Why Regular Check Ups Are Necessary For Healthy Teeth

Regular dental checkups are the cornerstone of good oral health as they are the point at which potential problems can be picked up.

As with all health problems, prevention is always better than cure and that is certainly true when it comes to looking after your teeth. Our natural teeth cannot self-heal and unfortunately once the damage has been done it cannot be reversed, only treated.

These issues might not be obvious to you, so it can be difficult to know when something is wrong. By catching small issues early, your dentist can help you to prevent them, which can help to protect your natural teeth.

Prevent problems with early treatment

It is recommended that most people visit the dentist every six to twelve months for a dental checkup. During your checkup, your dentist will look for potential problems that can be picked up before they become too serious.

The most common issues that are caught during dental checkups include:

• Signs of gum disease

• Enamel erosion

• Misaligned teeth in children

• Decay

• Cavities

• Erosion through teeth grinding (bruxism)

• Signs of oral cancer

• Impacted wisdom teeth

• Chips and cracks

• Lost fillings

• Broken restorations such as crowns and bridges

If left untreated, many of these problems could cause serious problems for your health, leading to pain and potential loss of teeth.

However, by attending regular checkups, you can safeguard your oral health by making it possible for your dentist to deliver swift treatment to nip any problems in the bud.

Dentists will frequently advise on foods to avoid acid erosion or to reduce the chances of suffering from cavities. They can also help with problems such as teeth grinding by creating a mouth guard you can wear at night time to minimise damage.

A small cavity can be addressed quickly with a filing, but if this damage is left to spread, it could reach the tooth root where it can lead to a very painful infection.

Keeping an eye on hygiene

Dentists will also be able to check that your cleaning routine is adequate by looking at your teeth, which is vital to protecting their health. Removing plaque from teeth by regular brushing is essential to stopping tooth decay and gum disease.

During your checkup, your dentist (or a dental hygienist) will boost the cleanliness of your teeth by performing a scale and polish to remove all traces of plaque and tartar.

Tartar is plaque that has remained in place and hardened around the gum. If it is not removed it can cause gum disease and cavities.

A dental check up will help you to maintain clean, healthy teeth in one simple step. By ensuring you regularly attend dental check ups you will be taking action to protect the health of your teeth.

Ask about cosmetic treatments

If you are thinking about enhancing your smile with cosmetic treatments, your checkup is the perfect time to ask questions and learn more. Investing in your smile through cosmetic dentistry is a great way to care for your oral health, as it often means that you’ll be more attentive with your oral health routine.

Once you start to think about treatments like dental implants, composite bonding, veneers and teeth whitening, you’re far more likely to be attentive with your oral health routine. You’ll want to keep your smile looking healthy and beautiful, and this all starts with making sure that you brush and floss every day.

How often should I visit the dentist?

In general, you should aim to visit the dentist every 6-12 months. This is different for everyone, and you should always follow the advice of your dentist.

Some people need to go more frequently to help their dentist to monitor conditions such as gum disease or alignment problems. Others can afford to visit the dentist less frequently, particularly if they have a track record of taking good care of their teeth. At the end of your checkup, your dentist will tell you if you need to visit in 6, 9 or 12 months.

Obviously, if you have a problem before this time, you should always book an appointment sooner. This could include pain in your teeth or jaw, changes to your gums, bleeding when you brush your teeth or problems with your bite. You don’t have to wait for your next routine checkup to see a dentist if you’re having issues with your teeth or if you would like to ask about cosmetic procedures.

How often should children visit the dentist?

Children’s teeth are unique because they are softer and more susceptible to damage than adult teeth. This means that small problems will become big problems much faster for children than they will for adults.

Children are also less likely to have a solid oral care routine, meaning that they might miss spots when they brush their teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay. For this reason, it’s vital that children visit the dentist every 6 months.

As children grow, their teeth and jaw are also changing at a fast rate. This means that alignment issues could quickly arise. By visiting the dentist every 6 months, their dentist will be able to monitor how their adult teeth emerge and take action quickly if they need to start orthodontic treatment.

What if I haven’t been to the dentist for a while?

If you have been avoiding dental checkups for any reason, or if you have simply forgotten, don’t worry. There’s no time like the present to get your oral health back on track. Rather than waiting for pain or some other problem to send you searching for an emergency dentist, it’s far better to book an appointment for a routine checkup.

There is no judgement for patients who have missed appointments for years or even decades. We simply want to make sure that you are taking care of your oral health now. We might recommend a trip to the dental hygienist to give your teeth a deep clean. You might also need some preventative or restorative work to help protect your teeth. Whatever the issue, we can tackle it together and get your dental checkups back on track.

Ready to book your routine checkup? Get in touch with our team today!