Reasons to Visit the Dentist

Reasons to Visit the Dentist
Recently, there have been links established that tie bad
oral hygiene to heart disease and other cardiovascular
problems. For example, periodontitis, or gum disease, has
been shown to triple the chances of heart disease, strokes,
and diabetes. Also, good oral hygiene is known to reduce
the incidence of some cardiac infections such as bacterial
endocarditis.

The reasons for regular visits to a dentist are unlimited.
The top ten reasons to see a dentist are below.

The Top 10

1. Prevents Oral Cancer

According to the American Oral Cancer Society, a person
dies from oral cancer in the United States every hour of
every day. This is extremely sad because oral cancer is
extremely curable if caught early. Whenever a person visits
their dentist, they are not only having their teeth cleaned
or having x-rays of their teeth taken. They are also being
screened for oral cancer at the same time. So while
visiting the dentist may not technically prevent oral
cancer, it does prevent it from going undetected.

2. Prevents Gum Disease

Gum disease, as was stated earlier, has been linked to
heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. What easier way is
there of preventing these things than brushing your teeth
at least twice a day as well as flossing and visiting a
dentist? When a person visits the dentist, the dentist can
check for signs of gum disease such as inflamed gums or
gums that aren't quite pink along the edges. Gum disease
itself is an infection of the gums and is one of the
leading causes of adult tooth loss and decay.

3. Prevents the Loss of Teeth

Visiting the dentist allows the dentist to check to make
sure that a person's teeth are healthy and not cavity
infested. If there is something wrong, such as gum disease,
the dentist can recommend a treatment plan, generally more
brushing and flossing, that can reverse gum disease and
prevent tooth loss. If a person has all of their teeth,
chewing and overall health are known to be better.

4. Detects Dental Problems Early

Your dentist and hygienist can detect problems early. When
problems are detected early, they can be reversed or easily
treated. If problems are not detected early, much more
serious solutions will be necessary. These serious
solutions include root canal, gum surgery, and tooth
extractions.

5. Maintains Good Oral Health

Your dentist will compare your current teeth with
information recorded during previous visits. If oral
hygiene is slacking, the dentist will put you back on the
right track. Good oral hygiene is necessary to the
prevention of gum disease and cavities.

6. Prevents Bad Breath

Studies have shown that 85% of people that have
persistently bad breath have an underlying dental problem
that is to blame. Your dentist will be able to identify and
then to correct this underlying problem which will then
prevent bad breath.

7. Have a White Smile

Your dental hygienist is able to remove the majority of
coffee and tobacco stains while in the office. They also
polish your teeth to a shine while there which creates a
bright, white smile. While not nearly as important as
preventing gum disease, this too is an important part of a
visit to the dentist because it affects how a person feels.

8. Maintains Good Physical Health

When a person cannot chew correctly due to sore or broken
teeth, it affects the body's ability to digest food is
diminished. This leads to less absorption of minerals and
other nutrients that are in the food. Overall, having good
oral health contributes to good physical health.

9. Creates a Treatment Plan

When your dentist diagnoses a problem with your teeth, they
will recommend a treatment plan. This will most likely
prevent the problem from getting worse as well as sometimes
even reversing the damage.

10. Use an Insurance Plan

A general dentist insurance plan will usually cover the
majority of fees associated with a regular cleaning. The
plan generally will cover a lot of other fees that are
incurred when the dentist is visited. If those aren't good
enough reasons, a person pays for the plan so they may as
well use it.

Overall, the benefits to visiting a dentist at regular
intervals will greatly exceed the costs. It is important
for a person's overall health to visit the dentist.

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Joe Devine
For more information, visit http://www.dentistwausau.com