Boosting your dental health practices requires a combination of daily habits and healthful connections with your dental team. Regular checkups, with experts like this professional dentist in Oxnard, can also make it much easier to monitor any situation that will need more care later. Here are some reasons why dental checkups are critical for your family’s health.
New Habits Need Support
One cavity can easily be filled, but habit change is critical to preventing the next one. This may mean a variety of small adjustments, such as
- dietary changes
- more water
- better cleaning habits
Eating better can help not only your teeth but your digestive health; more water can be good for your heart and your skin. One good cleaning at home can help, but careful cleanings each day will be needed for radical change. If you are facing a serious dental health risk, you may be able to meet virtually with your dental professional to talk about your cleaning changes and habits
You may also be a good candidate for a food journal that focuses on the healthiest diet for your teeth. A water bottle to remind you of the benefits of a habit of hydrating to keep your teeth rinsed and reduce your soda intake can also be a great choice.
Regular Monitoring Can Help You Stay Ahead of Serious Illness
To avoid serious illness tomorrow, regular screenings and checks today are critical. If you have a challenging patch of tissue that is being regularly checked for growth, you will know as soon as you need to go for more advanced oral cancer screening in Bethesda or a city near you.
Regular checkups can also help you build up the funds for more costly procedures; for example, if you need a crown, you will have a heads-up that a tooth has cracked and needs more involved care. You can also prepare ahead for bridges, braces, and other larger investments.
You Can Avoid Dangerous Risks
Unaddressed gum inflammation and disease can impact your heart health. Properly aligned and pain-free teeth can do a lot to lower your risk of choking on a large food item that has not been properly chewed.
Sadly, sore teeth and gums often lead to a focus on softer foods. Many of these foods can be excessively sweet. For the best care of your teeth, a healthy balance of raw and cooked fruits and veggies is crucial. If you’re choosing soft, sugary foods because your teeth hurt, your poor dental health can damage the rest of your body.
Maintenance is Easier Than Repairs
Healthy gums will protect the nerves of your teeth, which will reduce sensitivity to hot and cold. If you notice that drinking cold beverages from the cup edge hurts but drinking from a straw is fine, you may be suffering from receding tissue from gum disease.
Gum inflammation can allow for higher levels of plaque buildup, which can cause even more damage to the nerves of your teeth. Before periodontal care is necessary, up to and including gum tissue grafts, addressing gum disease is critical. Regular appointments with your hygienist can help you track the progress of pockets that needs particular attention in your cleaning routine.
Long-term plaque exposure can also do a great deal of damage to the enamel of your teeth. Regular maintenance and cleanings, along with sealants to protect your teeth from sensitivity and further decay can also be applied at those times.
More Than Whitening
You may find out that excessive whitening habits have increased your tooth sensitivity. To get in front of this sensitivity and any dietary changes it may cause, getting your teeth thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis as part of your whitening routine is critical.
You may also find that you’re a good candidate for veneers and other tools that can protect your teeth from the extreme sensitivity that can come with over-whitening. You can also have a frank conversation with your dentist about the best way to protect your teeth long-term in addition to a focus on a white, healthy smile.
It’s possible to keep your teeth for the entire length of your life. Even if former health challenges mean that you have to have bridges or implants, you can still maintain the health of nearby teeth and your gum tissue. Keeping the soft tissue in your mouth checked regularly can go a long way to avoiding serious health challenges later in life.
