From gum recession treatment to whitening treatment, dentists seem to do it all. While you’re supposed to see your dentist every six months, some people believe that they can just brush and floss every day, which is enough. In an ideal world, it would be enough, but sometimes, health issues just unexpectedly come up. Plus, dentists are well trained, so they’ll know if something is majorly wrong before you do, such as cavities. It’s vital to have regular appointments with your dentist; here are four reasons.
Dentists can help prevent gum disease
Gum disease is an infection that attacks the soft tissues and bones that support your teeth. If left untreated, it can cause serious tissue damage. The early signs of gum disease include swollen gums and bleeding when you brush. The infection may be caused by bacteria that live in the mouth. Gum disease is reversible, and your dentist can help.
It’s also important to visit the dentist regularly for gum disease if you are experiencing bleeding or soreness in your gums. This is serious, so you can’t ignore this; gum disease can affect other aspects of your health than just your mouth.
Sleep apnea can be a thing of the past
If you want to take better care of your health, then you should look into the quality of sleep you get first. Sleep apnea is something that dentists will take a look at and help their patients with. They have the knowledge and skill to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects both physical and mental health. It can lead to fatigue, headaches, poor judgment, cardiovascular problems, and auto accidents. It also increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
While it may sound like harmless snoring, it’s further from the truth. So, how can they help with sleep apnea? Well, it depends on the situation you’re dealing it. Sometimes they give their patients oral appliances, while other times, they’ll see if there is a root to the cause, such as tooth misalignment.
They can stop mouth sores
Those pesky mouth sores are not only annoying, but they lead to a much larger issue. Visiting the dentist regularly for mouth sores can help you relieve discomfort. This is particularly true if your sores are painful or you have had them for more than two weeks. Your dentist may prescribe topical medicines and mouthwashes to help treat the sores.
They will also examine you to rule out serious health concerns. Mouth sores can make chatting, eating, and sometimes even sleeping difficult. It all adds up and can negatively affect your life. For something like this, you can count on a dentist to help you out.
You won’t have to worry about oral cancer
While oral cancer isn’t too known, it can happen. This is one of the reasons why people need to visit the dentist regularly. Usually, this screening happens during the regular visit, including a physical exam of the mouth. He or she will check for lumps, sores, and other abnormalities. He or she will also check the floor of the mouth, the gums, the roof of the mouth, and the cheek lining. This may even include X-rays too. Just as other forms of cancer need to be avoided, it’s the same for oral cancer.
