Do your routine preventive dental cleanings and checkups sometimes feel like a nuisance? You're not alone. Many people question the necessity of these visits every six months, especially when their teeth aren't causing any problems.
The answer is that preventive teeth cleanings and checkups are essential to protect your smile, oral health, and overall well-being. Here's why:
#1 Preventive Dental Cleanings in Mesquite, TX, Save You Money
When you visit your dentist every six months for routine teeth cleanings and checkups, we screen you for common problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities. Detecting these problems early and being proactive about treating them right away can save you time and money in the long run, helping you avoid uncomfortable and costly procedures and providing you with a sense of security and peace of mind.
For example, when your dentist spots tooth decay in its early stages, you can likely treat it with a simple filling. If it goes unnoticed or untreated, the decay will advance further into your tooth until it reaches the nerve and causes a painful infection. If that happens, you'll need more complex treatment, like a root canal, to preserve your tooth and eliminate the infection.
#2 Preventive Dentistry Protects Your Overall Health and Well-Being
We now understand the close relationship between gum disease and general health. Science found a clear connection between the bacteria that cause gum disease and those that cause other chronic, non-dental health concerns, and it seems they are the same. This means if you have gum disease, you may be more susceptible to these systemic health concerns, and vice versa:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Dementia or Alzheimer's
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Complications during pregnancy
#3 Preventive Dentistry Protect Against Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is responsible for at least one death per hour in America. Unfortunately, these numbers don't typically improve because oral cancer is hard to detect on your own and often isn't found until its later stages.
Routine dental exams protect you from oral cancer and give you a better prognosis when we detect it early.
Is it time for your next teeth cleaning and exam? Contact your dentist in Mesquite, TX, at (922) 270-2911 to book your appointment.