Routine dental checkups and cleanings are arguably the most important dental treatment. By visiting your dentist at least once every six months, you have a significantly greater chance of preventing common dental issues, including tooth decay, gum disease, and more. Coupled with consistently good hygiene at home, regular preventive dental visits are the best way to preserve your beautiful, healthy, and natural smile for life.
What your teeth go through.
Every day, the oral bacteria that inhabit your mouth and the food particles left behind from your meals and snacks combine to form dental plaque. In excess, the oral bacteria in plaque lead to cavities and gingivitis, though brushing and flossing them away twice a day helps control your dental health risks.
What your toothbrush can’t do.
However, when your toothbrush and floss miss a spot of plaque, it calcifies into tartar and cannot be removed without the help of your dentist or hygienist. The reason regular cleanings and checkups are necessary is to prevent tartar from remaining long enough to cause trouble. Also, your dentist can check your teeth and gums thoroughly to make sure no issues have already begun to develop due to plaque and tartar buildup.
If you skip your appointment…
Skipping a checkup and cleaning appointment might not seem like a big deal, but it doesn’t take very long for tartar to settle onto your teeth. If you skip an appointment, you’ll give oral bacteria much more time to multiply and gain strength, allowing them to overwhelm your teeth and gum tissues before your dentist has a chance to clean them away.
