why should you visit your dentist? Many people fear going to the dentist. This fear is called dental phobia or dentophobia. In fact, between 9% and 20% of the American population avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear.
Visit your dentist- Fear of pain, loss of control when lying in a dental chair, harsh noises from weird-looking equipment, terrifying dental stories they heard from relatives and friends, and even the breathing problems commonly triggered by anxiety.
As a result, they usually just endure their dental health problems such as wisdom tooth pain, tooth decay, and cracked tooth.
Visit your dentist- While dental phobia is pretty common and is definitely understandable, allowing it to get the best of you will only cause problems down the road.
If these sound like you and you’ve been putting off your dental visits or feel hesitant to book one, here are the reasons why you shouldn’t delay it:
Top 6 Reasons To Visit Your Dentist
1) To Identify And Treat Dental And Oral Health Issues In Their Early Stages
Visit your dentist- Gum disease and dental cavities are the most common oral health problems, which can only be determined by dentists through oral diagnosis. This is the medical practice of determining all problems of the mouth — inside and outside — so your dentist can create an appropriate treatment plan.
Visit your dentist- Recurrent toothache or decaying teeth, when left untreated for too long, increases the risks of more serious dental issues such as more pain and possibly tooth loss. If you suspect impacted wisdom teeth, look for the best wisdom teeth extraction Blackfoot offers and book an appointment as soon as possible. The earlier these issues are addressed, the more successful the treatment will be.
2) To Detect Potential Causes Of Oral Cancer
The big C is perhaps the most dreaded disease of all. In its late stages, it causes excruciating pain and agony and ultimately leads to death.
The good news is, cancer responds well to treatment when detected in its early stages, and all you need to do is make sure you get routine checkups. For oral cancer detection, visiting your dentist at least once a year is a must.
Early signs of oral cancer include mouth sores that won’t heal, unusual growths inside the mouth like lumps and rough patches, pain, and problem swallowing. And if you smoke and drink a lot, you’re at even more risk.
The problem is these early signs are often tricky to figure out since they can be associated with other health problems. With a proper assessment from a dentist, you can get a more accurate diagnosis and get referrals to specialists when needed.
3) To Keep Your Teeth Clean, Healthy, And Protected Against Cavities
There are many ways to protect your teeth against cavities, and these include: brushing with fluoride toothpaste, eating foods with nutrients that promote dental health, drinking water instead of sugary drinks, and flossing once a day.
However, you also need professional dental treatments to keep your teeth healthy. If you have decaying teeth, dentists can help save them if found early.
Visit your dentist- It’s also ideal to visit your dentist for a prophylaxis treatment twice a year. This preventive dental procedure involves cleaning and polishing your teeth. It can also reduce bad breath and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
4) To Learn Proper Oral And Dental Health Habits
Visit your dentist- Good oral health means that your mouth looks and feels healthy. There are indicators of good oral health: your gums don’t bleed when brushing, your teeth are free of debris, and your tongue is moist, firm, and pink.
On the other hand, there are dental problems and diseases commonly found in people with bad oral hygiene: impacted teeth, cracked teeth, stained teeth, gum disease, and cavities.
To prevent common dental health problems, your dentist may give you advice about proper ways to maintain oral and dental health habits.
It’s also advisable to encourage not only yourself but other members of your family to see a dentist, so that they may be enlightened about the best practices that will help protect their teeth against cavities.
By visiting your dentist regularly, you can get proper consultations about your current dental health issues and get updated professional advice.
5) To Avoid More Costly Dental Services
Dental checkups and procedures are naturally costly. However, if you keep delaying your visits and end up with worse dental health problems, you’ll have to pay so much more for treatments that are likely to be more extensive.
For example, a small tooth decay that could have been resolved by a filling but was left too long and eventually required an expensive root canal.
If you’re hesitating to go to the dentist because you can’t afford it, then you may want to look into insurances or consider calling your local or state department to inquire about their financial assistance programs.
You may also want to try checking for reasonable prices at dental clinics in your area. However, if your dentist offers you costly charges and you have no other options, then you may try to negotiate and ask if they offer installment plans.
6) To Protect Your Family’s Oral Health
If you happen to have children or young family members, encouraging them to visit the dentist may be troublesome for you. But nothing is more uncomfortable, painful, and embarrassing than having serious oral health issues such as cavities and tooth decay.
To be a good role model for your kids, visiting the dentist should be one of your topmost priorities as a parent. By regularly visiting your family dentist, can help your children develop healthy oral habits.
Just like the typical saying, your children learn by copying you. To protect them against dental problems like tooth decay, you can demonstrate to them the proper ways to protect their teeth.
And the best part is, this may serve as an inspiration for your children to promote dental and oral health awareness.
Conclusion:
Minor dental and oral health problems can easily lead to serious health issues when neglected. But the good thing is dentists are there to provide you with an honest and accurate assessment of your oral and dental health status, all you need to do is consult them regularly.
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