Why Regular Check Ups Are Necessary For Healthy Teeth

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.

Prevent problems with early treatment

It is recommended that most people visit the dentist every six to twelve months for a dental check up, which is the time when any potential problems can be picked up before they become too serious.

These include:

• Signs of gum disease
• Enamel erosion
• Misaligned teeth in children
• Decay
• Cavities
• Erosion through teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Signs of oral cancer

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

Spotted at the early stages by a dentist at a routine check-up though, swift treatment should serve to nip any problems in the bud.

Dentists will frequently advise on foods to avoid to minimise acid erosion or to reduce the chances of suffering from cavities, while they can help with problems such a teeth grinding by having a specially-fitted mouth guard made.

If cavities are spotted early fillings can be put in place to protect the tooth from further damage.

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.

At a check up your dentist (or a dental hygienist) will boost the cleanliness of your teeth by performing a scale and polish to remove 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.