Even Great Brushers Need Regular Dental Appointments

Do you ever avoid making appointments at the dentist because you are already a diligent brusher and flosser? While your at-home efforts are an important component of maintaining strong oral health, they cannot get your teeth and gums as clean as they need to be. Below, the expert dentists at La Jolla Family Smile Design explain why regular dental checkups and cleanings are considered essential care.

Everyone Is at Risk for Cavities and Gum Disease

It’s true that cavities are more likely to affect people with poor brushing habits, but almost everyone gets cavities at some point in their life. Examinations are the only way to know for sure whether your teeth are infected or decaying.

Gum disease (periodontitis) is also common, particularly as people get older. You should not assume that brushing twice daily is enough to remove plaque that has gotten trapped beneath your gumline.

Professional Cleanings Do So Much More Than Brushing

A hygienist’s tools can provide a much deeper cleaning than anything your toothbrush or floss can accomplish. Everyone gets bacteria caught in spots that normal brushing and flossing cannot reach, but a hygienist knows how to clean out those tricky areas so that the bacteria do not linger longer than six months. By removing all the plaque and tartar around your gums, your hygienist also helps to prevent gum disease.

Catching Problems Early Is Better

Dentists are trained to catch subtle symptoms of oral health problems and have technology that allows them to see problems that would go unnoticed by the naked eye. When they examine your mouth, you can expect a more accurate evaluation than what you may assume from looking at your own teeth in the mirror.

By the time a dental health problem gets so bad that you notice it on your own, it probably means that it has advanced to a more serious stage than it would have if a dentist caught it early. This can mean undergoing longer, less comfortable, and more expensive procedures to address the problem. A cavity may need a root canal rather than a filling. And a weakened tooth may need to be extracted rather than strengthened with a crown.

Don’t Procrastinate on Your Dental Appointments

For healthy, sparkling teeth that last a lifetime, your best option is to complement your brushing and flossing with twice-annual dental checkups. For a thorough cleaning and close inspection by the best team of dentists and hygienists in southern California, please make an appointment at La Jolla Family Smile Design by calling (858) 454-3044 today.