some numerous extra benefits of doing so.  

1. Prevention Of Tooth Decay  

This reason should be enough convincing on its own! Without going into the grizzly details, tooth decay is the process of tooth degradation wherein acids released by plaque bacteria (as it breaks down sugar from food/drink) wear down on the hard outer layer of the tooth, exposing the more delicate inside tissue of the tooth which is called dentin. This can cause a variety of painful and often expensive problems if left unchecked – better not to take the risk! A dentist can easily catch the early symptoms of tooth decay and give you the right advice and treatment to prevent it.  
 

2. Receive Professional Advice  

Teeth are a fickle and complicated part of human anatomy, and it’s only understandable that you’ll have a lot of questions. Your dentist can advise you on anything to do with your teeth during a checkup, including answering your questions and imparting general wisdom that comes from having a career in oral care. According to a study conducted in Sweden, most people don’t even brush their teeth correctly! You can learn a lot about taking care of your teeth in a single visit to the dentist, so make sure to book in those regular checkups!  
 

3. Catch Symptoms Early  

As mentioned earlier, a key benefit of scheduling regular visits to the dentist is the likelihood of catching preventable or easily treatable conditions early in their development so that you can avoid the discomfort or expense of a full-blown oral affliction. According to the World Health Organisation , 3.58 billion people (nearly half the people in the world!) suffer from an oral condition that was preventable or could have been caught in the early stages! Don’t assume just because you feel okay at the time – regular dental visits are the only way to prevent unnecessary ailments.   
  

4. Get a Thorough Clean  

Even if you’re dedicated when it comes to brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly, it’s important to get them professionally cleaned by a dentist/hygienist often to ensure the hard-to-reach areas are taken care of. Most dentists recommend having this done every 6 to 12 months, even though more frequently certainly wouldn’t hurt! The procedure usually involves an oral examination of the gums, cleaning with different tools including an ultrasonic scaler followed by polishing the teeth to leave them feeling sparkly and fresh. This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or longer, and sometimes involves an X-ray of the mouth to check for any hidden details that can’t be seen at surface level.  
All in all, it is always well worth taking the time to schedule regular trips to the dentist at a frequency of at least twice a year. The benefit of a professional clean is enough, however, when you factor in the likelihood of avoiding any tasty teeth complications and the fact that you’ll learn so much about taking care of your teeth in the process, the return on investment is unquestionably worth it.   

Book your next checkup at Gentle Dental so we can give your teeth the care they deserve – contact us right here on our website or give us a call on 04 384 6046.