4 Reasons A Regular Dental Check Up Is Important

Going to your dentist at least once a year is highly important. You should be going even more if you smoke because this leads to excessive tartar build up in the mouth and a higher risk of oral cancer that needs to be checked for. Here are four reasons going to your dentist at least once per year is so important:

1. Prevent Oral Diseases: When you have plaque build up on your teeth, it can eventually lead to tartar build up that cannot be removed on your own at home. Your dentist will do this to ensure that the built up tartar doesn't lead to any kind of oral disease. Your dentist does this by scalping your teeth and polishing them afterwards. Your dentist will also check for cavities. If these cavities are not treated, this can potentially lead to oral disease, as well. 
2. Checks for Gum Disease: Gum disease is one oral disease that dentists check for specifically. Your dentist will do this by checking the space between your gums and teeth. If the space is large, then this is a sure sign of gum disease that needs to be treated. When the space is large, it also leaves room for more bacteria to get trapped in your mouth. This is why gum disease progresses quickly. 
3. Provide Dental Tips: If your dentist notices anything that could lead to trouble in the future, they will recommend what you should do to prevent it from happening. This is typically done by providing you with some brushing or flossing technique tips. Your dentist may even recommend you purchase some specific dental tools that can help you even more with your regular brushing routine at home. On top of this, your dentist can even prescribe you medication to help with any swelling or pain that you are experiencing. 
4. Check for Structural Problems: When you visit your dentist, they are also going to take x-rays. This is going to show your dentist what the structure of your smile is like. If there are any problem areas, your dentist will be able to refer you to a specialist to correct it or they will want you to consider pulling any troublesome teeth. This is especially true if you still have your wisdom teeth and they are pushing on the rest of your teeth. 

When you know these four reasons a regular visit to a family dental clinic is so important, you can see why skipping on one can be detrimental to your health.