When’s the last time you saw your dentist in Toledo? If you can’t remember the answer to that question, then it’s probably been too long. Whether it’s out of fear or a means to save money, many people go for years without a dental appointment – and more often than not, their teeth and gums pay a big price for it. Here are 3 reasons why avoiding your dentist will always do far, far more harm than good.
1. Your Teeth Won’t Be Cleaned Thoroughly
As you know, eating a lot of sugar and starches can cause plaque to form on your teeth. If it’s not cleaned off, it’ll eventually lead to cavities.
But surely you can get rid of all that plaque just by brushing and flossing every day, right? While it’s true that daily oral care is vital for keeping your pearly whites clean and healthy, the fact is that there are a lot of nooks and crannies in your mouth that you can miss without realizing it. Worse, if the plaque in these areas goes untouched for too long, it’ll harden into tartar that you can’t remove by yourself. Keeping your dental appointments is the best way to make sure that your teeth are being cleaned as thoroughly as possible.
2. Gum Disease and Tooth Decay Might Not Be Found Until It’s Too Late
In time, an untreated cavity will cause your tooth to become infected. You might notice that chewing has become uncomfortable or that your teeth are now sensitive to hot and cold foods. Eventually, the pain can become severe. Similarly, infected gums might cause mild swelling or bleeding at first, but the symptoms will eventually become a lot worse. If these conditions aren’t treated, you could eventually lose your teeth.
Fortunately, tooth decay and gum disease are much easier to deal with in their earlier stages. If your dentist finds signs of these issues during your checkup, they’ll be able to treat the issue before permanent damage is done.
3. You Might Need More Costly Treatments in the Future
The longer you put off seeing the dentist for a toothache or other dental problems, the more likely it is that you’ll need to undergo a more complicated – and more expensive – treatment. For example, tooth decay that hasn’t advanced too far can often be reversed with a simple filling. If you don’t see the dentist until it’s too late, however, you might need root canal therapy instead. Wait too long, and there might not be any choice but to extract the tooth altogether; if that happens, you’ll also need to pay for a restoration such as partial dentures or a dental implant.
While you might think that you’re saving time and money by skipping dental visits, in the long run you’ll benefit a lot more from regular preventive care. If it’s been more than 6 months or a year since your last visit, don’t delay any longer; make an appointment as soon as possible to keep your smile healthy and bright!
About the Practice
At Dental Group West, Dr. Richard Thomas, Dr. Tracy Poole and Dr. Robert Weisenburger combine their knowledge and specialties so that they can bring a wide array of dental services to Toledo families. They firmly believe that oral health plays a key role in overall health and strive to prevent health problems such as gum disease and tooth decay from happening in the first place. To schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (419) 539-2168.