Prevention is better than cure. With dentistry, it could mean that you can avoid getting dental decay that develops to a point where you might need some dental procedures such as veneers, implants, root canal, having a tooth pulled or even dentures.
Let us be honest, everyone wants a beautiful smile. We spend so much on braces, teeth whitening and other techniques to make our smiles the best it can be.
A regular visit to your dentist should be own first stop though. True many of us dislike going to a dentist, but if you go twice a year for a complete examination and cleaning, can save yourself some painful treatments later on.
During the visit, the dentist will take an x-ray of your teeth and gums. These will help the dentist identity if there are any issues that needs treatment. Some of the things that an x-ray can indicate are cysts, bone loss, decay and tumors. Nevertheless, x-rays can also indicate the root and tooth positions.
In the course of examination, your dentist can also check for signs of oral cancer by checking the neck, face, lips, tongue, gums and throat. In the same way, the dentist can check if you are suffering from gum disease. This is important, since if you have gum disease it could worsen and lead to teeth loss later on.
Most of all, your dentist will be checking for tooth decay, by checking the surfaces of your teeth. While they are doing that, they will also look at the condition of your older restorations. It might be that some of the fillings, crowns, on lays, or veneers need some attention.
After the dentist has complete his or her examination of your teeth and gums, the dentist will begin to clean your teeth. This is process is called dental prophylaxis, and can be completed by a dental hygienists, instead of a dentist. Either way, what is vital to grasp is that brushing and flossing at home is important to do, they cannot remove all the tartar build-up that is why you need to visit the dentist twice a year.
Tartar or calculus, as it is called, is hardened plaque that builds up on your teeth over time. It builds up from above and below the gum line. Brushing simply cannot remove it. Only dentists have the special dental instruments that can do that. The problem with tartar, or even just plaque, is that it is bacteria. This bacterium produces poisons that can inflame the gums. This will lead to gum disease. If you deal with the gum disease while it is just starting, then it is reversible. If you leave it, the disease will become a periodontal disease. If you then fail to visit your dentist, your teeth might come loose and start to fall out. That is something you do not want, as the procedures to fix missing teeth are not without pain and their own set of complications.
Once the dentist has completed the examination and cleaning, then the dentist can polish your teeth. This will remove stains and some plaque that was not removed during the cleaning.
Depending on the condition of your teeth, having your teeth cleaned can be painless and relatively fast. If you have a heavy build-up of plaque and your gums are inflamed, then during the cleaning, your gums might bleed and there might be some pain. Your dentist can apply some anesthesia gel on your gums, which will ease the pain prior to cleaning; if they spot your gums are badly inflamed.
Having your teeth cleaned could be good for your heart health
Research studies have indicated that if you clean your teeth regularly, then you could lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
By cleaning your teeth regularly, the bacteria is removed that can lead to inflammation or gum disease. Now researcher have indicated that there is a link between gum disease and heart attacks. That is since chronic inflammation leads to hardening of the arteries that then leads to heart attack and strokes.
Having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist or a dental hygienist could not only give you that sparkling white smile you can be proud of, but also this easy treatment could save you in the end. Not just save your life, and give you a happier life without heart problems or the fear of getting a stroke, but it could save you money. Never mind, save you the pain and discomfort of some of the other dental procedures available to restore your smile.
Make sure you do go every 6 month for a teeth cleaning. It is the first step in proper dental health and a great smile.
