Even if going to the dentist isn’t your favorite thing, taking care of your teeth is important. Part of that is going to the dentist often. You might think that missing a few visits won’t have a big effect on your oral health, but that’s not true. Missing checkups at the dentist can cause several problems, especially after a procedure. Find out what occurs if you don’t go to the dentist every six months and why regular cleanings and exams are good for your health.
Buildup of Plaque
When you don’t get your teeth cleaned by a professional, plaque builds up in hard-to-reach places and turns into tartar. Even if you brush, floss, and use antimicrobial mouthwash, it’s hard to get rid of tartar at home. A family dentist can only remove tartar after it has already formed.
Gingivitis can result from tartar accumulation. It can be treated with regular cleanings by a dental hygienist. If you don’t do anything about it, it can lead to periodontitis, which makes pockets between your gums and teeth and hurts the tissues and bones that hold your teeth up. Plaque can be reduced between dental visits by using an electric toothbrush that has been approved by the ADA, using tartar control toothpaste with fluoride, and eating less sugary foods.
Teeth Discoloration
Your Duluth dental care hygienist will clean and buff your teeth every six months, removing plaque, tartar, and surface stains. If you don’t clean your teeth, you might have a dull smile and less confidence.
If you brush your teeth twice a year, they will be cleaner and whiter. If you have deep stains on your teeth, talk to your dentist regarding how you can whiten them. Depending on what you want your smile to look like, your dentist may be able to offer you a cosmetic treatment like teeth whitening or porcelain veneers.
Bad Breath
Plaque can trap bacteria, making your breath smell bad, especially if you have gum disease. A dry mouth, tobacco use, kidney or liver problems, or an infection in the throat or lungs can cause bad breath. Regular dental exams can help you determine where your bad breath is coming from and if you need medical help from your doctor.
Tooth Loss and Gum Disease
Not going to the dentist can hurt your gums and make you more likely to get gingivitis and periodontal disease. When you have a gum infection, your gums will be red, swollen, painful, and bleeding. As gum disease worsens, you may have trouble chewing, gum recession, bad breath, and loss of bone and teeth.
Gum disease makes you more likely to have a stroke, heart attack, or other heart problem. Your gums stay healthy, and your smile looks great with regular cleanings.
Cavities
Cavities are easy to treat if you go to the dentist often. When you don’t go to the dentist, germs, plaque, and tartar buildup, eat away at your tooth enamel, making holes in your teeth. If these holes aren’t treated, you may need a root canal, a crown, or an extraction.
Oral Cancer
Every year, more than 50,000 new cases of oral cancer are found in the United States. Oral cancer can affect the tongue, lips, mouth, roof, floor, cheeks, throat, and sinuses. During your dental exam, your dentist from places like Sugarloaf Smiles: emergency care will check for signs of oral cancer so that it can be found and treated early. When a problem is found earlier, it is more likely that the treatment will work.
Conclusion
If you don’t get your teeth checked at the dentist, it might not seem like a big deal, but problems with your oral health can start and get worse quickly. If it’s more than six months since your last dental checkup, you should call your dentist immediately to make an appointment for a teeth cleaning and exam.
