Make Time for Preventive Dental Care

You’ll move heaven and earth to make sure you’re home for the season premiere of your favorite TV show, and you wouldn’t dare let your team down by missing their first big game. We make many small sacrifices for the little things that make life special. But where does your smile fall in that equation? Few things can have more impact on how other people perceive you – or your own self-esteem – as your smile. That is why it’s important to make regular preventive dentistry a very important part of your busy schedule.

Do You Care About Your Smile?

It’s true that caring for your smile begins at home, through daily brushing, flossing, proper hydration and a healthy diet. But for the vast majority of people, those measures, alone, are not enough to prevent plaque buildup. And there are many reasons plaque is more than a cosmetic concern. If left on teeth, plaque can lead to:

• Cavities
• Other decay
• Bad breath
• Inflamed gums
• Gingivitis, and even gum disease

How Dental Visits Can Help

Regular professional cleanings serve as a chance for the dentist to remove plaque buildup, as well as to check for signs of other dental conditions. If there are problems, early detection can help make minimally invasive treatments effective for restoring your health, such as a simple filling to address a cavity. However, left untreated, most dental problems will only progress, requiring more extensive restoration down the road, such as root canal treatment or even extraction.

If you want to avoid drastic measures, the best solution is to make regular preventive checkups and cleanings a part of your life. Visiting the dentist every six-months is the recommended timeframe for checkups, for most patients. But you should also schedule a visit if you’re noticing any discomfort, pain or other dental symptoms, to ensure you maintain your oral health.