If you are like most adult dental patients, when you receive a text message, email or letter reminding you to attend a dental check-up, you will most probably think of ways to get out of it!

But there are many advantages to attending regular dental check-ups with a dental Coorparoo and in this article, these will be highlighted and discussed.

So read on to find out why you should not be avoiding your dentist and how delaying dental treatments over a long period can have a detrimental impact on your oral and physical health.

Decay

When most people think of dental check-ups they think of fillings, crowns and especially tooth decay. And this is a key thing that dentists are looking for when they assess your mouth. Depending on the severity of any decay, you may be offered a filling or a crown. But even if there is no decay in your mouth your dentist can still prevent it from occurring by applying a fluoride sealant, which will protect your enamel from acids and sugars.

Gum disease

Gum disease is the number one cause of adults losing teeth. More specifically, it is the plaque which has been left on the teeth and gums that can create these issues.

Excess plaque in the mouth not only creates problems with gum disease, but can also lead to secondary health complications.

Many studies into oral care and cardiovascular health have found that patients with excessive plaque in their mouths are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, cancers, strokes and even suffering from heart attacks. So, getting to your dentist to have any gum disease treated or plaque removed may actually save your life.

Oral cancer

On that note, it is time to talk about a very preventable cancer which is growing in the Western world; oral cancer.

Exceedingly treatable, oral cancer is detected by your dentist at a check-up and all dental surgeries screen for it routinely. It may appear as something as insidious as a small lump, a patch of skin or even an ulcer which is bleeding. Luckily, if it is called early enough, it has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers and so by delaying dental check-ups you may actually be increasing your risk of developing oral cancer and delaying treatment.

Snoring

If you have an issue with snoring, you can discuss this with your dentist at your check-ups.

They will be able to assess if your snoring is due to the position of your jaw and may be able to offer you a device to wear at night, which will prevent your teeth from grinding together and creating that common sound associated with slumber! If your dentist cannot detect the cause of your snoring they may refer you to a sleep laboratory to test you for sleep apnoea.

Lifestyle advice and guidance

And finally, a key reason to attend a dental check-up is to discuss lifestyle choices and how they impact on your oral health. Many dentists are able to offer patients smoking cessation advice and can even advise you on other things such as diet, dental hygiene at home and how to prolong the effects of whitening treatments.

DISCLAIMER OFFSITE

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

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