5 Reasons To Make An Appointment With Your Sherwood Park Dentist

June 11 2019 by Mills Haven Dental

Can you remember the last time you visited your Sherwood Park Dentist? When life gets busy it can be challenging to stop and take care of yourself. While your teeth might look fine, there could be some other factors impacting your oral health that you aren’t even aware of. Here are five reasons why you should make a dental appointment.

Address Plaque, Tartar & Cavities

The most commonly known reason for visiting the dentist is to get a cleaning and to check for cavities. No matter how frequently or how thoroughly you brush your teeth, there are parts of your mouth that you won’t be able to clean. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on teeth. As it begins to accumulate and solidify, it can turn into tartar. Tartar can be difficult to remove without turning to a dentist.

By making consistent appointments with a dentist to have dental cleanings, you can help keep plaque and tartar from eroding teeth and creating cavities.

Regular X-Rays

When you see your dentist, your dentist can decide whether it would be appropriate for you to take an X-ray of your teeth and jawbone. X-rays provide an opportunity to see below the surface of your mouth and uncover any issues that might not be immediately visible to the eye.

X-rays can help dentists find cavities, view tooth roots, and check on tooth development. An x-ray can also help detect problems such as bone decay, cysts, tumours, and swelling that might otherwise be missed.

As everyone’s oral health is different, your dentist will assess your needs and recommend how frequently you should be getting X-rays. To ensure that any underlying issues aren’t missed, visit your dentist routinely.

Check for Gum Disease

It is possible to have gum disease and have absolutely no idea. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround your teeth. In the initial stages, gum disease is called gingivitis. The signs of gingivitis include gums that are red, swollen, or bleed easily. While gum disease is at the gingivitis stage, it usually can still be treated, making early detection very important.

When gum disease becomes advanced, it is called periodontitis. At this point, periodontitis can lead to loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth. Patients suffering from periodontitis may notice teeth becoming loose and beginning to move around in the mouth. Due to the potentially severe consequences of leaving gum disease unchecked, it is important to have a dentist check for gum disease regularly.

Identify Diabetes

Dentists can often be the first to spot the signs of illness, especially with patients who believe they are healthy and do not visit the doctor often. Diabetes, when undiagnosed or left untreated, can impact your oral health. Common symptoms include less saliva (which can lead to dry mouth), increased risk of cavities due to less saliva, inflamed or bleeding gums, and problems tasting food.

Dentists can detect diabetes by checking for Oral Yeast Infections and Periodontal Disease. As with other diseases and illnesses, early detection can help prevent further damage to your oral health. Scheduling an appointment with your dentist every six months can help detect these issues.

Examine Jaw, Neck, and Lymph Nodes

While most people are aware that their dentist will check their mouth, gums, and tongue during an appointment. It might surprise you to know that your dentist also checks your jaw, neck, and lymph nodes.

When examining these areas, Dentists check for swelling, bumps, or any peculiarities. Abnormalities in these areas could be potentially serious, but these issues are not always noticeable by the average person. That is why it is important to have this area examined consistently with dentist appointments.

Schedule A Visit With Your Sherwood Park Dentist

Making an appointment to see your dentist on a regular basis can improve your chances of detecting any potential oral health issues early on. If you are looking for a Dentist in Sherwood Park, the team at Mills Haven Dental offers a wide variety of functional dental care services in a friendly and comfortable environment. Get in touch with us today.