Skipping Appointments with Us Can Result in Cumulative Damage
Posted on 12/21/2020 by Parkway Dentistry at Langtree
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is an excellent way to keep your teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay. However, it is not a substitute for regular dental checkups in our office. Here are some reasons why you should never skip your routine dental appointments.
Professional Cleaning
Flossing and brushing your teeth everyday helps to remove food and debris that lead to plaque build-up, tooth decay, and cavities. But no matter how diligently you brush and floss, you still might not be cleaning some hard-to-reach areas thoroughly enough. The professional cleaning we perform at your routine checkup every six months removes plaque that you might not be able to clean yourself. Even if you skip just one appointment, that means you are letting plaque build up for six more months, which can put you at risk of developing a cavity or even more serious issues like infection or gum disease. The consequences that come from neglecting your dental hygiene can require more extensive dental work down the line than the simple cleaning you are avoiding right now.
Detecting Underlying Issues
In addition to professionally cleaning your teeth, we also perform a thorough exam at your routine dental checkup. This exam, along with X-rays, which would typically occur at just one of your two yearly visits, allows us to look for any damage to your teeth as well as any indicators of infection or disease. Even if you are not experiencing any worrisome symptoms, skipping dental appointments could mean failing to have a serious condition diagnosed and treated. Remember, your dental health is not just about having clean teeth; we also diagnose conditions as serious as oral cancer. If it has been a while since your last dental checkup, please call our office as soon as possible to set up an appointment.