Dentists
COVID-19 is a serious health concern that we have addressed by taking a range of measures to protect both our patients and staff. Unfortunately, too many have been neglecting their regular dental exams and cleanings because of their concerns. Our dentists want to take this opportunity to remind our patients of the vital importance of maintaining their oral health by both brushing and flossing at home and keeping up with their routine dental exams and cleanings.
Your regular dental examinations and cleanings are the first line of defense against a variety of oral health conditions. Although it may be tempting to delay your dental exam or cleaning at this time, it is not advisable to do so for a number of reasons.
Why are regular dental exams so important?
Keeping up with your regularly scheduled exams and cleanings is critical to both your oral and general health. One reason is that plaque and bacteria can put down layers since the last time that you had your teeth professionally cleaned. Although brushing and flossing at home is great for regular maintenance, the training and dental tools available to your dental team allow us to provide a thorough cleaning of your mouth and teeth.
Another reason to keep up with your professional dental cleanings is that it helps to enhance the appearance of your smile through the removal of stains and other visible flaws.
Early Detection
At a minimum, each of your dental cleanings is accompanied by a visual inspection of your mouth by your dental hygienist. This is a valuable opportunity to spot any trouble signs before they can become larger problems that require serious intervention. For example, gum disease is a common oral condition among adults that is reversible when detected early. By skipping your regular dental exams and cleanings, you are missing a chance for receiving an early diagnosis so that we can prevent unnecessary and costly intervention down the road. In the case of oral cancer, this can even save your life.
Other Health Concerns
Although we may not always realize it, our oral health is intimately connected to our overall health. A growing body of evidence is showing a link between oral infections and heart health, for example. The oral bacteria in one’s mouth can gain entry into the bloodstream and infect the heart. A blood infection, medically known as sepsis, can also be life-threatening.
Something as simple as maintaining your regular dental exams and checkups with our dentists can make big difference in your oral health.
Schedule Your Appointment
For the small amount of time and energy that it takes to visit your dentist, you can dodge a number of oral care bullets, assuming that you complement your dental exams and cleanings with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and other healthy lifestyle choices.
If you have recently been skipping your dental appointments, we encourage you to contact Breeze Dental.