Keeping up with your oral health is extremely important and staying on top of a 6-month checkup. We are here to tell you why!
4 Reasons to Schedule Your 6-Month Checkup
Many people wonder why it is necessary to visit the dentist every six months. Staying on top of your oral health is more beneficial than you realize, and we are excited to share some of our favorite ways to do so. You will want to make sure you have your next dental visit scheduled after reading this!
Overall health
Copious amounts of research has been done regarding the connection between oral health and other types of health issues. It is not widely known that links have been discovered between oral infections and heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. How does this happen? Many of these conditions can be detected through your mouth. During your routine dental appointments, your dentist will be able to see these manifestations if they are present. Your dentist’s oral health expertise can detect other issues you may be unable to detect yourself.
Catch problems before they grow
Dentists have unparalleled experience when it comes to catching oral health issues early on. People tend to believe that cavities are accompanied by intense pain and, therefore, are easy to detect. This can be true with certain cavities, but it isn’t always so. In some cases, you may not be able to feel a cavity at all. If you are going to your dentist routinely, painless cavities will be caught and treated before they become worse and result in more difficult and expensive treatment.
Keeping bacteria at bay
Why is leaving plaque untreated bad for your oral health? Plaque is a layer of sticky, clear bacteria on your teeth that is very difficult to keep under control using only your daily brushing routine. This is one of the main reasons why your routine dental cleanings are so integral. If plaque sticks to your teeth for too long, it will harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with your at-home routine. If you let it build up for too long, it can result in infection. Without six-month cleanings, you would be unable to stay on top of tartar and plaque buildup.
Don’t forget your gums
The health of your gums is tied into your overall oral health. It can be difficult to keep up with if you do not possess dental knowledge. During your six-month checkup, 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 like they won’t change much, but you will be thankful for them in the long run.
Hopefully, you all can gather that your routine dental exams and cleanings are very important when it comes to staying on top of your oral health. If you choose to skip or postpone these exams, you risk developing issues that could cost you more money and time later on. We promise that routine dental appointments are something to smile about! More on wisdom teeth recovery.