You always take good care of your teeth at home – you brush and floss twice daily and never miss a day. Since you have an established dental hygiene regimen, you might wonder, ‘Do I really need to see my dentist in Greenfield, or is the recommendation for going to my dentist twice a year really just a marketing ploy?’ The experts at BGH Dental set the record straight on why brushing and flossing are great maintenance, but will never take the place of seeing a professional for regular checkups and cleanings.
Why Are Professional Dental Checkups And Cleanings Important?
The BHG Dental team offers the following facts on why preventive dental care makes all the difference when it comes to keeping your smile healthy and bright:
- Early Detection – Since tooth decay and gum disease are so common, but often cannot be detected by the naked eye, seeing a dentist for a checkup and cleaning can help catch these issues early, before they cause major problems.
- X-rays – Unless you have a dental X-ray machine at home, you may not be getting the full picture of your smile simply by looking in the mirror after you brush and floss. X-rays are important in detecting bone loss, finding hidden cavities, spotting oral infections, and even diagnosing tumors.
- Cancer Screenings – With a professional examination and checkup, your Greenfield dentist will be able to screen for oral cancers. Even if you’re not a smoker, you can still be at risk for oral cancer from hormonal changes and the general process of aging that affects us all. To look back at point #1, early detection is key to stopping oral cancer in its tracks.
- Make Your Smile Prettier – Although brushing and flossing are a great way to maintain oral health, over the course of time, tartar buildup and plaque can still accumulate. No matter what you do at home, you won’t be able to remove these icky substances yourself, and your smile can suffer. A professional cleaning can take years off your appearance and increase your overall health.
- Protect Your Body, Too – More than 120 diseases can be spotted in the mouth just by having a dentist perform an exam. And, patients who see their oral health team regularly have reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. Your teeth are a vital part of your overall wellbeing, and you should treat it as such. You go in to see your doctor for checkups, so do the same with your dentist.
Since you now understand that no home dental care regimen can act as a substitute for seeing your dentist for preventive care, schedule your appointment today to keep your smile healthy and bright.