If you’re sick or injured, you visit a doctor so that you can get the help you need to be healthy again. But in order to avoid a visit to the doctor, most people exercise healthy habits like eating healthy foods, exercising, washing their hands frequently, and avoiding other sick people. Just as you would participate in habits that will keep your body healthy, it’s important to have good dental hygiene habits as well to keep your teeth healthy and avoid major teeth problems. Visiting your dentist twice a year for checkups is one of the most important ways to avoid poor oral health. Here are some of the benefits of utilizing regular dental services in Carmichael, CA.
Clean Teeth
At a regular checkup with Now Dental of Carmichael, CA, your teeth will get a good cleaning, which is important for more than just aesthetic reasons. Your teeth will be polished, which is similar to a thorough brushing, but the tartar and plaque also will be removed. Removing tartar and plaque is important because that’s where bacteria live and where decay begins if it stays on the teeth.
Gum Health Check
Another aspect of a checkup that’s often underestimated is the gum check. The dentist or hygienist will check the condition of the gums, which means they’ll look not only for any signs of gum disease but for any signs of receding gums as well. The severity of gum disease varies depending on the stage it’s in, so it’s important for the dentist to recognize and address early signs before it progresses to something more painful and serious. Advanced gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, so it’s important to prevent this through early diagnosis and treatment.
Thorough Exam
A dentist can tell a lot about the health of your teeth simply by examining them. Stains can indicate the beginning of decay, and he or she will also look for any signs of damage like cracks or chips that could compromise tooth integrity. The exam is much more comprehensive than checking just the gums and teeth, however. The dentist will also check the tongue, your bite and how well the teeth align, your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes. This can help identify a number of things that could affect your oral health as well as your overall health.
X-Rays
X-rays are another important part of your checkup because they can find decay and damage that’s not visible on the surface. Hidden decay may not cause symptoms for quite some time, so an exam and x-rays are crucial in identifying decay so that it can be addressed while it’s minor.
Better Breath
Bad breath can sometimes be attributed to something you ate, but in many cases the real problem is bacteria in the mouth. Regular brushing and flossing is important for keeping bad breath at bay, but it’s also important to have your teeth professionally cleaned because tartar and plaque cause bad breath.
Overall Health
You’ll enjoy better overall health by regularly visiting the dentist because many health problems can be avoided with good oral health. There’s evidence that the risk of heart disease is lowered with good oral hygiene. In addition, the dentist in Carmichael, CA, can watch for signs of other dangerous health conditions like sleep apnea, oral cancer, and diabetes. Call Now Dental today to schedule your next checkup.