The vast majority of people do not think enough about their oral hygiene and a visit to the dentist is something to put off until, well, never. At least until they have something that hurts, such as a tooth or gums. This is not the way to treat your mouth, your teeth and your body.
A regular check-up of teeth is necessary, regardless of what you might say, and there are at least 21 good reasons for this:
Some of those reasons are things you notice or feel:
A tooth that hurts may be an indication that something else is going on. Is your mouth changing for some reason? A regular check-up of teeth will help you know about this. It might be you are doing something, such as grinding your teeth together, for some reason, and it should be dealt with.
Gums that hurt. The gums can indicate things happening in your mouth and the rest of your body. This could be the precursor of a gum disease that you might not even have heard of.
You will notice that in a complete oral examination, the dentist and or the hygienist will not only look into your mouth, where your teeth are, they will look at your head, jaws and neck. They will ask you about other issues you are having that may seem unconnected to teeth. The mouth and head will help them understand what is going on in the rest of your body so you can take preventative or remedial action.
Discoloration of teeth may have some very bad effects on your looks, employment potentials and dating prospects.
Sensitive teeth, or maybe just one or two teeth. There is a good, or bad, reason for this and it pays to have this checked out. This is painful and unnecessary.
The awareness of irregular teeth. This could have occurred because of some changing of the mouth or damage done to the mouth.
Cracked teeth are something to deal with immediately and you may not even be aware of it until your dentist tells you.
One of the things that might be happening is a condition you might not be aware of and or others certainly are:
Halitosis or Bad Breath. This may be of only minor concern to you, however, it can indicate there are other issues. These may include: periodontal infection, sinusitis, diabetes, liver disease and much more. A regular check-up of teeth is important in diagnosing a whole host of maladies.
So, what are some of the other things that can be discovered simply by being an adult and making an appointment every six months or so?
Gingivitis and other gum diseases.
Mobile teeth. This usually occurs when a new tooth is coming in and there is no place for it. In many occasions it is not very painful until it really erupts.
The acidic erosion of teeth. This is a condition that can be re-mediated with proper diet and supplements.
A tooth abscess. This could indicate a infection and rapid work is necessary.
A regular check-up of teeth and all that that entails will help diagnose vitamin deficiencies and even HIV.
The prevention of mouth cancer.
Being in the position of keeping your teeth longer than you otherwise would.
A regular check-up of teeth will let you know whether your hygiene processes, at home, are adequate.
Since many medical conditions are made worse by troubles in your mouth, complete examinations are the only way to discover these problems without other, more invasive, testing.
You will also benefit from other procedures and devices that may be recommended to get your mouth back on track if it has been left alone for too long:
Dentures should be a last resort if you are taking care of your teeth.
Bridges are installed to connect good teeth together and form a bond so that proper healing and alignment can be made on a tooth that is not faring so well.
Veneers are a part of cosmetic dentistry that covers and protects a tooth and brightens up that smile.
Crowns are, occasionally, needed on some teeth because of their importance to the job of chewing and smiling and they are not physically up to the task right now.
The most important reason for a regular check-up of teeth regimen is:
That winning smile, fresh breath, a balanced body, medically, and the peace of mind that comes with taking care of all of your responsibilities.
As you can see, there are many reasons to make an appointment, every six months to a year, for this examination. The dentist may take x-rays of your whole mouth and they will certainly want to clean the tartar off your teeth. This is all a part of a quality regular check-up of teeth that is just common sense.
Find the dentist, with a professional staff, who you can trust and put them on your speed dial.
I'm just your average hygienist with a passion for excellence. I do what I do best, which is to help my patients achieve healthy smiles and provide & educate them with oral health care solutions and lifelong cosmetic procedures. Dr. Shabbir Hashim grew up in Fremont Ohio and graduated from Ross High School in 1979. He continued college education at Kent State University and continued his undergraduate education at Ohio State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1984.He then joined College of Dentistry at OSU for the doctorate program. After receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1989, he completed two years in post-doctorate training in Advanced General Dentistry Residency at the University Hospitals and College of Dentistry at Ohio State University.