Top 3 Reasons To See Your Dentist Regularly

Life is busy and making yourself available to see your dentist regularly can be time-consuming. It may even seem unnecessary to you — especially since you keep up on your oral healthcare at home. 

But if you want to keep your teeth and gums thriving, professional care is a vital component in preventing issues with your oral health and your overall health. 

You should be visiting your dentist at least twice a year. Here’s why. 

1. Have Professional Cleanings

It does not matter how well you brush and floss your teeth at home, there is a good chance you have buildup somewhere inside. There are so many nooks and crannies throughout your mouth — and one tiny area of plaque buildup is all that is needed to begin working its way through your enamel and into your tooth. 

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist at least every six months for professional cleanings. This will help you to keep buildup at bay by clearing out those hard-to-reach areas. 

Depending on your specific need, these cleanings can include flossing, polishing, and even fluoride treatments. 

2. Address Oral Health Issues Before They Get Worse

Most oral health issues are going on for quite a while before you begin to feel them. For instance, you may not even realize that you have decay or infection in a tooth until the pain becomes unbearable. Unfortunately, once issues reach this stage, the treatment is often more in-depth and, as a result, more costly. 

What’s worse, having an untreated infection in your mouth can be dangerous for your overall health. If the toxins make their way into your bloodstream, they will be carried throughout the body and to all of your organs. 

An unhealthy mouth is dangerous. Don’t risk it. 

By visiting your dentist for an oral examination regularly, you are able to address oral health issues before they get worse. Your dentist will be able to spot issues you didn’t even know you had, addressing them quickly and easily. 

3. Get Screened for Oral Cancer

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, it is estimated that 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. Only about 57% of those diagnosed will be alive in 5 years. 

If caught early, oral cancer can be successfully treated, increasing the survival rate significantly. 

Your dentist will look for things like lesions, bumps, tissue discolorations, and other signs to help diagnose oral cancer early. Any areas of concern can be biopsied and treatment can be sought. 

In order to benefit from this early detection, however, you have to make regular visits to the dentist. 

Not to mention that it will also give you peace of mind. 

Schedule Your Visit Today

If these three reasons give you the motivation necessary to make regular dental visits a priority, the dental team at El Paso Family Dental provides comfort-focused family dentistry for patients of all ages. 

Schedule your visit today. Contact us at  915-585-2020 or schedule your visit online.