You have probably heard that you should go to the dentist twice every year, or every 6 months. In fact, most dental insurances are built to cover two yearly visits for regular cleanings and checkups. But if you have ever wondered why six months is the recommended time frame or what might happen if you don’t go to your routine check-ups, we have answers. And if you live in Lewiston or the surrounding area, you can easily schedule an appointment with our dentists easily.
Why You Need Regular Dental Check-Ups
When it comes to health, prevention is always better than intervention or restoration. For instance, sunscreen today means not having to recover from a painful sunburn tomorrow. The same is true with teeth. Preventing tooth decay and gum disease has many benefits. You will keep your teeth longer, save yourself a lot of pain, and save money as well. One common misconception is that if you brush and floss regularly and don’t experience any dental/oral pain, you don’t need to see a dentist. You shouldn’t wait for pain to show up. If you tap on your teeth you may notice that you don’t feel much. Most of our dental nerves are below the surface of our teeth. That means by the time you start to experience pain a decent amount of damage has already occurred. Regular dental visits mean having a qualified dentist tracking your oral health and ensuring that any issues are caught and addressed early.
Why You Need Regular Dental Cleaning
Although we highly encourage brushing 2-3 times per day, flossing, and using mouthwash, it is important to know without professional routine cleanings it is still possible to develop cavities. Plaque can get stuck to your teeth and no toothbrush, floss, or other at-home dental product can remove that. That is why your dental hygienists will often use scalers and polishers to remove plaque and tartar that have bonded to the surface of your teeth. This is the best way to ensure that bacteria in your mouth doesn’t cause tooth decay. Additionally, a regular cleaning might also include dental sealants that can further protect your teeth from decay and disease.
What Happens If I Stop Going To The Dentist?
Many people, especially young adults in their 20s and 30s might feel inclined to stop visiting their dentist. Whether it is because they moved far away after college, they are worried about not having dental insurance after leaving their family plan, or they had negative experiences as kids and as adults choose not to go, this is not a great idea. Once again, there is a misconception that you can skip the dentist as long as you brush and floss. And although great dental habits are great, you are putting yourself at risk by not seeing a dentist. Dentists can help detect oral cancer, risks of disease, cavities, tooth decay, etc. as well as help remove plaque and tartar that you might be missing. Even if it’s been years, do yourself a favor and make that first appointment. Getting a cavity filled is a better alternative to having a tooth replaced with an implant.
Make a Dental Appointment in Lewiston
Whether you just moved to Maine, you are unhappy with your current dentist, you recently had a child and need to schedule their first appointment, or it has been a few years and you want to see a dentist, we would be happy to see you at our office in Lewiston. We are always welcoming new patients of all ages and at all stages of dental care. We offer general dental services as well as cosmetic and restorative. So if you could benefit from seeing a dentist; don’t delay, make an appointment today.
