Have you been putting off your routine dental checkups because your teeth look and feel fine? Or are you avoiding your dentist because you’re anxious about what they might find? Either way, forgoing your biannual oral health exams can cost you unnecessary discomfort, damage, and serious dental issues in the long run. Here are six reasons why you should visit your Richmond dentist twice a year that you may not have considered.
1.) Spot & Stop Issues in Their Earliest Stages
By closely inspecting your mouth and taking X-rays, your dentist can identify issues that you may not be able to see or feel yet. This allows them to begin treatment before they develop into a larger problems with painful or damaging consequences. They’ll be on the lookout for tooth decay, dental infections, cracked enamel, growing wisdom teeth, and more.
2.) Help Your Child Establish Life-Long Healthy Habits
Dental and pediatric dentists recommend that children begin to see their dentist regularly before their first birthday. An early checkup will ensure that your child’s oral health and development are on track. Additionally, it introduces them to all the new sights, sounds, and familiar faces of the dental practice. A positive experience during their first checkup can positively influence their dental care for the rest of their life.
3.) Regular Cleanings Lead to a Healthier Mouth
Even the best at-home oral hygiene can use professional assistance every six months or so. Plaque can easily accumulate in hard-to-clean areas and harden into a tough, yellowish material called tartar, which can only be safely removed by your dentist or dental hygienist. In fact, they’re able to clean away hidden plaque, stubborn tartar, and excess oral bacteria to reduce your risk of infections and tooth decay.
4.) Screen for Serious Oral Health Issues
Unfortunately, many serious oral health issues can develop unnoticed until severe damage has been done. Every routine dental checkup includes screening for health concerns like oral cancer and gum disease. The key to successfully treating these problems and many more is early detection.
5.) Monitor Your Overall Health
Your mouth can tell your dentist a lot about your overall health. Researchers estimate that over 90% of systemic conditions and diseases present symptoms in the mouth. This means that your dentist may identify the earliest warning signs of diabetes, osteoporosis, or kidney disease. What’s more, a growing body of research demonstrates that great oral health is an essential part of keeping the rest of your body healthy.
6.) Prevent Problems from Developing in the First Place
The main purpose of a biannual dental checkup is to prevent oral health problems from developing in the first place. Your dentist will take the time to explain your oral health to you and how to best take care of it. They may be able to help you identify risk factors in your everyday life and make recommendations on how to make the most out of your at-home dental routine.
Dental checkups are about so much more than checking for cavities and keeping your teeth clean! Visit your dentist twice a year to keep your smile looking and feeling its best.
About the Practice
The highly experienced team of dentists at Brown, Reynolds, Snow, LeNoir Dentistry are proud to serve the communities of Patterson and Ridgefield, VA with award-winning oral health care. Whether you need a thorough checkup, advanced dental restoration, or a beautiful cosmetic treatment, our dentists are here to help. They use the latest dental techniques and state-of-the-art technology to ensure you get the most precise and comfortable results possible. If you’d like to learn more about dental checkups, feel free to contact them via their website or at (804) 288-5324.