Why Regular Dentist Visits Keep Your Teeth Healthier
Have you ever wondered about the importance of scheduling a dentist visit every six months? Although daily brushing and flossing help to keep your teeth and gums healthy, there is more to dental health than just that. Regular visits to your dentist can help you achieve and maintain great oral health.
The best part is that practicing proper oral hygiene can significantly contribute to your overall good health. Not only will you have a beautiful and healthy smile but you will be a healthier person overall.
What happens during a regular dentist visit?
There are two main parts to a dental visit: examination, and cleaning. The purpose of both is to keep your teeth and gums healthy, check for issues or abnormalities, and to provide your teeth a thorough cleaning.
Much of what determines your oral health is located beneath the surfaces of your mouth or in areas that you cannot see yourself, which makes attending regular check-up appointments with your dentist so important.
Examination
This part of the visit is where your dentist does a thorough examination in order to detect issues that you may not even be aware of. During an examination, your dentist will:
- Examine your face, neck, and lymph nodes
- Examine your gums, tongue and the tissue inside your mouth
- Check for cavities
- Check for loose, chipped or damaged teeth or fillings
- Check your bite to assess the alignment of your top and bottom teeth
- Check for visual signs of tooth decay
- Take X-ray images, if necessary
Cleaning
After the completion of your examination, a dental professional will thoroughly clean your teeth with special tools and products. Your dental professional will:
- Check teeth and gum cleanliness
- Use special tools to remove tartar (called scaling)
- Polish your teeth with a gritty paste and spinning brush
- Floss between each tooth
- Apply a fluoride treatment, if necessary
What to do between dentist visits
It is very important to take good care of your teeth and gums between your regular dentist visits. The regular removal of plaque will decrease the chances of tartar forming, which then decreases the chances of bad breath, gum disease, infection or other complications. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride and floss once a day — this will keep your teeth and gums clean by removing plaque. You can also use mouthwash to help control bacteria.
Conclusion
After both your examination and cleaning have been completed, your dentist will discuss the health of your teeth and any recommendations with you. It is a good idea to make your next appointment before leaving your dentist’s office. You should make it a habit to have a regular dentist visit at least twice per year.
Remember, by seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following good oral hygiene at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistofvisalia.com or call Visalia Care Dental at (559) 975-1213 for an appointment in our Visalia office.
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