The Importance of a Regular Dental Check-Up
Many people dread visiting their dentist for a regular dental check-up. It may not always be pleasant to go to the dental practice for a teeth check-up, but it’s one of those necessary parts of life that we must endure.
If you’ve been skipping the routine dental check-up, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. That’s because most of the dental procedures you dislike can be easily avoided by regular checkups that catch problems before they turn into bigger issues.
As they say… prevention is far better than cure, and finding dental issues early on can make a huge difference. If, for example, during your regular brushing and flossing routine, a dentist sees that you have been missing a spot, they can quickly and easily pick it up and point it out to you. They can give you tips and advice on how to modify your dental cleaning routine to make sure these areas are covered.
If, however, this goes unnoticed due to you not going for your regular dental check-up, then these otherwise minor issues can easily spiral out of control and turn into much more costly and painful issues down the track.
How Often Should You Go For A Regular Dental Check-Up?
You should go to the dentist at least once every six months for a regular dental check-up and tooth cleaning. Professional regular maintenance is vital if you want to prevent serious problems from occurring. Even if you consider yourself an expert brusher and flosser and perform these tooth care activities with clocklike predictability, you still need to see the dentist. That is because only a dentist has the right tools and know-how to spot potential problems before they become major health problems.
Even seemingly harmless issues like gum irritation could be a sign of something more daunting, like gingivitis. Not only is gingivitis an unpleasant problem to have that requires even more unpleasant procedures to fix, but it can also have adverse effects on your overall health as well. That is why you cannot consider yourself truly healthy if you have been neglecting tooth care.
What if a routine dental check-up is totally unbearable?
If you have a serious aversion to the dentist, there are ways to make the visit more bearable. One popular method is sedation dentistry, whereby patients are offered a mild sedative to help take the edge off and relax during dental procedures. You can check the dentists in your area for one that offers this service.
If your dentist truly makes you uncomfortable, perhaps it’s them and not you who is the problem. If your dentist makes you feel uneasy, do yourself a favor and find a dental practice for your regular dental check-up who you feel more comfortable around. Going to the dentist does not have to be unpleasant. The best way to find a new option is to ask friends and family for recommendations. If this isn’t possible, check reviews of dentists online. Visit the office ahead of time and ask to meet the dentist to see if you get a good feeling. Most dentists don’t mind meeting with potential new clients ahead of the first appointment.
Regular tooth care such as brushing and flossing should be performed at home on a regular basis but this must always be supplemented by a regular dental check-up to make sure you are doing a thorough job and there is nothing that needs immediate attention.
