The importance of seeing a dentist

People often underestimate the importance of seeing a dentist in Brentwood regularly; citing the fact that they don’t have any problems with their teeth or are too busy with their work and personal lives to worry about such a minor detail. However, having regular check-ups is vital for maintaining good health in every sense of the word. The condition of a person’s teeth and gums can have many consequences for wellbeing; therefore, it is essential to have professional support in this area

Keeping the teeth clean

Visiting the dentist regularly helps the patient to keep their teeth and gums in tip-top condition. Whilst brushing and flossing at home is very effective, a regular professional clean is important too. This is because it involves manually removing plaque and tartar that the patient may not have been able to get to with ordinary cleaning.

Having a thorough scale and polish means that the patient can be much more confident about having minty fresh breath at all times; as it prevents bad bacteria from building up inside the mouth. In addition, the teeth often look whiter after a professional clean. Sometimes people think they need a whitening treatment when a good clean from the dentist or hygienist can be very effective in removing stains and improving the general appearance of the teeth.

Preventing gum disease

Gum disease can develop without a person really being aware of it. A good dentist can spot the early signs of this and stop it in its tracks. This is important because it can cause tooth loss, which can be very detrimental to a person’s confidence and require further dental work in order to remedy the situation.

Gum disease doesn’t just affect a person’s mouth, it has an impact on many other areas of the body. If left unchecked, it has been shown to contribute to conditions like diabetes, arthritis and make a person more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, according to WebMD. This is due to the fact that the mouth is literally the gateway to the rest of the body; so, if it is not in good condition, then there will be other areas that are negatively affected too.

Identifying issues early on

Going to the dentist for a regular check-up means that any potentially problematic issues can be identified in their earliest stages. A patient may not be aware of a small amount of inflammation around a wisdom tooth, for example, but this will be visible to the dentist who can remedy the situation before the tooth becomes infected and possibly very painful.

Other issues such as oral cancer can be spotted by the dentist at a standard check-up, particularly in the early stages when the patient is not aware of any problem. In cases like this, taking action can mean that the disease can be stopped in its tracks before it is able to cause damage to other parts of the body.

Seeing the dentist for check-ups might seem like a minor inconvenience that a person could do without, but it has multiple benefits for both oral and general health; so, it is well worth making those appointments.