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Regular oral checkups


Checking your teeth for tooth decay is just one part of a thorough dental examination. During your checkup appointment, your dentist (or dental hygienist) will likely evaluate the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination (to look for anything out of the ordinary) and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. Don’t be surprised if your dentist also examines your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs). Your dentist or dental hygienist will then clean your teeth and stress the importance of you maintaining good oral hygiene at home between visitsile evaluation

Having to visit the dentist every six months may not be the appointment that everyone looks forward to, but it is one of the most important ones to keep. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should see your dentist regularly:

1. Oral Cancer Detection
Oral cancer is an extremely serious disease and it is often not diagnosed which can quickly progress and become life threatening. But thankfully, an early stage oral cancer diagnosis is often easily treatable.
Recognizing oral cancer in its early stages is key in treating it successfully, and while you may not notice oral abnormalities, your dentist will.

2. Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities
Even with the most diligent daily brushers and flossers, there are still small areas in the mouth that are missed by a regular brushing and flossing. When plaque builds up it becomes more difficult to remove, solidifying and turning into tartar, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without professional help.

3. Gum Disease
Plaque and tartar buildup not only cause tooth decay but can also erode the mouth’s gum tissues. This happens when tartar buildup causes an infection where the gum is connected to the tooth, making the gum pull away from the tooth. This infection is known as gingivitis and as it progresses the tissue that attaches gums to the teeth breaks down.To avoid all of this, regular dental cleanings are essential in catching and addressing gingivitis before it gets out of hand.

4. Keeping Bad Habits in Check
There are many bad habits that can have a negative impact on your oral health, some of which you may not even realize are causing issues. Some of these habits include chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating particularly sticky or hard sweets, brushing your teeth too hard, drinking coffee and red wine, and of course smoking.

Visiting the dentist allows you to fix the damage that has already been done, and help your oral health be the best it can be.

5. Find Problems Under the Surface With X-Rays
A crucial part of visiting your dentist every six months is getting your teeth and jaw bone x-rayed and diagnose issues that may be invisible to the naked eye. Problems like this can include impacted teeth, bone decay, swelling, cysts, or tumours, all of which are impossible to actually see without x-ray imaging. Finding these oral issues as soon as possible is critical in order to properly treat them.

Head, Neck, and Lymph Node Checks
checked. So while looking for abnormalities only takes your dentist a minute, it could mean an extremely serious disease is identified early enough to make a huge difference.