Most people know that the recommended schedule for dental checkup and cleaning appointments is generally once every 3-4 months. In the absence of any pressing dental concern, like periodontal disease, this schedule (along with consistently good hygiene at home) helps ensure that your teeth and gums aren’t overwhelmed by harmful plaque and tartar. However, knowing the schedule isn’t always enough to encourage people to stick to it. In fact, skipping professional preventive dental care appointments is one of the biggest reasons why conditions like tooth decay and gum disease still develop. That’s why it’s important to attend every checkup and cleaning appointment that your dentist recommends.
Why keeping a schedule is important
There are several important reasons why good dental health care occurs on a schedule and not just when you have a problem to address. For example, the harmful oral bacteria that make up plaque and tartar will cling to your teeth every day, which is why brushing your teeth twice and flossing at least once is essential. Any spots of plaque you miss will calcify into tartar, which can only be removed with professional dental equipment. Instead of waiting until an issue arises before visiting the dentist, routine dental cleanings and exams help you avoid its development in the first place.
What happens when you skip an appointment?
If you do skip an appointment, then the oral bacteria you can’t see will have a better chance at causing trouble. It doesn’t take long for enough of them to gather to create a substantial amount of harmful substances (i.e., acids, toxins, and more). These substances systematically weaken your tooth enamel, allowing bacteria to infect the main tooth structure, or cause an infection in your gums that leads to progressive gum disease. If you stick to your schedule consistently, however, you have a better chance at removing plaque and tartar before this can happen.
It isn’t too late to protect your smile
Once a dental issue does become apparent, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to protect your smile. If you’ve been avoiding visiting the dentist, then now’s the time to do so as soon as possible. If you notice a toothache, bleeding gums, or other causes of concern, then seeking early treatment for your condition can help minimize how far it progresses. Sometimes, your routine exam may reveal a problem that already exists, but is still minor enough that you haven’t noticed it. This offers the greatest chance at keeping your treatment as minimally invasive as possible.
Schedule your next dental cleaning with us
If it’s past time for your routine professional dental cleaning, then your smile may be more at risk than you know for things like tooth decay, gum disease, and more. For more information, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY, today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
