What Should You Expect at a Regular Dental Visit?
Routine checkups are usually an opportunity for open dialogue with your dentist, to ask for guidance and seek information that will help you maintain your oral health. During this procedure, we carefully observe your teeth and other structures, such as your gums, palate, tongue, throat, and cheeks.
The purpose of this assessment is to identify signs that may indicate the need for specific treatments. People who often have mouth ulcers, for example, are more likely to develop gastrointestinal diseases. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to oral health, as well as to conditions that require the attention of other professionals.
In routine dental appointments, the most common procedures are:
- general assessment of teeth;
- prophylaxis and deep cleaning of teeth;
- identification of possible changes in the oral region;
- guidance on correct brushing, cleaning the tongue and gums;
- complete physical examinations or x-rays to confirm diagnoses.
Why is oral hygiene at home so essential?
Being aware that good hygiene at home is as crucial for oral health as visiting your dentist can reduce most dental problems. Moments after eating, bacteria that normally live in the oral cavity begin to act. Therefore, if the dirt on the teeth is not removed, plaque will form, which affects the integrity of the teeth.
Therefore, to avoid cavities, gingivitis, bad breath, and other problems, it is best to brush your teeth — and floss — immediately after eating. This is because neglecting proper hygiene at home increases your vulnerability to these problems.
As you can see, it is just as important to ask yourself “when should I go to the dentist?” as it is to adopt hygiene practices that prevent possible manifestations of oral diseases. It is equally important to find a dental clinic with experience and good professionals to carry out these regular check-ups.
How important are regular dental visits?
It can be said that good health starts in the mouth. Indeed, the condition of the teeth greatly influences a person’s health, since the process of digesting food begins in the mouth and depends on proper chewing.
So, when you ask yourself “when should I go to the dentist?”, remember to set aside time for it, as keeping your teeth healthy prevents cavities and infections, which are essential to the health and general well-being of the body.
However, the reasons for keeping up with regular dental visits are not limited to nutritional or aesthetic issues. Dental assessment is essential for preventing the most common oral problems, as well as for the early detection of more serious diseases, such as mouth or throat cancer.
In conclusion
Preventative check-ups are an opportunity to assess the position of your teeth and the alignment of your dental arch, as well as to perform a more thorough cleaning. On these occasions, the dentist can analyze your hygiene and determine whether you need more specific care.
When diagnosed early, cavities, gingivitis, bleeding, and increased tooth sensitivity are easier to treat. As with other diseases, the earlier these problems are discovered, the better the response to dental treatment.