A healthy oral environment is the gateway to a healthy body. Yet some of us get lazy or think that regular dental checkups are not necessary- and that is where all the dental problems start. From yellowing and staining of teeth to dental cavities, regular dental checkups can keep several dental problems at bay. Dentists worldwide recommend that people visit the dental office every six months (twice a year) for a proper oral examination and dental cleaning (oral prophylaxis). These regular visits to the dental clinic can help you put your best smile forward and live a healthy life.

Why is a Regular Dental Checkup Important? Most people only seek dental assistance when they experience severe dental pain or experience their teeth falling out. Even though you brush your teeth twice daily with proper flossing and other good oral hygiene practices, you still need regular dental checkups. Here are four major reasons to convince you that skipping your dental checkup can cost you your teeth, smile, and money!

Regular dental checkups save your teeth from dental issues You can be great at oral hygiene maintenance, yet some hard-to-reach places in your mouth, like the interdental spaces and areas inaccessible (such as the back molars) to you, can still harbor bacteria. It can lead to the build-up of plaque followed by calculus, and you would not even know. Once the calculus encapsulates the teeth and gum line, no matter how well you brush your teeth, dental problems will be inevitable, especially dental cavities and tooth decay. Moreover, you can miss the initial signs of tooth decay that appear as white spots or tiny cavities, and only a dentist can detect them. Therefore, the regular dental checkup helps the dentist catch any dental problems at their earliest and saves the patient from more painful and invasive dental treatments.

Regular dental checkups keep your gums healthy Gums are a significant part of your smile and your oral health. Gum disease in its early stages is usually symptomless. Therefore, you might not be able to detect it, but your dentist can. At every routine dental checkup, the dentist ensures that your gums are healthy and firm with no underlying problems. The dentist will check the gums for any signs of bleeding, swelling, or deep pockets caused by receding gums and treat them accordingly. Gum diseases and dental problems can be stopped if they are treated and maintained at the earliest signs, and only regular dental checkups and proper oral hygiene practice can help you with that.

Regular dental checkups can rule out oral cancer At times, a simple sore or ulcer on the lip, gums, or tongue can be hiding a dangerous underlying disease such as oral cancer. The worrying thing is, oftentimes, the ulcer can be painless and hiding somewhere in the mouth that the patient is unaware of unless things get out of hand. At your routine dental checkup, the dentist will examine every part of your mouth, including teeth, gums, lips, and tongue, to check for the signs of oral cancer. If the initial symptoms go undetected and untreated, they can turn into a fatal disease. If a dentist feels anything wrong in your mouth, they can use different examination tools like a VELscope to detect tumors within minutes. When you are negligent of your regular dental checkups, you can be at a higher risk of oral cancer than others, especially if you are a smoker or tobacco user.

Regular dental checkups rule out other health problems Oftentimes, when you visit your dentist for a regular dental checkup, you may end up finding some other underlying systemic health issues. During the dental checkup, the dentist will also examine the neck region, especially if they detect something wrong with the lymph nodes and jaw. If any health problem is detected, the dentist will refer you to a medical professional that can further examine and diagnose you.

What Happens at a Dental Checkup? Dental visits or even the thought of it can trigger anxiety in many people. Because let us face the fact, the scary sight and buzzing sound of the dental instruments spread fear in the aura of the dental clinic. This often becomes a significant reason why people skip their dental checkups. However, if the patient gets aware of what will happen during a dental checkup, they might feel more relaxed and become regular with their visits to the dental clinic.

Here is what you can expect from a regular dental checkup. The regular dental checkup usually consists of two parts. One, where the dentist will thoroughly examine your oral cavity -both clinically and radiographically. The next part is where the dentist will perform dental cleaning or scaling (oral prophylaxis) on the patient to ensure optimum oral hygiene. If during the dental checkup the dentist detects any dental problem or gum disease, the dentist will perform the necessary treatment after informing you and taking your consent or appoint you for another day.

The Bottom Line Next time you plan on skipping the dental checkup just for once, think of all the dental problems and oral health issues you will be inviting for yourself. Life is beautiful with a healthy smile and body, therefore do not put your health at stake by missing the routine dental checkups and exams.