Taking care of your teeth properly needs more than brushing and flossing morning and evening. If this were all that is needed to keep your teeth in top shape then you would hardly ever need to go to the dentist. However, good oral health requires more attention than that. Many people will wait until some problem comes up such as tooth pain or bleeding gums to go see a dentist. To truly maintain healthy gums and teeth and avoid other oral health problems, regular dental care visits are essential. Poor dental health is also linked to a number of health problems such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. Routine dental checkups are about total health care, not just your teeth.
When you visit our specialist, your gums and teeth will be examined. Some areas to be checked are receding or swelling in the gums, clicking sound in the jawbone and tooth decay. Our specialist may take x-rays to see if there are any problems with the jawbone or tooth roots.
Dental infection can lead to tooth loss that would require costly treatment such as dental implants or a dental bridge. This is why it can save on future expenses to have routine dental care visits.
When our dentist sees tooth decay in the beginning stages, they can remove the decayed portion clean and fill the tooth using a tooth-colored filling and you won’t even be able to see that the tooth was damaged. By doing this on a regular basis and maintaining the health of the teeth such procedures as root canals can be avoided.
Gum disease is a common problem that can cause tooth loss. It is caused by the buildup of plaque on the tooth underneath the gum tissue. By regular visits to the dentist, the plaque on the teeth and around the gum tissue can be removed making it unlikely that gum disease will develop.
The buildup of plaque can be prevented by regular flossing and brushing at home. However, the plaque that is left in tiny corners of the mouth will eventually turn into tartar, which can’t be removed by brushing and flossing. If tartar develops, our dentist will have to remove it with scaling. Dentists have special equipment that can remove all of the built-up plaque and tartar that your brush can’t remove.
Fluoride treatments can also be beneficial in maintaining your teeth. Fluoride treatments strengthen and clean the teeth within a few minutes. A Dental Extraction sealant is a translucent material that is brushed on the surface of the teeth. This is very helpful for people with deep ridges along the chewing portion of the teeth. Ridges, if not filled, can lead to a collection of food and eventually tooth decay. It’s important to seal the ridges to prevent the trapping of food. It’s never too late to seal the ridges and stop the damage.
With routine dental care, you may be able to prevent small problems from becoming big ones and harming your overall health. Contact us today at Southside Medical Center to schedule your Aspen Dental appointment.