A dental check up probably isn’t how you want to spend your vacation days. But these routine stop-ins can do an enormous amount of good for your hygiene and overall health.
Unfortunately, not everyone has gotten the message. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, only about 60 percent of adults, ages 20 to 64, have been to a dentist in the last year.
Twelve percent haven’t gone in five! Big mistake.
In the following article, we’ll briefly touch on the six reasons you should be going. Let’s begin!
1. Check Your Own Hygiene Practices
Many Americans believe brushing twice a day will take care of any issues before they arise. Why work in dentist visits if he or she is just going to tell you the same thing?
But considering about one-third of Americans never floss their teeth, it’s clear they don’t know as much as they think. Bacteria love food, and the longer a piece stays between your teeth, the more damage it can do.
Regular dental visits ensure you’re doing everything the right way to keep your mouth clean. It essentially makes your mouth an inhospitable place for vermin.
2. Clean Teeth
As good of a brusher as you are, we’ve already established many of you still aren’t flossing. And even if you are, you may simply be spot-flossing.
Spot-flossing is when you only floss to get out the obvious food particles. But bacteria can propagate with very small amounts of food.
Also, a regular check up can help address problems the help contribute to tooth decay, such as plaque and tartar.
3. Address Cavities or Concerns
A 2015 report notes more than nine out of 10 adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have experienced dental cavities. So have 96 percent of adults 65 and older.
Cavities create bigger problems than if the patient had simply made going to the dentist a priority a minimum of once every 12 months. (Twice yearly is recommended.)
But beyond avoiding cavities or addressing them as they arise, a regular check up can help with chipped teeth or wisdom teeth inflammation.
4. Catch Potentially Serious Illnesses Early
An especially important function of your trip to the dentist is being able to tell through lymph node checks and X-rays whether something more serious is wrong. Dentists often see more concerning problems in their early stages when successful treatment options are more likely.
5. Save Money
Most dental insurance covers preventative care. When it comes to more serious issues, they’ll only pick up part. And many will only do that once you’ve covered the deductible.
If costly issues are to occur, they’ll happen with the more intensive and invasive therapies. Just going for a routine visit will cost fractions, and it often prevents the issue from escalating.
6. Hold Yourself Accountable
The simple act of scheduling a visit can be transformative. If you know your hygienist and dentist will be looking at your work every six months, you’re likely to take it seriously.
Going is an affordable accountability measure that helps you break old habits and embrace new ones. We’ve also observed through our own kids’ dentistry services parents holding themselves accountable leads to children who do as well.
Get Your Dental Check Up Today
If you’re overdue for a dental check up or you just need a new care team you can trust, contact us today. We have convenient hours, and we can answer any questions you may have from proper brushing to unusual concerns.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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