Why You Should Visit Your Dentist Every 6 Months

Going to the dentist might not be your favourite thing in the world, but it is extremely important. It can be easy to make up excuses, whether it is out of fear, cost or just a bit of laziness and you might skip appointments by telling yourself that you’ll go when a problem presents itself. However, that is a dangerous approach to your health. By the time a problem occurs, it might have become more serious, while other problems may have been lurking out of sight. The truth is that avoiding regular appointments often results in more problems, more time in the dentist’s chair and more money out of your pocket. Along with brushing your teeth, regular trips to the dentist are a vital preventative measure against oral health problems. 

What Happens at a Dental Check-Up?

When you go for a regular check-up, your dentist will look at more than just your teeth. A check-up is an opportunity for your dentist to look at your gums, the surrounding tissue of your tongue and throat and review your bite and jaw alignment. You can’t diagnose problems simply on the basis of having nothing that hurts. Even if you’re all over your oral hygiene routine, problems can arise. And your oral health is affected by more than how well you brush your teeth; it is intrinsically linked to your overall health, which means that your mouth could show up signs of other conditions and other conditions could, in turn, cause problems in your mouth. By avoiding regular appointments, you not only risk your oral health but increase your chances of more serious health conditions. 

What Are The Benefits of Regular Dental Appointments?

When it comes to the benefits of regular trips to the dentist, it is more a case of what you can avoid by going. By heading to see the dentist at least once every six months, you’ll reduce your chances of:

• Cavities – even if you’re an expert at brushing your teeth, there is still a chance that you miss areas. When plaque builds up, it can solidify and become extremely difficult to remove. Your dentist can clean your teeth to remove any tartar before it erodes your enamel and creates cavities. 
• Gum disease – as well as causing cavities, a build of tartar can result in gum disease. You’ll only notice it once there is swelling, bleeding or soreness, which can result in tooth loss or other serious health conditions. At a regular appointment, your dentist can check your gums and treat inflammation before it’s too late. 
• Oral cancer – this is a big one, and one you might not have realised can be treated if caught early enough. Oral cancer can affect anyone, is extremely common and life-threatening. Your dentist will be highly trained to recognise the early signs and symptoms. 

And, your dentist does even more than check for what can be seen on the surface of your teeth and gums. At regular appointments, you’ll have dental x-rays, which give you a behind the scenes view of what’s going on in your mouth. It gives your dentist a chance to diagnose everything from impacted teeth and bone loss to tumours and cysts. And your dentist will check more than your mouth, gums and tongue; they will look at your neck, jaw and lymph nodes to ensure there isn’t any swelling, lumps or abnormalities. With health issues that show few symptoms but progress quickly, getting checked over has to be worth it. 

What Happens If You Don’t Visit The Dentist?

If you are considering skipping a dental appointment, you should be aware of the risks. In the long term, it will cost you more in terms of your health and your bank balance. By going to see the dentist every six months, you can buy yourself peace of mind. Ultimately, while you may want to avoid the dentist, you can avoid far worse fates by showing up. What’s more, by catching problems early,  solutions are easier, faster and less expensive.