While dentist appointments may not be events that you look forward to, they remain essential for your oral health! You should be sure to schedule a dental checkup every six months so your dentist can identify and fix any potential problems that may arise with your teeth or gums. Many adults have the misconception that they can skip their semi-annual dentist appointments if they brush and floss their teeth regularly; however, this is not the case. In this article, we’ll go over a few of the reasons why skipping your dentist appointment can negatively affect your oral and overall health! If you have any questions about dental checkups or are looking for a dentist in the Southern Maine region, contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine today!
Healthier Teeth
No matter how often you brush & floss your teeth at home, you still need to see your dentist every six months to maximize the health of your smile! Dentists can access & clean those hard-to-reach spaces that you simply can’t get to during your daily oral health routine! Additionally, seeing the dentist on schedule can help prevent a wide array of oral health issues that can begin to appear over time.
Hidden Cavities
Brushing your teeth twice a day and regularly flossing minimizes the chance of cavities, but it does not promise you will not have any. By scheduling a dental visit every six months, your dentist can spot cavities that you may not have noticed and treat them before they get worse! Untreated cavities can lead to multiple more severe problems, including infections, the need for a root canal procedure, and more!
Gum Disease
One more reason (that we’ll mention in this article) that dental checkups are so important is that they can help prevent & catch gum disease in its earliest stages. Gum disease, known as gingivitis in early stages and periodontitis in later stages, is an infection of the gums and tissue surrounding your teeth. When gum disease is in its earliest stages, it’s easily treatable and can be reversed. However, if you skip out on your dental checkups, gum disease can cause severe infections in the mouth, tooth loss, and even infections that can spread into other parts of the body.
Contact Gentle Dental Maine!
If you have any questions about dental checkups or any of the information mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine! Our family dentists specialize in general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry services at each of our offices in South Portland, Biddeford, and Topsham. Give us a call at any one of our offices, or if you’re not yet a patient with us, please fill out the new patient form on our website!