When was the last time you went to book a dentist in Mount Eliza? If it has been longer than 6 months, you should start contemplating the possible negative effects that that might have on your oral health. Here are some of the many things that can happen to you if you stop going to the dentist.
1. More Plaque Buildup
A crucial part of your daily brushing is to remove the daily buildup of plaque that occurs on your teeth. Some plaque gets into places that are hard for either your brushing or flossing to reach, however, and that’s when you may need to visit the dentist for a more thorough teeth cleaning. You can employ all the at-home tools you want and be as vigilant as you want, you won’t win the war on plaque forever. Sooner or later you’ll need the help of a dentist.
2. Tooth Decay and Loss
That same buildup of plaque will eventually harden into tartar, which in turn can lead to greater tooth decay. If this tartar gets into your gums or the roots of your teeth, it can become serious enough that you might lose teeth, or they will at least experience more serious damage. Other side effects of such a buildup include bad breath, which can make things increasingly awkward for you socially.
3. Increased Risk of Gum Disease
We focus so much attention on our teeth, forgetting that our gums too are a key area we are protecting when we brush our teeth and floss. One reason that so many people’s gums fall into poor condition with things like gingivitis is that there are few or no physical warning signs that it is coming. Such serious conditions you might think would be preceded with pain or discomfort in the gums, but this just isn’t the case.
So how does the dentist magically fix your gums? Well, it’s not that the dentist will fix everything that’s wrong, but the important thing that the dentist offers is a warning about when the gum condition is worsening. From the colour and condition of your gums, they can warn you ahead of time before gingivitis and worse conditions set in. This gives you a recourse to correct your behaviour and restore your oral health.
4. Cavities and Root Canal Work
You may have heard from others just how much pain and discomfort can be experienced by people who end up needing root canal work done on their teeth. This unfortunate outcome is yet another result of people not regularly seeing the dentist. If they kept up their appointments at least twice a year, for instance, the dentist would be able to spot a small cavity and fix it up probably without any anesthetic and certainly not too much cost.
When a small cavity is allowed to progress into something more serious, however, then only crowns and possibly root canal work will get the job done. Is it worth skipping the dentist now only to be greeted by such major dental work later on?
5. Oral Cancer
Finally, your visits to the dentist are important not just so that they can screen you for cavities and minor disorders like gingivitis, but also for signs of oral cancer. The examination that the dentist does every time you go for a teeth cleaning should include a check for any sign that you might be facing oral cancer. Isn’t it best to have that exam and discover everything is alright than let something so serious develop unchecked?
So, keep your dentist appointments each year and keep your mouth in good health.