In the modern day world of work and leisure our lives revolve around routine, and sometimes we simply don’t have the time or energy to be thinking about putting another appointment in our diaries. Visiting the dentist may not be your top priority and if you're not having any specific concerns then what’s the point right?
Don’t be fooled, not all mouth diseases can cause symptoms and you should make it part of your routine to go to your dental practice at least once a year in order to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. Your dentist can help you achieve your desired smile and can keep an eye on any signs of mouth and gum disease. Think of them as your tooth fairy godmother.
1. Diagnosing Health Problems Early
Although at first you may think subtle discomfort is minor, it can sometimes lead to more severe problems. For example, symptoms like sore and bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease and if left untreated in some cases it could lead to tooth loss. In other cases it may be that you just need to floss a little more to help stimulate your gums, but either way your dentist can help you to treat any of these issues and help you prevent them getting worse.
2. Confidence
Did you know that 1 in 4 adults avoid smiling because they are unhappy about the mouth and teeth? Whether this is due to bad breath or the condition their teeth are in, the dentist can offer guidance and tips on maintaining a great smile and additionally refer you to a hygienist who will clean your teeth thoroughly. There are many improvement services dentists and hygienists can make if you requested them, such as braces, whitening, dental implants, veneers, crowns, fillings and more. Whether you love getting out and about or enjoy a quiet night in, having a fresh and healthy smile is key in boosting your self esteem.
3. Reassurance
It's hard to know the difference between a toothache caused by a sugar overdose on your lunch break and a toothache caused by tooth decay or a filling that has fallen out. We can become restless when we aren’t completely sure why we experience discomfort where we do, but you can achieve a great deal of reassurance from your dentist. If your pain is the result of a serious problem your dentist can assist you through the discomfort and they can also give you advice on what to do to prevent it from happening in the future.
4. Maintenance
Think that because you’ve once had dental work done you no longer need to visit your dentist? No no. Annual check ups are required to ensure that any dental work done previously is still in good shape. Fillings, crowns and retainers may have become misplaced or moved slightly and your dentist can help you repair and model your teeth into the best that they can be.
5. Keep habits under control
Are you a smoker? Did you know that about 90% of people who suffer from mouth, tongue, lip and throat cancer have used tobacco products? Regular tobacco smokers are 6 times more likely to develop seriously oral problems than non-smokers.
We often forget about other habits that have serious effects on our oral health, such as snacking on high sugar foods throughout the day which can cause cavities, or even biting your nails which can cause your teeth to chip. Your dentist will let you in on what it is that could be causing trouble in your mouth and advise you on the most beneficial changes you could make to your lifestyle, big or small.
No matter how busy you may be, at least once a year you should go and see your dentist. Treat your mouth (and your dentist) with the same respect as you would your best friend.
At 20 years old, Jasmine Nash is the newest and soon to be youngest team member at Tillison Consulting. Writing for a broad spectrum of online clients experienced in lifestyle, home, and business topics. When Jasmine is not crafting content she is supporting and engaging in the fight for equality to make the world a better place.