When it comes to dental checkups, some people think, “Why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?” If you’re one of them, no criticism. However, we do want you to know why it’s important to come in for your regular dental checkup.
Why Are Regular Dental Visits So Important?
During a regular dental checkup, we’ll clean and floss your teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Because tartar can’t be removed by brushing alone, it’s especially important you visit your dentist regularly for tartar removal. We’ll also examine your gums for signs of gum disease.
If it’s been a while since your last X-rays, we’ll take new ones to help us identify signs of tooth decay. X-rays allow the dentist to see what cannot be seen with the naked eye and give us the chance to spot problems early on, so we can treat them right away. Unfortunately, dental problems left untreated only worsen over time, requiring more invasive and expensive treatments.
We also do certain age-specific activities during appointments:
For Adults:
- Oral Cancer Screening. We’ll examine your mouth closely for signs of oral cancer. Because dentists are the only medical professionals who regularly screen for this type of cancer, this is an especially important part of your visit.
- Keep Up-to-Date on Health Changes. There are certain health conditions, like diabetes, that can affect your oral health. By visiting us regularly, we can stay current on what’s going on with you, so you can receive the best possible oral care.
- Check Your Fillings. Fillings and crowns don’t last forever and at times will need to be replaced. Having regular check-ups allows your dentist to evaluate all of the dental work you already have. From fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants, maintaining your health will increase their longevity.
For Teens:
- Education. We like to educate teens on how important good home dental care is, as well as pass along tips on how they can better care for their teeth. This is especially important if they have braces.
For Children:
- Education. We don’t just pass on dental tips to teens, we also like to share with our littlest patients how they can brush better at home and/or cooperate better for mom and dad!
- Parent/Guardian Questions. Parents always want the best for their children, and this leads to lots of questions about their oral health care at home. Ask away! We love to help in any way we can.
- Teeth Eruption. When we treat children, we pay special attention to how their teeth are coming in. This helps us determine whether they can benefit from braces or other oral appliances.
We recommend you bring your child to the dentist before the age of 3.
How Should I Care for My Teeth Between Dental Visits?
We’re glad you asked! At a minimum, you should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. If you don’t like to brush—and a lot of people don’t—you may want to invest in an electric toothbrush.
Brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush produces approximately 200-300 strokes per brushing while an electric toothbrush can produce more than 6,000 strokes per brushing! Some of them will even vibrate every 30 seconds, so you know when to start brushing the next quadrant of your teeth.
The other thing you’re going to want to do is to floss once a day. If you find flossing uncomfortable, we recommend you try an easy-glide floss—this will help you get between narrow teeth more easily.
What Are the Links Between Dental Health and Overall Health?
A study of more than 100,000 adults found that those who had undergone at least one dental cleaning in their lifetime had a 24% lower risk of heart disease and a 13% lower risk of stroke. Regular dental visits may soon replace “an apple a day,” as the best way to keep the doctor away!
How Can I Make My Dental Appointment with Smile Hilliard?
If you’d like to come in for a regular dental checkup, you can schedule your visit online or call our office at 614.328.9489 to request an appointment.
We are located at 6304 Scioto Darby Road in Hilliard and offer early morning and evening office hours for your convenience.
