In our younger years especially, it’s fair to say that dental check-up’s can often seem like an inconvenience at best and total waste of money at worst. After all, you might be under the impression that there’s nothing wrong with your teeth so why should you pay for something that doesn’t need fixing?
Dr Thomas Darling a Southampton Dentist at Smilemakers explains.
As dentists we perform a lot of routine maintenance in order to prevent problems that occur when patients don’t look after their teeth as well as they’re supposed to. Let’s face it, how many of us religiously spend the allotted 3 minutes, two or three times a day, brushing our teeth. It’s all too easy when you’ve got more important things to do to give them a quick going over. Therefore regular check-up’s are a kind of safety net or backup that helps keep your teeth in good condition.
Aside from this, as dentists we’re trained to spot any anomalies or issues with your teeth that otherwise might go undetected. While these issues might seem minor now and are more often than not easily rectified, if you skip a visit or two, then there’s a strong chance that you may run into some very serious problems.
So what type of problems?
Namely,
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth decay and
- Gum disease.
Firstly it’s natural for the body to produce plaque which collects around the base of teeth and gums when we eat and drink. If it’s not dealt with through proper brushing and flossing, it transforms into tartar which can no longer be removed by brushing alone. If tartar is left it can cause periodontal disease which gradually and silently eats away at the bone tissue, eventually weakening otherwise healthy teeth.
The second type of problem is tooth decay. A small cavity is easily taken care of when spotted during a routine check-up. However if a cavity is allowed to escalate it can cause excruciating pain and eventually the loss of the tooth itself. You might feel that you can cope with the loss of one tooth, and indeed you probably can, but did you know that when a tooth is missing it sets off a catalyst of events that affect your remaining teeth and gums?
The final issue is gum disease. Did you know for instance that there’s a strong connection between heart related problems and gum disease? Plaque produces a multitude of bacteria, most of which end up in the bloodstream. Increased bacteria in the blood can (if not dealt with) clog blood vessels which surround the heart.
Next time you’re due a dental check-up, don’t look on it as an inconvenience, but rather as an MOT for your teeth. To book a check-up with your friendly Southampton dentist contact Smilemakers on 02380 44 26 26 or book online at www.smilemakers.co.uk
