Keeping up with your oral health is important for countless reasons. We are here to share a few of them with you why a 6-month checkup is important!
Why You Should Get A 6-Month Checkup
What is the benefit of going to the dentist every six months? There are far more perks of keeping up with your oral health routine than you may know – here are just a few of them. Trust us, after reading this, you will want to make sure you have your next appointment scheduled!
Keeping bacteria at bay
What exactly is plaque, and how is avoiding its removal detrimental to your oral health? Plaque is a layer of bacteria on your teeth that is clear and sticky. It is difficult to get rid of it during your daily brushing routine completely, so that is why your routine cleanings are so important. If plaque stays on your teeth for too long, it will harden and become tartar. Tartar is impossible to remove with your at-home brushing and flossing routine. If you let it build up for too long, it can result in various oral infections. Without routine dental cleanings, plaque and tartar buildup would be almost impossible to manage.
Overall health
There has been extensive research done regarding the link between oral health and other health issues. Many people are unaware that there have been connections found between oral infections and heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. How is this possible? Well, many of these conditions begin with or show oral manifestations. During your routine dental checkups, your dentist can help identify these manifestations. Your dentist’s oral health knowledge can provide a key link to the detection of other health issues you may be unaware of.
Don’t forget your gums
The health of your gums is an integral part of your overall oral health and can be challenging to keep up with if you have no background in dentistry. Your dentist will check the depth of the space between your teeth and gums with a unique tool. If the area is deep, you may have gum disease. Small checkups like this may seem unimportant, but they will pay off for your long-term health and wallet!
Catch problems before they grow at your 6-month checkup
Dentists are trained to catch specific oral health issues early on in their development. Many people believe that cavities are accompanied by intense pain and, therefore, are easy to detect. This isn’t always true. In certain cases, you may not be able to feel your cavity at all. If you are going to your dentist regularly, painless cavities will be caught and treated before they worsen and result in more prolonged, expensive treatment.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you all see that your routine dental exam and cleaning are critical to maintaining your health. If you choose to skip or postpone these appointments, you risk developing problems that could cost you money and time down the road. We promise that routine dental checkups are something to smile about!